Race Cottam Architects
Exterior view of a refurbished brick industrial building with a series of tall arched windows, multiple gables, illuminated interiors, and a contemporary glass entrance, captured at dusk with light trails from passing traffic.Exterior view of a refurbished brick industrial building with a series of tall arched windows, multiple gables, illuminated interiors, and a contemporary glass entrance, captured at dusk with light trails from passing traffic.

University Technical College (UTC) Leeds

Historic Victorian factory transformed into a modern hub for technical education in Leeds

Exterior view of the refurbished brick industrial victorian factory building with a modern glass extension, featuring a retained existing large green door marked “Gate No 2” and young people gathered at the entrance under a clear blue sky.
Large industrial-style interior of the central full height atrium learning space with exposed steel structure and roof lights, featuring students working at tables, a central staircase with yellow handrails, mezzanine walkways, and workshop areas below.
Open-plan workshop and learning space with students gathered around a small race car, set within a multi-level industrial interior featuring mezzanine walkways, exposed services and collaborative work areas. Interior Finishes are Teal, grey and white
Bright, modern ground floor manjufacturing workshop and training space with students working at benches and operating machinery, featuring industrial equipment, clear circulation zones and exposed ceiling services. Finishes are teal, grey and white.
Classroom with students seated at desks working on assignments, while a tutor presents at the front, set within a bright diouble height space with sloped ceilings, featuring exposed steel beams, rooflights, bulls-eye window and suspended lighting.
Lecture theatre filled with students seated in tiered rows of teal chairs, facing the front of a bright, modern auditorium during a class or presentation.
Open plan training room within the roof space of the former factory, with students seated at desks and a tutor presenting on a screen, featuring exposed steel structure, ductwork and modern teaching facilities. Finishes are in teal and grey.
Front elevation of the restored brick building with repeating arched windows and gables with high level bull-node windows cetnrally placed in repeating gables. Windows are revealing bright interior workspaces, photographed at dusk with motion blur from passing traffic in the foreground.

Project info

University Technical College (UTC) Leeds is a modern learning environment dedicated to advanced manufacturing education for students aged 14–19 across the Leeds City Region. Housed in the west wing of a former metal pressing factory built in 1888, the project celebrates the building’s striking Victorian industrial character. The design prioritised conservation, retaining original features while removing unsympathetic later additions. Through careful restoration and innovative design, the historic structure has been reimagined as an inspiring, functional space suited to contemporary technical education. UTC Leeds now stands as a centre for opportunity and innovation, supporting future skills while preserving an important piece of Leeds’ industrial heritage.

Location

Leeds

Date

Completed 2016

Client

DfE
BAM Construction

Area

5,200 sq.m

Cost

£9 million

Main Contractor

BAM Construction

Team

Mott MacDonald
BAM Structures
BAM Design (M&E)
Waterman Landscape

Awards

Shortlisted, RICS Conservation and Renovation Award
Runner Up, SPACES Awards
Winner for Heritage, RISE Awards

Our Team

Laurie Cottam
Pauline Lake
Amy Paget

“Due to strong project team, robust education brief and professionalism, the project was completed within budget, programme and of a high quality standard. UTC Leeds did not just meet but exceeded the expectations of the end-users and has completely transformed the area.”

Amjid Raza Education Funding Agency

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