Humphrey Booth Building - University of Salford



The University of Salford's Campus Guide indicates that the Humphrey Booth Building is home to the Student Information Directorate.  The university's Campus Plan published in April of 2011, reflected on the older buildings on its site.  It said that, "Many of the existing University buildings look old and do not represent an image of an innovative, modern and quality learning environment. Older buildings generally exhibit poor thermal performance which results in high energy consumption."  It classified buildings as assets and liabilities and the Humphrey Booth Building belonged in the latter group. 



Apparently, this building started life as Davenport House which was a DSS Office.  I have struggled to find any reference to the architect of the building but the 1969 edition of the Pevsner Guide for South Lancashire does make reference to a building on the Crescent described as the City Health Department.  It says of the building that it is a, "Satisfactory modern job.", built 1962 - 63, designed by G. A. McWilliam, the city engineer.  This may be the building.

The name Humphrey Booth comes presumably from Humphrey Booth the elder and/or younger both of whom were philanthropic supporters of the poor of Salford.