The Wave

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The Wave sets the standard for sustainable design in higher education. The beautiful BREEAM Outstanding building sits within thriving new public parks, and brings together students, staff and researchers from disparate locations into one world-class facility.

Client: University of Sheffield, Faculty of Social Sciences
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Value: £65 million

Services

Interior design
Landscape architecture
Social value
Sustainability

Awards

Winner, Student/Pupil Experience, Education Estates Awards 2025
FX Design Awards

Press

Architecture Vogue

Social value

The Wave was designed to provide an environment that supports equality, diversity and inclusion, and is an asset to the wider community, blending academic and social spaces in one cohesive structure.

Our detailed stakeholder engagement informed the design of spaces for neurodiversity, social anxiety, different faiths and genders, creating a welcoming, safe environment where everyone feels comfortable working, and part of a wider community.

The Wave serves as a community asset, offering space for both students and local residents. Public pocket parks provide relaxation areas, benefitting both the university population and local community. The central atria acts as a performance space and informal social area while the adjacent cafe hosts community events, such as Weston Park Cancer Charity coffee mornings, offering a social and support space for hospital visitors.

Social value

Impact

We used a range of stakeholder engagement techniques to make sure everyone felt they had a voice
Through regular newsletters we kept local residents informed of the works through all the stages of the project
We hosted visits by schools from underrepresented areas to encourage students to go onto to higher education or pursue careers in the built environment
We held lectures about the design of building at the University, and recorded videos about the design for local schools to increase awareness of the design process

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HLM Architects understood and captured the ambitions of the Faculty and Academic mission with pride and awareness for the impact of the building on the legacy of the University and wider city region.

Laura Armitage Former Faculty Estates & Infrastructure Manager

In focus
Landscape

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Public realm was key to the success of the Wave and the expansion of the University’s campus, and builds on our award-winning public realm scheme for the University of Sheffield Concourse.

Addressing concerns raised by the local community during early engagement sessions, we created a healthier urban environment by carbon sequestration, stormwater management, and providing natural habitats for wildlife.

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Two new ‘pocket parks’ create spaces for people to socialise, or sit quietly in comfort and safety.

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A consistent palette of materials unifies the campus public realm and encourages active and passive activities.

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Our landscape design combines a resilient planting strategy that plays a crucial part in mitigating climate change, and creates a healthy environment for students, staff and the public.

Simon Bell Director & Sustainability Sponsor

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The Wave is an excellent opportunity for people to regroup and just to spend time together … we’re really enjoying using this space.

Cat Rhone Deputy CEO of Western Park Cancer Charity

Higher Education Architects, The Wave, HLM Architects, University of Sheffield

Sustainability

We designed the Wave to be the most environmentally sustainable building on the University’s estate.

Encapsulating our thoughtful design approach, we considered the sustainability of the building in its widest sense – human, social, economic and environmental sustainability.

The Wave is all-electric, EPC ‘A’ rated and enabled to be net zero carbon in operation. The new building maximises space utilisation to support anticipated growth of student numbers to 2035, while minimising the footprint of the building and reducing running costs.

Setting an ambitious new standard in sustainable building practices in higher education, we’ve created a benchmark for future developments.

Sustainability and Regenerative Design

Project data

BREEAM Outstanding
EPC ‘A’ rating
Enabled for net zero carbon in operation

In focus
Interior design

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The Wave is our first net zero building as we work towards the whole university reaching this important milestone. HLM has been, and continue to be, a trusted partner for us to work with, and the new building is the culmination of a great team effort.

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Internal finishes were chosen to establish a connection with the outdoors, with natural materials and textures used that mimic those found in nature.

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Through detailed interior planning, key spaces were positioned within the floor plates to make the most of the natural light and views out.

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Our thoughtful design approach

The new 16,600m² building is home to five departments previously split over 18 locations: Sociological Studies, Journalism, the School of Education, Sheffield Methods Institute, and the Information School.

Our architectural design reflects the interdisciplinary nature of social sciences, with overlapping floorplates emphasising the fluidity between disciplines. The Wave is simply organised around a central atrium with a dramatic tessellated glass roof flooding the space with daylight. The striking, rhythmic ‘wave’ façade is carefully designed and detailed to control the internal environment.

Around the atrium is a stimulating mix of learning, research, study and social spaces, providing visual and physical links across the building and to the green landscape outside.