University of Salford names landmark new building

The University of Salford has today announced the name of its flagship health and wellbeing building, which will be used for teaching as well as research and community services. It is one of the first buildings in the UK to use ‘trauma informed’ design throughout, which will make it welcoming and easy to navigate.

The £54 million building will be known as the Thrive Health and Wellbeing Centre to reflect its function to provide first class teaching spaces as well as to enrich health and wellbeing provision in the community.

A new fly-through video shows the carefully curated interior of the building designed using ‘trauma informed’ principles, and a roof garden which will be used for therapeutic purposes. Due for completion in late 2026, the building will make a stunning addition to Salford’s landscape.

The University asked architects AHR to prioritise inclusivity and accessibility in all features of the building. The result is a space which promotes comfort and ease of navigation through its open layouts, uncluttered sightlines and minimal dead ends.

Natural materials and daylight are central to the design, with a light-filled atrium, calming colour palette and extensive indoor planting. External green spaces – including roof terraces, shared gardens and walking paths – will also support wellbeing and connection with nature.

Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the School of Health and Society Professor Vicky Halliwell says: “Our Thrive Health and Wellbeing Centre has been designed with all our user groups in mind, from students and academics to members of the public. We hope everyone using it will find its layout and atmosphere welcoming and positive. As a university we are here to help enrich lives. Salford is one of the most deprived areas of the UK healthcare wise. This building will be a huge asset to helping us all address this when it opens.”

Kier is building Salford’s Thrive Health and Wellbeing Centre which will occupy approximately 5500 square metres floorspace over three floors. The architects AHR consulted more than a hundred students, staff and members of the community in the design phase to deliver the unique project.

Director, Robert Hopkins, from AHR, says: “Creating great architecture is about designing the right experience for as many people as possible. At Salford, we’ve brought together trauma informed, neurodiversity-led and biophilic design principles to shape a space that feels intuitive and uplifting. From daylight and texture to wayfinding and sensory balance, every design decision supports comfort, confidence and connection – helping people to truly thrive within the building.”

Sarah Morton, regional director for Kier Construction North & Scotland, said: “Our extensive experience in delivering complex healthcare projects has been invaluable in shaping the Thrive Health and Wellbeing Centre. This has enabled us to create a space that not only meets the highest clinical education standards but ensures it is welcoming and accessible for all. Beyond supporting world-class teaching and research, this building will provide vital resources for the local community – offering spaces for therapeutic activities and wellbeing initiatives that will make a real difference to people’s lives. We’re proud to be delivering a facility that will have such a positive and lasting impact.”

The University’s students and researchers will work in spaces which are identical to real NHS-type clinical settings. Podiatry, Prosthetics and Orthotics and Sports Rehabilitation are just some of the courses which will be taught there. A Movement Analysis Lab on the ground floor will also study the efficiency of limb aids and will be used for research by some of the UK’s most respected prosthetics specialists. This has been generously funded by the Wolfson Foundation.

The all-electric building will be highly sustainable, meeting BREEAM Excellent and WELL Gold building standards. Larger spaces will be bookable by community groups, staff and students for therapeutic activities, and there will be green pathways and areas to relax in and enjoy outside the building.

The site forms part of the University’s Campus Connectivity Plan (CCP) which is the major redevelopment of its research, teaching and public spaces. The University is  a partner in the wider Crescent Salford Masterplan, along with Salford City Council and ECF. The Crescent Salford regeneration is a key project within Greater Manchester’s Central Growth Cluster – one of the city region’s six Growth Locations, where investment is being targeted to turbocharge growth.

Last week the University announced another milestone project in its CCP when it celebrated work starting on a new acoustics research, testing and teaching facility. Costing nearly £24m, the state-of-the-art building will feature vibration-isolating foundations and walls constructed from extra dense concrete to insulate the space from external noise and to create several idealised acoustic environments. Completion is scheduled for mid-2027.

The Thrive Health and Wellbeing Centre sits within the School of Health and Society which is the largest department in the university with over 8000 students. It is situated on the Frederick Road campus on the A6 next to Salford Crescent train station.