News

Current works

• Signage is currently getting updated in some areas of the building, ask our staff for help if you cannot find your way. If you are looking for the meeting Rainbow Rooms, the venues or the Studios you can click here for directions from both main entrances and the Foyer.

So what’s going to change?

The renovation is a major project that will take place in phases over the course of two years. This first phase, happening this summer, will focus on the foyer, first floor corridor, second floor corridor and rooms and the staircase. As separate a project to overhaul Terrace into a more experiential, modern and design-led space, that’s fit for the students of today will begin later in the year.

Our building is a bold, creative and imaginative place, and is the backdrop to loads of inspiring activity every single day, whether that’s political campaigns, social events or innovative work to benefit our community and beyond. We want to bring more of that creative spirit and personality to our building, whilst introducing more storytelling and inclusive design to reflect our values as an organisation.

We want our spaces to welcome, inform, connect and inspire, so to kick that off we’ll be giving a makeover to the areas identified above, focusing on themes including LUU’s history, student leadership, sustainability, clubs and societies, and diverse and international.

What’s the inspiration?

All the plans have been shaped by students – including the Student Exec, student trustees, and student focus group participants – as well as feedback and data collected from the wider student community in previous surveys. Through this consultation and detailed consideration of our own values, we’ve placed an emphasis on ensuring accessibility and inclusivity across the building through things like paint colours, signage formats, information locations and the purposes of certain spaces, as well as a focus on sustainability and wellness.

We’ve also taken inspiration from visits to other students’ unions, including in the USA. Trips to Ohio and Wisconsin gave us some exciting ideas around storytelling and history to create a sense of belonging and unity, which we hope to carry through in our own refurbishment.

We’ve been working with two reputable design companies on the project: Sheila Bird Studio on Living the Union and Nanu Soda for Terrace.

When will these works be finished?

We’re aiming for the current phase of work for Living The Union to be complete by the time the academic year kicks off in September and Terrace to be complete in January, meaning any disruption will be limited to the summer months and winter break when fewer students are in the building.

If you’re in Leeds, you’re still more than welcome to use the LUU building over the summer.

Got any questions or feedback about the project? Let us know below.

Throughout the year you’ll be able to see the full plans of what’s in store in the LUU Foyer, but here’s a little sneak peek if you’re not in the city, courtesy of Nanu Soda and Sheila Bird Studio.

This shows some of the fixtures and finishes you can expect in the redesigned LUU foyer.