Care on Every Floor
Murray Health is the University of Sunderland’s redevelopment of the former Murray Library on Chester Road. The project provides a permanent home for the School of Medicine and the School of Psychology. The building cultivates a cohesive environment where education, healthcare training, and research coexist.
Overview
Commissioned by the University of Sunderland, the project formed part of a long‑term investment in modern teaching environments across the city campus. Phased construction allowed the building to remain in use while it was reconfigured, preserving continuity for students and staff. The renewed facility now houses the School of Medicine on level three and the School of Psychology on level two, with the library on level one. It includes state‑of‑the‑art teaching spaces, seminar rooms, a bespoke examination suite, and staff work areas.
Phase 1, completed in 2021, delivered problem-based learning rooms, multifunction briefing suites, and digital lecture facilities. Phase 2, completed in 2023, added psychology accommodation, collaborative and quiet study areas, a BMA‑compliant skills lab and examination facility, silent labs, digital lecture rooms, and one‑to‑one spaces. A Technology-Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) space provides a flexible environment for teaching and hands-on learning.
- Year 2023
- Location Sunderland
- Client University of Sunderland
- Project Sectors Education
Design Approach
The refurbishment reconfigured the existing library to meet the needs of health sciences education. Teaching and research areas were arranged around clear circulation routes, while new seminar rooms, examination facilities, and staff offices created a coherent network of spaces. Specialist learning rooms, including a TEAL suite and problem-based learning facilities, support active pedagogy for medical and psychological training. Carefully phased works ensured the building remained operational throughout, minimising disruption to ongoing teaching and library services.
Result
Today, Murray Health accommodates a full cohort of medical and psychology students and supports the university’s wider health sciences programmes. The School of Medicine benefits from a 120-person Technology-Enhanced Active Learning space, silent study zones, breakout areas, and an examination suite. The School of Psychology offers a 60‑person IT skills lab, digital one‑to‑one rooms, silent study spaces, and versatile seminar rooms. The building hosts advanced teaching, examinations, and community health activities, supporting the university’s commitment to training health professionals within the region.
“It is truly wonderful to be occupying the new medical school, which is supporting the ambitions of the medical students and staff.”
Professor Scott Wilkes
Head of the School of Medicine
People
Facilities for the next generation of medical and health professionalsClose dialogue between architects, academics, and university staff shaped the project. With input from the medical and psychology schools, the design team created flexible spaces tailored to the teaching methods of each discipline and end user. Vice‑Chancellor Sir David Bell noted that the completed building allows the university to build on its work in preparing health professionals for the NHS and other healthcare settings.
“It’s been wonderful to play a part in creating facilities for the next generation of medical and health professionals, people who are carrying out vital work in our communities every day. To see the building in use and supporting their learning is something we’re really proud of.”
David Coundon
Director at SPACE Architects
Planet
Devoted to the wellbeing of both people and planetIn a building devoted to health, the refurbishment extends that care to the planet itself. The existing structure was retained and upgraded to minimise material waste and preserve embodied carbon. Daylight-responsive lighting and efficient mechanical systems reduce operational energy use. High‑performance glazing and insulation improve thermal efficiency, while solar panels installed on the roof contribute renewable electricity and support the university’s carbon reduction targets.
Place
Continuing the legacy of Sir Bob MurrayStudents, staff, and visitors access the building through a new entrance on Chester Road, reinforcing its public presence and linking it to the broader campus network. Murray Health continues the legacy of Sir Bob Murray, who supported the building’s original library. The renovation sustains this connection by providing a facility that meets the needs of the university and the wider community. The project is part of Sunderland City Council’s regeneration efforts. Its transformation into a centre for medical education and health research strengthens Sunderland’s role as a city of learning and care.
Credits
- Photography Andrew Hepinstall
- Design Team David Coundon, Gillian Cockett
