CIVIL engineering students at the University of Bradford have been given a private tour of the ongoing restoration work at Bradford Odeon.

The visit was organised by Professor Mostafa Mohamed, Head of Civil & Structural Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering & Informatics.

Staff and students were taken around the building by RN Wooler site manager Harvey Craven, who explained some of the construction methods used in the original 1930s build and alterations made in the 1960s, as well as the current plans to revive the iconic building.

The Odeon is undergoing a multi-million pound restoration thanks to Bradford Live, a not-for-profit distribution social enterprise, to create a live music venue.

Third year civil engineering student Anisa Tariq said: “I enjoyed the tour because it gave us a chance to see the things we have been learning about in practice, and it gave us a good insight into construction.”

Nabeel Shakeel, also a third year student, added: “It’s really good for the city, because it’s bringing an existing building back into use - and that is a great example of the ‘circular economy’.

“It will be really good for Bradford in the future, and the visit has given us a feel for how projects like this work.”

Dr Mohamed said: “The visit was beneficial for the students to see a live project and how learned teaching is applied in real life.

“This is a significant project. For many years there was a debate regarding potentially demolishing the building - I believe keeping it was the right decision.

“It is also in keeping with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which will be taught as part of our new architectural programmes.”

The venue opened in 1930 as the New Victoria and was the biggest cine variety theatre outside London.

The original 3,500-seat auditorium doubled up as a concert hall, hosting the likes of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Tom Jones.

The Odeon closed its doors in 2000 and fell into disrepair.

Yorkshire Forward bought the building for £2m in 2003, but a plan to demolish and replace it with offices was scrapped when the regional development agency itself was abolished in 2012.

Ownership of the Odeon was transferred to the Homes and Communities Agency, who then handed it over to Bradford Council in 2013.

In 2014 the council approved a plan by Bradford Live to revive it.

Once complete, it will create a 4,000-seat arena, together with a host of bars and other amenities.