Leopold Square
Leopold Square is a mixed-use development in Sheffield, England, at the corner of Leopold Street and West Street. It covers the old Central Technical School, built between 1870 and 1894, which has been turned into apartments, bars, restaurants, and a hotel. A new angular building houses a bar and a restaurant, and a brand-new public square was created.
Work started in 2004 after the school closed and later served as council offices. Leopold Square was voted Sheffield’s best new building by people living and working in the city, and it won the People’s Award at the Sheffield Design Awards in 2010 (the ceremony was on February 16, 2011). About 200 jobs were created by the project.
Leopold Street is named after Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, who opened Firth College there in 1879. The public square is ringed by the original Grade II listed buildings from the old technical school and a new building facing West Street. The site includes eight bars and restaurants and a four-star hotel, and it often hosts live music. The square features a lit water feature and a tree-lined area, with bronze benches cast by an artist around the central space.
The new angular building is made from locally sourced stone with bronze cladding. To the west, the smaller former school buildings have been turned into private homes with a shared courtyard. The apartments are distinctive, often with double-height spaces and preserved original features. The Holly Building on Holly Street is noted for its ornate timber entrance.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 11:14 (CET).