First look images of Thrive as building takes shape

The picture shows the warm coloured pre-cast panels, whose design is inspired by the iconic totems at the entrance of  Allerton building nearby. Architects AHR chose this finish to soften the appearance of Thrive, to add interest and create a welcoming quality as people arrive. 

In the second image you can view the skeleton of the interior atrium, where the ‘living forest’ will be planted. When complete it will allow natural light to flood in from the roof space to ground floor, ramping up the sense of openness and lush greenery - whichever floor you are on. 

The building is one of the flagships developments in our campus expansion programme and will open for teaching early next year – and we can’t wait! 

It’s part of our School of Health and Society – one of our biggest Schools – with responsibility for over 10,000 students. The £54m new-build has been designed by AHR Architects, with Kier as the lead contractor.

We are one of the biggest providers of healthcare, wellness and sports degrees in the North of England, and the centre will be the base for courses including Occupational Therapy, Prosthetics & Orthotics, Podiatry and Sport Rehabilitation.

It will also be a health and wellbeing hub right at the heart of the community here in Salford when we open up clinics and healthy living sessions for a wide range of groups. You can already sense the impact it’s going to have on campus and the wider community!

The site forms part of the University’s Campus Connectivity Plan (CCP) which is the major redevelopment of our research, teaching and public spaces. The University is  a partner in the wider Crescent Salford masterplan, along with Salford City Council and ECF.  

Vicky Halliwell is Pro Vice Chancellor (PVC) Dean of the School of Health and Society and has led the project from its outset. “Every time I walk past the Thrive site something has changed, it’s very exciting to see it coming to life,” says Vicky. “When it’s finished it will be an incredible resource for people in Salford and GM who are interested in all aspects of healthcare, and we are excited to open its doors early next year.” 

It’s one of the first projects in the UK to embed trauma-informed design throughout, with biophilic design principles and an all-electric approach. Combined these will help create an accessible,  healthy and welcoming place – at the same time as targeting building design standards BREEAM Excellent and WELL Gold.

Robert Hopkins, Lead Architect at AHR said: “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: “We’re making strong progress on the University of Salford’s Thrive building, with the scheme continuing to take shape both internally and externally. Drawing on Kier’s extensive experience in delivering inspiring healthcare environments, the team is bringing a collaborative and quality-led approach to every stage of the project.

“It’s fantastic to see this important facility moving closer to reality, and we look forward to continuing our close partnership with the University and wider project team to bring Thrive to life.”

The Crescent Salford regeneration, of which the University is a partner, 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. 

Read all about Thrive on our webpage - including a digital brochure on the space - here. 

Any queries about the new building and how we can use it to work with our students, colleagues and our community please email us at Thrive-enquiries@Salford.ac.uk 

With thanks to AHR for the images