Reconstruction underway after £65m Sheffield University building torn down due to dodgy foundations

The steel and concrete central ‘drum’ of the social sciences building on Whitham Road is almost complete, along with most of the ground floor slabs.

A spokesman for builders BAM said internal fit-out should follow in summer. Sheffield University expects it be complete late next year and in use in 2023.

A BAM spokesman said relations with the university remained positive.

He added: “There are ongoing discussions with technical experts about the commercial aspects of the revised programme, but these are also both amicable and positive. We hope to reach a conclusion over this in the coming months.”

The other parties involved are believed to include structural engineers Mott Macdonald and piling contractor Cementation Skanska.

BAM’s accounts show several provisions totalling £30m for the project and other issues.

A university spokeswoman said: “As we've stated before, the university is not liable for any additional costs due to the deconstruction.”

Construction of the flagship building on started in 2019 on a former reservoir between Northumberland Road and Whitham Road.

But the foundations were not deep enough and movement was detected in the concrete frame last summer. In July 2020 BAM said partial demolition was necessary due to subsidence.

Then it said the it had to knock down the entire structure and re-start on new foundations.

The news was met with dismay by long-suffering residents who had already complained about noise.

The building was designed by Sheffield firm HLM Architects.

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Thank you. Nancy Fielder, editor.