The 1960s Brutalist building, which overlooks the city’s ring road, was set to be torn down as part of the university’s plans for a ‘radical’ overhaul of its estate earlier this year.
Historic England recommended the listing, citing the school’s significance to the British Black Art movement, having hosted the First National Black Art Convention in 1982, alongside its importance as an example of ‘striking’ post-war Brutalist design, which makes it an ‘emblem on the skyline of the city’.
Under the university’s plans, the art school would have been demolished and the site redeveloped on the advice of university consultants – despite campaigners arguing that it had ‘abundant potential’ to be retrofitted.
The nine-storey tower block, known as the George Wallis building, sits in Wolverhampton city centre, bounded by Stafford Street to the east, North Street to the west and the ring road to the south. Its primary structure consists of reinforced in-situ concrete, with elevations characterised by open-frame, stretched octagonal openings.
The building was commissioned by the County Borough of Wolverhampton and designed between 1966 and 1970 by architect Diamond, Redfern & Partners in collaboration with the Staffordshire county architect Albert Chapman. It was officially opened in 1970 by sculptor Charles Wheeler, a former Wolverhampton student.
Historic England regional director (Midlands), Deborah Williams, said: ‘Wolverhampton School of Art is a bold building that holds a prominent place in the centre of the city, and in the hearts of many locals.
‘The striking Brutalist design, combined with the important social history of the British Black art movement, means the building meets the high bar for post-war listing, and I’m pleased DCMS [Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport] agreed with our recommendation to recognise the significance of this distinctive piece of 20th-century history.’
A Change.org petition, started in January to rally against the demolition, ultimately accumulated more than 6,500 signatures.
University of Wolverhampton School of Art protest
The campaign described the building as ‘more than just an art school’, insisting it is ‘a landmark and part of Wolverhampton’s skyline and heritage’.
Heritage campaign group the Twentieth Century Society submitted a listing application for the School of Art last year, prompted by its ‘very real and immediate threat of demolition’.
The society said the building was in ‘very good condition, externally and internally’, insisting its demolition ‘would simply be wasteful, irresponsible and anti-growth’.
A spokesperson added: ‘Defined by its sculptural concrete “exoskeleton”, this is an excellent surviving example of a post-war art school that has remained in its original use and survives in very good condition, both externally and internally.
‘It clearly has abundant potential to be sympathetically upgraded or reconfigured to suit whatever plans the university may develop in the years to come.’
The University of Wolverhampton has been contacted for comment.
