The redevelopment of the University of Sheffield's campus moved a step closer to completion this week with the topping out of the Jessop West building.

Located at the heart of the Sheffield campus, the new energy-efficient home for the Department of History and the Schools for English, and Modern Landuages and Linguistics, was designed by German-based architects Sauerbruch Hutton in collaboration with British architects RMJM.

The building is designed with the wellbeing of students, staff and the environment in mind. Some 400 users will benefit from naturally ventilated spaces flooded with natural light, which has been widely reported to increase productivity and promote happiness and healthiness in the workplace. The target CO2 emissions for the building stand at an impressive 40% less than other naturally ventilated developments.

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A bio diverse, green roof, as well as other initiatives such as the reduction of water consumption through water efficient fixtures and fittings and the selection of low-impact finishes will also contribute to the impact of the development on the environment.

Dana Raydan, RMJM's lead architect on the project, commented: "The RMJM team is very pleased with the collaborative effort and creative energy invested in Jessop West. We have high hopes that students, staff and visitors to the building will benefit from the efforts we have made to design a healthy, sustainable environment."

The University of Sheffield appointed RMJM for the Jessop West project in 2006 through the University’s framework agreement. The framework encourages the consolidation of departments and schools that are currently housed in accommodation that do not functionally meet their needs. In 2007, RMJM completed the Information Commons building, which is now considered as a significant new landmark for the city of Sheffield.

Jessop West is due for completion at the end of 2008.

(JM)