MC Construction completes £9.5m Samuel Alexander Building refurb

MC Construction has completed a £9.5m upgrade to the University of Manchester’s School of Arts, Languages & Cultures in a grade two-listed building on Oxford Road.

The contractor has comprehensively refurbished and remodelled all four wings of the building. Works included refurbishing and expanding office areas, upgrading the building’s café and IT cluster, improvements to its courtyard, and replacing services including power, heating, and lighting.

MC started the project in 2015 and has delivered works on a phased basis to ensure minimum disruption to teaching and working within the building. Much of the project was completed out of term time.

The Salford-based contractor has now completed the scheme, which was its largest-ever project by value since its foundation in 1971.

The professional team included Gardiner & Theobald as project manager, architect Halliday Meecham, and WYG as consulting engineers.

MC Construction commercial director Eugene O’Callaghan said: “A major refurbishment project in a live environment presents a number of challenges.

“Careful planning and a great deal of hard work by our delivery teams, combined with a proactive, collaborative approach from all involved, have produced an excellent result for this landmark project.

“The successful completion of this scheme strengthens our expertise in the education and commercial sectors, and we are now targeting similar-sized projects as part of our ongoing expansion strategy.”

The project has been MC Construction’s largest in its 46-year history