Work has officially commenced on site to deliver a new consolidated home for the University of York’s Archaeology department at the Berrick Saul Building, marking a significant milestone in the department’s relocation programme.

We are providing Architectural and Lead Designer Services, working closely with the wider project team, including Lindum, Link MEP, Dome and CDC. Our primary objective for the designs of this project is to bring together the Archaeology department, currently dispersed across King’s Manor and a number of other locations throughout York, into a single, purpose-built hub. The relocation will create operational efficiencies, strengthen collaboration, and provide a unified base for teaching, research and specialist activity.

In addition to providing flexible teaching and research space, the scheme integrates a number of highly specialist facilities designed to support the department’s evolving needs. These include an ancient DNA (aDNA) laboratory, digital laboratories incorporating a digital heritage recreational centre, dedicated research and collections rooms, and a virtual reality space. Each of these areas has been carefully designed to meet specific technical, environmental and operational requirements essential to their function.

Stakeholder engagement and inclusivity have been central to the project’s development. The design process has been shaped through extensive collaboration with end users, including a series of workshops, site visits and online meetings to ensure their requirements and aspirations are fully reflected in the scheme. In parallel, the project team has undertaken a number of accessibility consultations with the University of York, helping to ensure the building provides an inclusive environment where all users feel supported and welcome.

Alex Proctor, Project Partner at GSSArchitecture, commented: “Seeing the project start on site at Berrick Saul is a really exciting moment for everyone involved. The success of the scheme to date is a testament to the engagement of the whole project team, working closely with the end users to bring together a diverse range of specialist spaces into one inclusive home for the department.”

Robin Beattie, Assistant Director: Capital Development at the University of York, expressed: “We’re pleased to be working with GSSArchitecture again on a project of this scale and complexity. Their experience and collaborative approach have helped us develop a facility that not only consolidates our Archaeology provision but also delivers the specialist environments the department needs for world leading research and teaching.”

Once complete, the new facility will provide a modern, inclusive and technically robust environment that supports the future growth of the Archaeology department and enhances the University of York’s research and teaching offer. Meanwhile, elsewhere on campus, our Leeds studio is making great strides, having recently delivered the new Interdisciplinary Facility for Indoor Air Quality and Health Research.