At the end of July 2025, HEM Architects were able to celebrate the launch of ‘Adventures’ a new community space for Sharrow in Sheffield.
The new community centre will provide a state-of-the-art space for the local community, particularly for families and young people. In addition, its new facilities will include a versatile studio where fitness and dance sessions can take place. Furthermore, the centre will offer space for youth clubs and activities, especially during school holidays.
Leading the bid for a new hub
HEM Architects supported Sharrow Community Forum back in December 2022 in leading the bid for a new community hub to replace the existing small, dark and uncomfortable building at the adventure playground.
We were able to work with the Sharrow Community Forum and its users to design a space that would work well for them, get planning approval for a brand new centre and create the technical design needed to find a main contractor.
Reducing our role as lead designers
Following the tender, our role reduced significantly. The design exceeded the initial cost plan and couldn’t be delivered within the budget.
The client chose to move away from a traditional contract and adopted a design-and-build procurement route to manage costs more closely.
They handed the project over to Jarvale Construction Ltd, who appointed Southgate & Sarabia Architects to lead the work and successfully maintained the original design vision.
Fast forward 18 months and the building is now complete and welcoming its first users. At the opening it was a pleasure to see how excited everyone is that this has happened in their community.
We think the building’s brilliant and the people it’s there for clearly do too. Isn’t this what architecture is about in the end?
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