WBA helping the Huddersfield Christmas Cheer

GB Building Solutions are approaching the end of the construction programme for the Learning and Leisure Centre at the University of Huddersfield. The handover of this BREEAM Excellent building is due in January 2014. This unique project designed by Watson Batty features an eye catching sports hall which is clad in metal mesh and illuminated with coloured LED lighting. The lights will add to the towns festive illuminations with the big switch on happening today, the 13th December. The Captain of the Huddersfield Giants will be flicking the switch and will see the building illuminated in the Giant’s team colours.

The hall's LED lighting can be programmed in an infinite number of colours and cycles so the building may never look the same twice!

The £22.5m project, which is one of the most complex that the education team has undertaken, on a very challenging site, will become the new heart of the University campus.

Please click here for further information on the ceremony. Alternatively you can visit our website by clicking here for further project information.

Movember - Month of the WBA moustache

In an effort to raise money and awareness of men’s health issues, 4 determined members of Watson Batty joined the Movember cause in growing  a moustache throughout the month of November. Strict rules of engagement, including starting from a freshly shaved top lip were adhered to by all volunteers as they all set out to create impressive and unique pieces of face garnish. With varied rates of follicular success the quartet raised over £250 for the charity with some members deciding to retain their lip warmer for the winter months.

For more information on Movember cause please click here

Vince Cable visits WBA latest food production facility

Business Secretary Vince Cable visited the Morrisons Farmers Boy processing site in Bradford today to see the company’s investment in the future of its manufacturing operation. The visit comes following the opening of the 28,700 sq.ft extension and alteration works, designed and administered by WBA, earlier this year. The Famers Boy facility in Bradford, West Yorkshire was originally designed by Watson Batty in 1998.

For more information please click here

10 Parcelforce Local Depots completed in time for the Christmas Rush

Watson Batty Architects have completed another series of national strategy projects for the Royal Mail Group as part of our ongoing long-term appointment. 

The strategy covered the majority of the country with sites in Basingstoke, Beckton, Bodmin, Coventry, Crayford, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Newport, Norwich and Rotherham.

The project took one year from inception to completion, and all the depot’s were completed in the summer ahead of Parcelforce’s Christmas peak period.

The parcels sector of Royal Mail is the largest growing sector and these Local Depots are a welcome addition to the Parcelforce estate.

Spot the WBA Santa?

Christmas came early to Skipton on Sunday as 1200 Santa’s prepared for their busiest night of the year by competing in the Rotary Club Santa fun run.

Peter White, Managing Director is pictured readying himself for the event, following an intensive warm up routine led by one of Santa’s little helpers!

The race which has been run annually for the last couple of years is a charity event, raising much needed funds for Sue Ryder Manorlands, Martin House Children’s Hospice and The Yorkshire Dales Society.

As ever the race was well supported by ‘bemused’ visitors to the town and the concluded with hot coffee and mince pies!

Watson Batty become a Green World Ambassador

Following our success at the Green Apple Awards held in Swindon earlier this year, where we won the Green Apple Built Environment Award for Medway Mail Centre, Watson Batty  have become a Green World Ambassador.

Paul Ryan from Watson Batty Architects together with Alan Smith-Hill and Keith Tomlinson from Royal Mail Group Property attended an Awards Ceremony  at  the House of Commons on 11th November 2013, where they were presented with an plaque in recognition of their status as a Green World Ambassador, demonstrating environmental best practice to others.

The Green Apple Awards are run by The Green Organisation, an independent, non-political environment group and supported by the Environment Agency, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Chartered Institution for Wastes Management and other independent bodies.

The award is the culmination of over 20 years of working together with Royal Mail as one of our longstanding clients.

Sheffield Mail Centre Automation Works Complete

Following several years working closely with Royal Mail a key stage has been reached on the North East Mail Centre Strategy.

The installation phase of new intelligent letter sorting machines at Sheffield Mail Centre is now complete. This was the last phase of the extension and alteration works that began in January 2012.

The completion of works at Sheffield Mail Centre is the final piece of the jigsaw on the Mail Centre section of Royal Mail’s North East Strategy. Works are still progressing on Delivery Offices at York, Teesside and Darlington.

Each of the Mail Centres required careful phasing of the work to maintain Royal Mail’s operation. Watson Batty are lead consultant on all the above projects.

Official Opening Ceremony of Sheffield Hallam University’s Sports Centre

In tribute to the late Graham Solley, Sheffield Hallam University's new 22-acre Sports Centre was officially launched on Wednesday by the university's vice-chancellor Professor Philip Jones.

Watson Batty's specialist sports and leisure team worked on this exciting project from inception to completion liaising closely with the University's Estates and Sports Departments to design and detail the facility. Watson Batty were subsequently novated to Henry Boot Construction to complete the project. 

The facilities were completed on time to kick start an intensive programme of sports activities including Football, Rugby and Cricket. The facility will be ‘home’ to both the university and neighbouring community sports teams.

The Graham Solley Centre is the second sporting facility recently completed by Watson Batty on behalf of higher education clients with a number of other projects currently under consideration or being progressed.