Manchester Metropolitan University has outlined plans to demolish the John Dalton buildings and replace them with a new-build science and engineering campus
The 1970s-built 33,000 sq ft John Dalton West building and the larger 135,000 sq ft John Dalton East buildings sit to the north of MMU’s Campus.
The university has now set out its plans for a £65m redevelopment of the site, which will see both buildings demolished and replaced with a new-build home for the faculty. They are preparing to invite tenders for the next phase of its campus rebuilding programme.
MMU said the new-build is set to “contain a range of flexible and adaptable state of the art amenities that respond to both modern teaching and research needs”.
The proposed new-build will include 161,500 sq ft of space, 42% of which will be offices, along with 12% laboratory space, 35% plant, and 11% general teaching, social learning, and circulation space.
Along with the new-build, around 86,000 sq ft of existing space within the university is also allocated for refurbishment, but MMU said this was still “subject to review”. There will also be public realm and landscaping works, although this could be carried out following the new-build’s completion.
Under current plans, MMU is aiming to start on site in early 2021 and complete in summer 2023.
It expects to invite three contractors to tender for the project on a single-stage basis, although no dates for the procurement have been set. The construction cost of the project will be between £55m and £65m.