Hobson & Porter has completed the topping out phase of what is believed to be the first purpose-built women’s centre in the UK for 20 years, bringing the scheme close to completion.
Preston Road Women’s Centre – known locally as Purple House – offers women and girls from across Hull access to domestic violence and abuse services, sexual health services, outreach support, nursery provision, accredited courses, a housing service, legal services, a volunteer programme and a young women’s participation project.
Established in 2000, it has directly helped more than 4000 women, and engaged with many thousands more from its current building on Preston Road. As its services have grown, the organisation has outgrown its current space.
Ann Clarkson, Centre Coordinator for Preston Road Women’s Centre, said: “Though our old centre has served us well, we are excited to be so close to moving into the new building, a move we have been planning for the last two years.
“Over the last 18 years we have helped so many women across Hull and we are thrilled to be able to extend our services to even more women and children with this new building.”
The new centre, designed by architect Helen Smith of LNS Partnership, will include a charity shop, bigger nursery, more meeting and teaching rooms and more. The design was completed in collaboration with the Purple House team to ensure it incorporates all their requirements and vision for the centre.
The new building has a very complex roof structure with roof hips, ridges and rafters meeting at multiple complex junctions, combined with complex glazing installations to maximise light. The roof also has a number of velux windows and ‘light tunnels’ which reflect light down a stainless-steel tube into the first-floor ceilings.
Dave Blades, Business Development Director for Hobson & Porter, said: “We are now in the final stages of the construction of the new Preston Road Women’s Centre, which will be handed over next month.
“The construction of the centre has been a wonderful project to be involved in and we have greatly enjoyed working with the centre’s team and learning what a difference this work will make to the local community.
“Hobson & Porter has always been proud to work on schemes that have a positive impact on the communities we serve, and this custom-built centre will ensure the centre has all the facilities they need, and a comfortable and modern space fit for such a worthy organisation.”
