Henry Boot Construction Appointed for £10m Restoration Project

The project aims to preserve and enhance the historic building while adapting it for modern academic and sustainability needs.

Located at Queensgate in Huddersfield town centre, the Ramsden Building is one of the University’s most iconic and architecturally significant landmarks. Opened in 1883 by the Duke of Somerset, it was the first purpose-built educational facility on the University’s campus. Designed by architect Edward Hughes, the building is a prime example of the Gothic Revival movement, distinguished by its façade featuring four lions holding shields and the names of prominent local industrialists, Sir Thomas Brooke and Sir John William Ramsden.

The restoration will focus on internal works to maintain the building’s original features, such as hidden cornicing, an ornate staircase, and wooden wall paneling. These features will be preserved while ensuring the building meets contemporary academic and sustainability standards.

The project will also include a full upgrade of the building’s mechanical and electrical systems, with the installation of air-source heat pumps (ASHPs) in the central courtyard for sustainable heating. In addition, a retrospective mezzanine level will be removed, restoring a double-height space for future events.

Upon completion, the ground floor will house the University’s International Study Centre, while the two upper floors will accommodate post-graduate research spaces, offices, and computer labs.

Work on the restoration is now underway with the project scheduled for completion in early 2026.