Business School and Student Hub,
Manchester Metropolitan University
With the landmark architecture and polished finish of a corporate
headquarters building, Manchester Metropolitan University’s Business
School and Student Hub provides an ideal learning environment for
future captains of industry.
Located alongside the Mancunian Way,
the trapezoid-shaped building is based
around the concept of a faceted jewel, its
unitised curtain wall system incorporating
projecting dichroic glass fins which
animate the structure by refracting and
reflecting light according to the season
and time of day.
Inside, three linear blocks rising from four
to eight storeys are separated by two full
length atria, the building’s bold expanses
of exposed concrete representing the
interior’s defining characteristic.
Capable of accommodating more than
5,000 students and staff, the blocks are
connected at their upper levels by bridges
which act as additional teaching and
break-out spaces.
“This is a deserved award-winning building.
It is being talked about as iconic comparable
with the best corporate structures in the
world.”
JOHN BROOKS
VICE CHANCELLOR
A link block forms the main entrance to the
building and provides access to the rest
of the All Saints campus. The building’s
bold expanses of high quality exposed
concrete meant meticulous planning, and
stringent control of the mix designs of the
insitu and precast concrete elements were
essential to achieving uniform colour and
consistency.
Although not a contractual requirement,
we also successfully helped the University
meet its sustainability aspirations for
BREEAM Excellent.
Our site team led the development of an
energy-saving thermally active floor slab
system. Providing significant long-term
operational benefits at minimal additional
expense, inclusion of the pioneering
system means no secondary installation is
required to cool the building.
CLIENT
Manchester Metropolitan
University
ARCHITECT
Feilden Clegg Bradley
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
White Young Green
MECHANICAL ENGINEER
Faber Maunsell
QUANTITY SURVEYOR
Rider Levett Bucknall
VALUE
£54.6m
AWARDS
Concrete Society’s Awards for
Excellence in Concrete 2012
Sustainability Award