Celebration event marks transformation of University of Sheffield campus

26th October 2017

The University of Sheffield, Sheffield City Council and the Sheffield City Region have today (Monday 23 October 2017) marked the redevelopment of some of the major public spaces around the University's campus.

The transformation of Leavygreave Road and Portobello into a stunning public space with safe routes for cyclists and pedestrians, as well as sitting out and open air working areas, has been undertaken jointly by the University of Sheffield and Sheffield City Council, with a funding contribution of £2.9 million from Sheffield City Region Investment Fund. The project has also created more spacious and safer crossings on Western Bank and Upper Hanover Street, making it easier for students, staff and the general public to get around the campus, catch a tram or access the city centre. The cycle and pedestrian routes are an extension of the City Council's 'gold route' from the railway station through the city centre and now up to the University campus. A prominent feature of the transformation is the arrival of five high-finish concrete 'planter tables' and seating designed by local artist David Appleyard. Every table accommodates lush plants and trees and is decorated with a trio of brass bottles, modelled on the famous Henderson's Relish bottle, with each featuring a unique engraved label which reflects an element of the area's long and varied history. Keith Lilley, Director of Estates and Facilities Management and IT at the University of Sheffield, said: -This has been a complex project involving significant changes over many months and we're grateful to everyone for their patience while the work has been under way. We are absolutely delighted with the results. Our ambition is to open up our campus to the rest of the city, to make everyone feel welcome and safe, and this project has enabled us to take a major step forward in achieving that ambition. -We want to encourage the people of Sheffield to enjoy and use our campus, whether it's to have lunch in one of our cafes, cycle through the campus area up to Weston Park, or just enjoy sitting and relaxing in one of the new greener, safer places that has been created through this development. Councillor Bryan Lodge, Cabinet member for environment and street scene at Sheffield City Council, said: -We've been very impressed with the improvements which better link the University to the city centre and also promote alternative uses of transport. We now have the city's first purpose-built cycle crossing which points the way to better connectivity for cyclists and an impressive public realm scheme complete with distinctive artwork celebrating the very best of Sheffield." Sir Nigel Knowles, Chair of the Sheffield City Region's business arm, the Local Enterprise Partnership, said: -We know that this region is blessed with a great quality of life and this public realm, which the City Region has helped to fund, is a splendid example of the importance of attractive city centres and being able to enjoy getting round them. It's vital that as more and more businesses invest and grow in the region, they and our other major organisations like the universities know that their staff and students can be safe in their working environment. Sheffield University Wind Orchestra provided the musical entertainment during the launch event, playing a selection of pieces outside University of Sheffield's Department of Music. To coincide with the event, a quiz has been launched challenging people to identify the event, person, creature or thing each bottle label refers to and its connection to the street and the University or Sheffield. The quiz will be available at university buildings around Leavygreave Road and on the University of Sheffield website for the next month. The University of Sheffield With almost 27,000 of the brightest students from over 140 countries, learning alongside over 1,200 of the best academics from across the globe, the University of Sheffield is one of the world's leading universities. A member of the UK's prestigious Russell Group of leading research-led institutions, Sheffield offers world-class teaching and research excellence across a wide range of disciplines. Unified by the power of discovery and understanding, staff and students at the university are committed to finding new ways to transform the world we live in. Sheffield is the only university to feature in The Sunday Times 100 Best Not-For-Profit Organisations to Work For 2017 and was voted number one university in the UK for Student Satisfaction by Times Higher Education in 2014. In the last decade it has won four Queen's Anniversary Prizes in recognition of the outstanding contribution to the United Kingdom's intellectual, economic, cultural and social life. Sheffield has six Nobel Prize winners among former staff and students and its alumni go on to hold positions of great responsibility and influence all over the world, making significant contributions in their chosen fields. Global research partners and clients include Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Unilever, AstraZeneca, Glaxo SmithKline, Siemens and Airbus, as well as many UK and overseas government agencies and charitable foundations. For further information, please visit: www.sheffield.ac.uk