University’s refurbished School of Education building earns commendation for sustainable design

The building on the Exton Park campus received the accolade in the Cheshire West Design Awards for 2025 with the team behind the work received the award during a ceremony in Chester Town Hall. The Awards for Sustainability were presented by VELUX UK. 

Formerly known as Molloy, using Office for Students funding the School of Education building was fully refurbished in an environmentally sustainable nature and includes recycled furniture from other areas of the University. The building features large ‘living walls’, a state-of-the-art cinema room; an auditorium with retractable seating; purpose-built Science Suites; dedicated Art and Design spaces; direct access to Seaborne Library; a new lift and accessible toilets and showers and changing facilities. The building was officially opened last October. 

The ceremony celebrated many of the region’s architectural design and property professionals gather to celebrate Cheshire West’s best places and building projects completed over the last four years in five categories – commercial, community, public realm, residential and sustainable design and construction. 

Lucy Fitzhugh, Executive Director of Estates and Commercial Operations at the University of Chester, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to see the refurbishment of the School of Education recognised in this way and I would like to extend my thanks to everyone who worked so hard to bring this project to such a successful conclusion.  

“I would also like to thank the Cheshire West Design Awards for inviting us to the awards.” 

For more information about the awards visit https://www.cwda.uk/