Wates wins LJMU construction contract
Wates Construction, which has a regional base in Manchester, has been awarded with a £19.5m contract from Liverpool John Moores University to design and build its new Mount Pleasant campus.
Wates, which completed the university's £24.1m arts and design academy last year, is due to commence work on the new 124,000 sq ft six-storey development in May with an expected completion in spring 2012.
The building, to be built on the corner of Clarence Street and Brownlow Hill in the city centre, will provide new teaching facilities for around 6,000 students from LJMU's Faculty of Business and Law and the Faculty of Media Arts and Social Science.
The building will also house the Liverpool Screen School, currently located on Edge Lane within the Liverpool Innovation Park, and the new University Professional Centre. The Professional Centre will provide facilities for clients enrolled on LJMU's professional education and postgraduate programmes.
John Shannon, Wates' business unit director in the North West, said: "We worked in partnership with LJMU to build their Art and Design Academy off Brownlow Hill so we're delighted to have an opportunity to work alongside them again."
Colin Davies, project director from LJMU, added: "We're looking forward to working with Wates in the development of another high quality building. The investment in the new campus will not only improve the students learning experience but will also add to the area's continual improvement."
ADP Architects, headquartered in Birmingham but has a Manchester office, won the contest to design the new education building in July last year.
The six-storey building, the latest in a £180m revamp of the university's estate, will replace the Clarence Street Tower.
Wates beat four other bidders to win the deal.
they did the art and design academy? ah great, so we are in for another poorly detailed bodge job then! Go JMU!
By chris jmu
Imagine how bad Mt Pleasant will become if that image is a true reflection of what the building will look like.
Box? check. Grey? Check. Primary colour bit to enable the architect to claim the design as ‘bold’ and ‘vibrant’. Jackpot!
By unpleasant
I love it. It looks like a big grey brick. Wait there. I hate it.
By Manna
That isn’t the actual design, but an older render. The new design has it’s faults, most notably a lack of street level animation. However, it is much better than the render above.
http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/NewsUpdate/index_101412.htm
By MrD
Check out the facade at Nelson and Colne College and you’ll get an idea!
By LiamO