Delivering High Performance M&E Systems for a Landmark Healthcare Education Facility

The Emily Siddon Building (Southgate 2) development marked a significant milestone in the University of Huddersfield’s commitment to advancing healthcare education in the North of England. Designed to house the UK’s first NHS Community Diagnostic Centre Hub on a university campus, the building now forms a central part of the new Health and Wellbeing Academy. The facility was created to deliver real world clinical training and diagnostic services within a higher education setting.

The development successfully blends academic excellence with healthcare innovation, providing students, staff, and clinicians with a purpose-built environment. The intent of the building was clear from the outset: deliver a facility that supports modern healthcare learning while enabling diagnostic services to operate effectively within a university campus.

We were appointed by Kier Construction to deliver the full mechanical and electrical building services package for this landmark project. Our contract covered design development, installation, testing, and commissioning of all building systems, with our focus remaining on technically robust, compliant, and efficient engineering solutions that support the University’s long-term operational goals.

From early engagement through to final handover, we approached the scheme as a large-scale, integrated M&E delivery where resilience, compliance, and long-term performance were essential. The result is a facility that strengthens regional healthcare education provision and supports the University’s wider ambitions through reliable building engineering.

In addition, we completed lightning protection, photovoltaic installations, and full sprinkler coverage. These elements were integrated into the wider design and delivery approach to ensure the building met the required safety expectations and supported the wider performance goals of the development.

Across all mechanical systems, our priority was efficiency, resilience, and ease of operation for the end user. Every element of the installation was delivered with a focus on long-term performance and compliance, ensuring the facility remains practical, reliable, and fit for purpose.

Delivering joined-up system integration across mechanical, electrical, and controls ensured the building could operate as a cohesive whole. The result is a facility where performance, visibility, and energy optimisation are embedded into everyday operation.

Heb Group are very proud of our long-standing relationship with Kier Construction, which developed further through early proactive engagement on the exciting and prestigious University of Huddersfield Emily Siddon Building project. We provided cost, programme, logistics, and practical design advice from the outset, becoming an integral part of the design and delivery team and securing our largest ever single contract award in summer 2024.

Working closely with Waldeck (re-branded to Morson - Praxis in late 2025), we completed the detailed MEP design ahead of commencing on site in early 2025. We appointed a highly experienced and proactive project delivery team, led by Ryan O’Connell, to meet the demanding programme while delivering a first-class service in terms of safety and quality. Delivering a project of this size and complexity is a real testament to the people involved, and having a scheme of this calibre within our portfolio significantly strengthens our reputation across the region.

Paul Dobson - Group Operations Director, Heb Group

Progress on site was maintained across all levels from L0 to L4, including the roof. Structured handovers of ceiling and floor voids supported smooth progression of follow-on trades, helping maintain delivery momentum across the programme.

Close coordination with Kier Construction allowed ceiling installations, fire-stopping, and floor finishes to proceed efficiently. This coordinated sequencing was key to maintaining a controlled programme and ensuring that interfaces between building services and other trades were managed properly.

Despite minor work-face access challenges during the programme, we managed the project through to completion. MEP commissioning was delivered in line with programme requirements, maintaining focus on safety, quality, and compliance throughout.

Practical completion was achieved in early 2026, with milestones delivered safely and to a high standard of quality. Delivering this scheme within a live university campus environment required careful planning, structured communication, and consistent collaboration across all stakeholders.