The new Stephenson Building at Newcastle University marks a major step forward in education redevelopment. Carefully designed and delivered, it sets out to create a learning environment that inspires both current students and future generations to explore and research life sciences.
At the core of its sustainable approach is an exposed hybrid structure of steel and engineered timber, proudly showcasing the building’s engineering throughout.
Set to become a world-class centre for engineering excellence—and reflecting Newcastle-upon-Tyne’s key role in the regeneration of the North—the Stephenson Building is a £70m transformation of an existing teaching facility, originally opened in 1951 by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.
For this forward-thinking and highly sustainable redevelopment, Newcastle University brought together an experienced team, including NORR Architects and main contractor Bowmer + Kirkland.
B&K Hybrid Solutions (BKHS) was appointed to design, manufacture, and install the structural frame. This includes a complex roof made up of glulam beams and Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), along with composite metal decking towards the rear of the building.
A series of roof lights and extensive glazing flood the interior with natural light, while the atrium roof is supported by distinctive Y-shaped steel columns.
To bring the architect’s vision to life, BKHS worked closely with its structural timber supply chain partners, Stora Enso and Hasslacher, who manufactured the CLT and glulam components. Specialist timber engineer Engenuiti also played a key role in developing the intricate connection design.
The architectural concept centred on turning the original building ‘inside out’, transforming a traditional, cellular academic layout into a more open and collaborative space. Exposing the structure, services, and internal spaces was a deliberate choice, creating a dynamic and uplifting environment that highlights the building’s engineering.
Lee Roberts, pre-construction director at BKHS, said: “The Stephenson Building presented another welcomed opportunity to work with our long-term supply chain partners. These relationships ensure we benefit from established working procedures, which ultimately helped to achieve the highest standards of accuracy required for this project.”
These established partnerships proved especially important given the project’s challenges, including the building’s cranked form and the diagonal arrangement of the glulam elements, which feature a 4m-wide overhang.
Combining steel and glulam beams with CLT and composite metal decking required a team with strong experience in hybrid construction. BKHS drew on 50 years of expertise in both steel and timber to navigate these complexities. For instance, where diagonally arranged beams intersect within the cantilever, intricate moment connections were needed to maintain structural continuity.
Sustainability benefits
Alongside the construction advantages, the use of timber brought significant sustainability gains.
Primarily made from Norway Spruce and backed by a full PEFC chain of custody, the 418.4m³ of CLT panels and 315.1m³ of glulam beams can sequester 548.4 tonnes of CO2e. Remarkably, all the timber used on the project will have regrown in just 101 seconds, supporting the principles of a circular economy.
The project also benefited from BKHS delivering both the engineered timber and structural steel elements of the hybrid frame—an important factor given the complexity of the build sequence and site constraints.
Early collaboration helped ensure smooth integration between materials, allowing transitions to be carefully planned before installation—an essential part of the project’s success.
Now complete, the building provides 198,000 sq ft of new and refurbished space, including inclusive learning areas and flexible teaching laboratories. These facilities support cross-disciplinary collaboration and foster innovative partnerships across the university.
Timber’s biophilic qualities and sustainability credentials also align closely with the education sector’s growing environmental priorities.
“The Stephenson Building is part of Newcastle University’s investment in quality facilities that deliver an outstanding student experience and an excellent environment for our students’ learning, teaching and research,” concluded Professor Chris Day, vice-chancellor at Newcastle University.
“The project also embodies our commitment to sustainability and enables new, exciting and diverse sustainability-driven curriculum within engineering and with other disciplines.”
