City centre scheme was given planning a year ago

Work on a 拢90m scheme to build a new library designed for Manchester Metropolitan University is finally set to start at the end of this year.

The 13-storey project in the city centre will see the partial demolition of the university鈥檚 existing All Saints Library and the construction of a low-carbon replacement containing just over 22,000 sq m of floorspace.

The job, which has been designed by Hawkins Brown, was approved by the local council a year ago.

Hawkins Brown MMU library 3

Hawkins Brown鈥檚 13-storey library for Manchester Metropolitan University has been compared to a zig zag

But a university spokesman said it hasn鈥檛 yet appointed a main contractor for work 鈥� despite the job being slated to start last year and finish in 2028.

He added: 鈥淟ast September, the university re-located the existing library to the former John Dalton East building on Oxford Road. Planning is continuing to finalise the vision and design of the new library building to ensure we can deliver the high-quality, landmark building we envision for our staff and students.鈥�

The 1970s All Saints Library and neighbouring All Saints 黑洞社区 would be cut in two under the plans, with the latter to be totally demolished and the former to be stripped back to its core and covered with a new facade.

Library specialist Schmidt Hammer Larsen is working with Hawkins Brown on the plans, with Turner & Townsend on board as project manager alongside planning consultant Deloitte and cost consultant Gardiner & Theobald.

Planit IE is also on the team as landscape architect while Buro Happold has multiple roles including structural and civil engineer, facade engineer, MEP engineer, fire engineer and transport consultant.

The building will house around 3,800 study seats, a range of event spaces, bookable rooms, a prayer facility, wellbeing spaces, office space for library staff and 9,000 鈥渓inear metres鈥� of books.

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