HLM wins green light for Sheffield Arts Tower revamp

The tower will be refurbished substantially

The tower will have a major refurbishment

Built in 1965, the ageing 20-storey block was designed by Gollins Melvin Ward and Partners, and houses 300 staff and up to 2,500 students.
 
The major refurbishment project will see the replacement of much of the cladding and glazing and will address the long-term problems of overheating and energy use in the tower, which is allegedly a half-scale replica of Mies Van Der Rohe's famous New York skyscraper.

However, lovers of the building's unusual paternoster lift system need not fear. The rare 38-car, continuously moving elevator 'belt' is to be retained in the overhaul, which is due to start on site next January.

 
Most of the cladding and glazing will be replaced

Neil Cameron, the university's director of estates, said: 'It is an uncomfortable building in many ways with lots of draughts, and the cladding is getting very tired – although we are not at a point where any of it has fallen off.

'Getting the balance right between the environmental performance and coming up with a low-maintenance skin that is not compromised in terms of appearance is hard – but HLM have done a really good job.'

Avanti Architects worked on the original conservation guidelines for the tower – currently the tallest university building in the UK – and the neighbouring blocks.

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