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Education

Leeds Trinity University- Health and Life Science Building

Actiform delivered a landmark modular Health and Life Science Building for Leeds Trinity University — a fully equipped clinical simulation facility designed to produce workforce-ready healthcare graduates and directly address local skills gaps in health and social care.

Expertise
  • Clinical simulation environment design (HBN/HTM-informed)
  • Modular higher education construction
  • Stakeholder-led design and technical coordination
Deliverables
  • Clinical skills suites, anatomy & physiology labs, and consultation rooms
  • Advanced M&E systems supporting clinical equipment and simulation technology
  • Sustainable modular build aligned with the university’s carbon reduction commitments

Leeds Trinity University needed a facility that could bridge the gap between academic teaching and real-world clinical practice — replicating NHS-standard environments within a university setting, while integrating seamlessly into the existing campus and supporting new digital and simulation-led teaching methods. The build also had to minimise disruption to a live campus and deliver on the university’s sustainability commitments.

Challenge

Solution

  1. 01/

    Challenge

    University teaching spaces rarely meet the clinical standards required to train healthcare professionals authentically — creating a gap between education and NHS workplace readiness.

    Solution

    Actiform worked directly with the university’s academic team to design key teaching areas in line with Health Building Notes (HBN) and Health Technical Memoranda (HTM), replicating NHS standards in simulation and consultation zones. The result is a facility where students train in conditions that closely mirror the environments they’ll enter as professionals.

  2. 02/

    Challenge

    The facility needed to house sophisticated clinical equipment, simulation technologies, and digital teaching platforms — all requiring advanced, coordinated mechanical and electrical infrastructure.

    Solution

    The internal fit-out incorporated advanced M&E systems specifically designed to support clinical simulation equipment and digital platforms. Working alongside IT consultants, simulation specialists, and estates teams, Actiform ensured every service was positioned and specified to support the university’s evolving teaching requirements.

  3. 03/

    Challenge

    The building’s external form needed to complement existing campus architecture while its construction had to avoid disrupting the day-to-day operations of a working university.

    Solution

    The modular construction approach enabled rapid on-site installation with minimal campus disruption. The building’s massing and external appearance were designed in close collaboration with estates teams to respect the surrounding context, ensuring the new facility felt like a natural extension of the university estate.

Our Approach

Delivery was shaped by extensive stakeholder engagement — bringing together academic leads, simulation specialists, estates teams, and IT consultants to ensure the layout, services, and finishes genuinely supported new modes of healthcare education. Actiform’s modular approach was central to both the programme and the sustainability outcomes, significantly reducing waste, site disruption, and embodied carbon compared to a traditional build.

The facility incorporates high-performance insulation, low-energy lighting, smart heating and ventilation controls, and responsibly sourced materials — all aligned with Leeds Trinity’s environmental and carbon reduction commitments. Infection control, user safety, and long-term durability were prioritised throughout the design.

During construction, the project also supported regional employment, contributing to the university’s broader goal of improving social mobility through education.

The Results

7Specialist space types

HBN & HTMCompliant teaching spaces

NHSClinical simulation environments

Working closely with our estates and clinical leads, Actiform supported the design and build of a new modular emergency care unit at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow. The team helped us move away from traditional, siloed structures towards a flexible, technology-enabled space, working hand in hand with our design team to deliver a future-focused build, fully integrated into hospital operations.

Pasqualino Risi

Associate director of Estates and Facilities, Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust