Alumno, GMI, Heitman and other stakeholders celebrate the topping out of the Terry Frost Building, a purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development at Whitelock Street, Leeds. The development is on schedule for Autumn completion.
Developer Alumno and principal contractor GMI Construction Group held a ceremony to mark the event at the six- and seven-storey Terry Frost Building, named in honour of the late artist who taught at Leeds University in the 1950s.
Designed by Howarth Litchfield, the mixed-use 11,955 sqm development will deliver 105 residential units that will house 411 students in 53 studios and a range of four- to eight-bed cluster flats. Amenities will include communal living areas, a central hub, gym, study area, cinema, laundry room, roof terrace with a garden and bicycle storage. The Terry Frost Building development represents a regeneration of the former disused site.
“The Terry Frost Building, which is ideally located close to the city’s universities and centre, will be a great addition to this emerging, creative Leeds district and will offer significant regeneration benefits at a crucial time.
“It will also deliver more housing options, particularly to local people, by alleviating the need for students to rent family homes privately in the area.”
David Campbell, Managing Director, Alumno
Terry Frost Building will include ground floor spaces for local creative and hospitality businesses to create a community for students, visitors and local residents. As part of its aim to show its ongoing commitment to those living adjacent to its projects, Alumno has also commissioned artworks to be integrated into the building and surrounding landscaped public areas.
These include:
- A frieze lining the porte-cochere based on a work by Sir Terry Frost.
- Two poems by Yorkshire-based poet Zaffar Kunial – one in the atrium inspired by Frost’s work, and another built into the external retaining wall referencing Sheepscar Beck.
- Sculptures in the Rain Gardens in association with Yorkshire Sculpture International and artist Amelia Wood.
“The Terry Frost Building is testimony to our shared commitment to quality student living, placemaking and urban regeneration. From the earliest sketches, the proposal has evolved through early engagement with Leeds City Council and key stakeholders. The rooftop terrace and sky lounge provide residents with spectacular views of the city. The architectural design, interiors and artworks respond to the fabric and stories of Sheepscar, Leeds.”
Jonathan Yates, Managing Director, Howarth Litchfield
The Terry Frost Building is clad in a red brick (Mapleton Multi) featuring horizontal reveals and staggered windows. To break up the streetscape, vertical elements feature brown brick (Rosewater Multi) as bookends, and over the central entrance undercroft. These sections have vertically stacked windows to disrupt the horizontal staggered sections.
The East Block is largely glazed to promote an active street frontage and engage the public and students with activities happening in the ground floor social spaces and artist studios.
“We are delighted to continue our longstanding and successful partnership with Alumno in meeting the growing demand for purpose-built quality student accommodation. In addition, this development will be a big boost to both the fabric and the economy of this previously neglected area.”
Andrew Hurcomb, GMI’s Divisional Managing Director, Yorkshire
