Greenhead College in Huddersfield has named its new science building after Fellow of Corpus Professor and Greenhead alumna Judy Hirst FRS FMedSci. The Hirst Building was officially opened by HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO on Tuesday 23 April

Fully funded by the Department for Education, and developed and constructed by Mace and Galliford Try, replaces the College’s 1960s Science block with vibrant, modern classrooms and laboratories for the teaching of A Levels in Biology, Chemistry, Medical Science, Politics and Psychology. It also contains study and social space for all students. Its eco-friendly features include a bio roof and solar panels, which support the College's drive for environmental sustainability — fittingly, as Judy is Corpus's Sustainability Advisor.

Jack Broomhead, Senior Project Manager at Galliford Try, said, “We are proud to have been part of creating this Net Zero carbon in operation facility for Greenhead College, demonstrating what can be achieved with a firm focus on sustainability.”

About Judy Hirst

Judy is Director of the Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit (MRC-MBU) at the University of Cambridge. Her research specialises in mitrochondrial biology, combining structural, biochemical and chemical techniques to pioneer studies of energy conversion in complex redox enzymes. She is Professor of Biological Chemistry at the MRC-MBU and Director of Studies in Natural Sciences Chemistry at Corpus. 

Simon Lett, Principal at Greenhead College said: “This new resource is named after Professor Judy Hirst, a former student of Greenhead College, whose support for science and especially championing women in STEM is truly valued. As one of the most successful Sixth Form Colleges in the country, these new classrooms and labs will enable Greenhead to go from strength-to-strength.”

Commenting on having the building named after her, Judy said, “It's a great honour to have the fantastic new science building at Greenhead College named after me. 

"Greenhead is where I started my journey as a scientist - it showed me I could succeed and sent me off into the world. It's also part of my identity.  My family have lived in Huddersfield for many generations (my grandmother attended Greenhead High School for Girls, as it was then) and the Hirst Building renews my sense of belonging and of being part of the Greenhead community. But most of all, I am delighted to give my name to a building where so many talented young people will come to learn and study, and I look forward to seeing both Greenhead and its students continue to go from strength-to-strength.”

Many congratulations to Judy.

Photo credits: Matt Radcliffe Photography