The WELL Building Standard in the Daphne Steele Building

The Daphne Steele Building has been built to the WELL Building Standards

The Daphne Steele Building is the second University of Huddersfield building to be constructed to the WELL Building Standard, as part of the new National Health Innovation Campus. The building became operational in September 2024 and received it's Pre-certification for the Platinum WELL Building Standard in September 2024.

The WELL Building Standard is a method of designing and operating a building in a way that enhances the wellbeing and health of those who use it. Learn more about the Well Building Standard. 

It gained full WELL Certification on the 21st August 2025. It is the largest WELL-certified University building in the UK and number 10 in the world.

Daphne Steele wasn't the first building at Huddersfield University to be awarded Platinum WELL Building Standards status; The Jo Cox More in Common Centre, which became operational in 2023, also has this status. 

What is the Daphne Steele Building?

This building is named after the UK’s first black matron, Daphne Steele, who emigrated to the UK from Guyana in the 1940s.

The building named in Daphne’s honour will be the first building on the new National Health Innovation Campus to help to improve health outcomes and lead innovation in healthcare for the North of England. It will bring together public-facing facilities including award-winning student-led clinics, and be a focus for entrepreneurial academic activity, serving the regional and wider health economy in strong public-private partnerships. Specialist clinical teaching facilities will provide unparalleled support for workforce development.