University of Leeds Brownlee Centre

Award winning state of the art facilities for elite athletes, students and the wider community, in north Leeds.

The project, funded by University of Leeds and UK Sport and British Cycling was let by the University and procured via the YORbuild2 framework. The project has gone on to win the Best Value category at the Yorkshire and Humber Construction in Excellence Awards and also beat off national competition to win Best Refurbishment at the Education Estates Awards.

The facility was built to capitalise on Yorkshire's Tour De France Legacy and the annual Tour De Yorkshire. It is a state of the art facility offering strength and conditioning, physiotherapy and support services to elite athletes as well as providing an environment for students to develop and fulfil their potential as future athletes.

The facilities, including the 1.6 kilometre tarmac closed road cycle circuit and pitches are available for use by staff, students and the wider community, with the University continuing to support grass roots sport.

The centre has become the home of British Triathlon. Jonny Brownlee, Olympic Triathlon medallist and UoL Alumni, described the project as “very exciting”. He said: “It would take the triathlon facilities to the next level and make Leeds the complete triathlon city”.

The project  was undertaken alongside Gardiner and Theobald who were managing the project for the client, Architects Farrell & Clark Ltd. Quantity Surveyors Rex Proctor & Partners and structural and civil consultants Curtins. The project cost of £5M and was delivered over 63 weeks.

Construction Director Dave Padden said:

“Houlton were very excited to be involved in this project. The scheme offers students first class, state of the art facilities as well as continuing to provide grass roots sports in the wider community.

For us, the fact that Houlton, a long established company with a tradition of providing investment and opportunity for its own staff, was given the opportunity, to be associated with  the University’s investment in its aspiring athletes of the future as well as existing Elite athletes, makes us immensely proud”

The facility has been renamed the 'Brownlee Centre' in honour of the British athletes Jonny and Alistair who officially opened it in April 2017