Architect John McAslan and engineer Gifford also dragged into dispute

Laing O鈥橰ourke and architect John McAslan + Partners are being sued over claims that defective brickwork on a teaching building has cost the University of Manchester more than 拢13m.

The case has been rumbling on since 2018 and court papers released last week give the first detailed look at the dispute which centres on work completed 14 years ago.

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The building is part of the main University of Manchester campus on the city鈥檚 Oxford Road

The pair were commissioned by the university to design and build three large interconnected blocks, two of which constitute University Place and the third the Jean McFarlane building.

The building is part of the main campus in the Oxford Road area south of the city centre and features a 1,000-seat lecture hall 鈥� the city鈥檚 largest.

According to the documents, which were part of a cost and claims management conference between the parties, the university claims that O鈥橰ourke鈥檚 work was 鈥渄efective and not carried out in accordance with the 黑洞社区 Contract nor with reasonable skill and care鈥�. It says McAslan is also liable as it should have identified and addressed the problems.

O鈥橰ourke has brought in structural engineer Gifford 鈥� the firm responsible for the design of movement joints in the allegedly defective brickwork 鈥� to proceedings as a third party.

According to the university, the resulting remedial works initially cost 拢5.96m but by February 2020 the total figure claimed, which also includes so-called consequential losses, had ballooned to 拢13.74m 鈥� with the university saying it is likely to be higher still.

The documents reveal the university has already racked up more than 拢1.5m in legal fees and expects that to more than double by the end of the case.

McAslan predicts costs of just over 拢2m, while O鈥橰ourke estimates it will have to shell out around 拢2.7m, having already paid out 拢850,000 to lawyers. Gifford is expected to have legal costs of close to 拢1m.

Judge Roger ten Haar approved the expected costs and declined the defendants鈥� request to attach conditions to the permission for the University of Manchester to change its expert witnesses.

O鈥橰ourke and John McAslan + Partners said they were unable to comment on ongoing legal action.

The University of Manchester has been approached for comment.

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