Our new Thrive Health and Wellbeing Centre
The University of Salford is delivering a new health building to support education, training and recruitment of health care professionals.
University of Salford names landmark new building
See below for architect images of the new building
The University of Salford has 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.”
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 is under construction by Kier. It 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.
If you would like to find out more about partnership working in our new Thrive Health and Wellbeing Centre please contact estates-ccp@salford.ac.uk and put Health Building in the subject line. If you would like to find out more about studying in our new health building, visit School of Health and Society.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the new building open?
Our Health and Wellbeing building is scheduled for completion in October 2026.
I’d like to explore a potential partnership who do I contact at the University?
We’d love to hear from you!
Please email estates-ccp@salford.ac.uk and put Health and Wellbeing Building in the subject line. We will respond as soon as we can.
Why is the new building needed?
The new building will support the training of future healthcare professionals. It will also allow us to run health and wellbeing services on site, which will mean that our students gain invaluable placement experience.
The building will also enable us as a university to increase our existing research programmes which meet the highest academic standards and which translate into practical solutions that benefit society on a local, national and global scale.
What will be taught in the new health and wellbeing building?
The new building will provide facilities for Occupational Therapy, Sport Science, Podiatry, Prosthetic and Orthotics and Sports Rehabilitation teaching and research. There will also be a Gait Lab for analysis on the ground floor.
In time community healthcare clinics will take place within as well as research programmes and a range of therapeutic services such as mother and child health sessions and weight management clinics.
What are some of the stand-out features of the new building?
The all-electric building will be highly sustainable, meeting BREEAM Excellent and WELL Gold building standards.
It will have an attractive roof space and terraces, as well as a daylight flooded atrium and extensive indoor planting to enhance the sense of wellbeing and healthy living.
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.
Who is the architect, and who is the contractor?
The building has been designed by AHR Architects, and Kier are the contractors.
What are the green sustainability credentials of the proposals?
We will offer health and wellbeing services to support healthier living for all.
The new all-electric health building will be highly sustainable, meeting BREEAM Excellent and WELL Gold building standards. It will feature an accessible roof garden, solar panels on the atrium roof, extensive biophilic indoor planting, rainwater harvesting, wildflower areas and native tree planting as well as cycle parking facilities.
What about biodiversity, how are you protecting local plants and wildlife?
The new building development and site wide landscaping scheme proposed means we will deliver a Biodiversity Net Gain of 25%, significantly higher than the 10% required by planning.
New trees, honeybee and wildflower meadows and green spaces will be open for everyone including colleagues, students and the public to enjoy.
Where can I keep up to date with building work and temporary disruptions nearby?
We have a travel updates page.
Our building contractors have installed a timelapse camera on site and we will share video as the build progresses.
For other queries please email estates-ccp@salford.ac.uk and put Health and Wellbeing Building in the subject line, and we will respond as soon as we can.
How can I find out more if I am a student or staff at University of Salford?
Students wanting to know more information can visit University of Salford Student Hub - (a student login is required).
Staff wanting to know more information can visit University of Salford Hub - (a staff login is required).