Manchester Metropolitan University has laid out plans to refurbish and extend its vacant former student union building on Oxford Road, when completed it will house the university’s new 50,000 sq ft Institute of Sport. The scheme will be delivered through Procure Partnerships Framework.
A previous proposal to create a new facility alongside Manchester City FC’s Etihad campus was rejected by MMU in favour of improving the All Saints campus to support the university’s ambition to work with more affordable options within their existing city centre campus.
The design proposals outline the partial demolition, refurbishment and extension of the four-storey red-brick building, next to Sidney Street and the Mancunian Way flyover.
Manchester based BDP, lead designers for the project, last month revealed plans for a new science and engineering campus to replace the nearby John Dalton Buildings, opened in the 1970s next to Mancunian Way.
The internal improvements detailed in the proposal include an expansion to the research facilities currently housed in the buildings. The plans focus on allowing MMU to continue conducting the highest-class research of biomechanics, physiology and anatomy, and the musculoskeletal system well into the future. The site would also feature offices, labs, and break out spaces.
Refurbishing the Oxford Road site is part of MMU’s plan to expand its teaching capabilities within the sports sector, according to the planning application, “more ambitious long term proposals will thereafter be accommodated within then university’s campus”, leaving the site open for further development.
The scheme is set to be delivered through Procure Partnerships and marks a continued association between PPF and Manchester Metropolitan University. The summer of 2019 saw the University procure a series of upgrades to its facilities through the Framework. Robbie Blackhurst, Framework Director at Procure Partnerships commented: “Manchester Metropolitan University is committed to providing a first class environment for its students and faculty, their continued investment in the campus is testament to this. We are delighted to work with Manchester Metropolitan University to facilitate this.”
Faye Dolan, an esteemed professional and Framework Director at Procure Partnerships, boasts a rich and diverse career spanning seven years in the construction industry. Faye’s journey within Procure Partnerships began in 2018 as a Key Account Manager, initially overseeing the North West region and later extending her purview to the entire North.
