LJMU contract go ahead for Lendlease

Go ahead for Lendlease LJMU contract

Lendlease has been given the go ahead for a £80M contract with Liverpool John Moores University. The company is currently on site with enabling works and the construction phase has been given the go ahead.

The contract will see the transformation of the former Royal Mail sorting office at Copperas Hill into a flagship University building, creating a significant focal point for the University in Liverpool City Centre. Located opposite Lime Street Station, the development will create a gateway to Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter and bring together LJMU’s Mount Pleasant and Byrom Street campuses.

Bringing the total floor area up to 355,500sq ft from 280,000sq ft the new building will combine the University’s three libraries and house a central teaching unit with lecture theatres and seminar rooms, as well as study zones and IT suites. To create a focal point for the University, the student union offices, careers centre, cafes and sports facilities will also feature on the new site. Sports facilities include an eight-court sports hall, a gym and dance studios.

In order to house the new state-of-the-art facilities, two new mezzanine floors will be added and the roof developed to house the sports and recreation facilities.

Upon awarding of the contract, Simon Gorski, Executive General Manager of UK Regions for Lendlease, said: “We’re really pleased to be getting underway with our work at Copperas Hill, which has been described as a “transformational” investment for LJMU. The challenge of retaining the existing and very prominent structure and utilising it to create an iconic and inspirational multi-purpose facility is really exciting. We are delighted to be back in Liverpool”.

With stripping out of the building and site preparation due to complete in August, Lendlease are hoping to start main construction works in the summer with completion aimed at early 2018.

Architect for the project is BDP Architects.

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