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Lendlease ready to start £100m Liverpool Knowledge Quarter scheme

5 Jan 16 Main contractor Lendlease starts work next month on a £100m development for Liverpool John Moores University.

Artist's impression of the new development at Copperas Hill
Artist's impression of the new development at Copperas Hill

Lend Lease will convert the former Royal Mail sorting office at Copperas Hill in Liverpool into a new flagship building for the university.

At 355,000 square feet, it will be more than twice the size of the Redmonds Building, the university’s previous addition.

The development, close to Lime Street station, will become the gateway to Liverpool’s ‘Knowledge Quarter’ and will bring together the University’s Mount Pleasant and Byrom Street campuses. It will lead to the formation of Liverpool John Moores’ Connected University Campus Village, with the new building at its centre.

In May Lendlease will remove the exterior of the former 1970s’ sorting office to expose the internal frame, which will then form the basis of the new structure.

Currently spread over five floors, the new building will be expanded to include two mezzanine floors. The roof will be developed for sports and recreation use. This will increase the floor area from the existing 280,000 sq ft to 355,000 sq ft.

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The building will also house the university’s three libraries, which will be combined into one facility; student zones will be created around the building to accommodate different methods of working, including quiet spaces and areas for collaborative working.

Other facilities and services will include Students Union facilities, a café and retail space, a careers centre and administration offices.

Further design features of the new building include a central atrium, internal ‘stepping’ terraces which can be viewed externally, a sky garden and a predominantly glass exterior.

University vice-chancellor Nigel Weatherill said: “Here is a structure which lies in a prime, central location of the city, and we are now investing over £100m to ensure it is successfully regenerated, which will lead to the area once again becoming a hive of activity.”

Completion is expected in time for the start of the academic year 2018.

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MPU
MPU

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