KAMPUS, former Manchester Metropolitan University, Canal Street University Science Building, Architect
KAMPUS at the former Manchester Metropolitan University
15 Dec 2021
Location: Canal Street, central Manchester, north west England, UK
Architects: Mecanoo
Photos by Greg Holmes Photography
KAMPUS
KAMPUS is a new neighbourhood located at the former Manchester Metropolitan University campus in the heart of the city. Utilising the qualities of the existing built structures – Victorian brick canal-side warehouses and the 1964 concrete tower – presents the opportunity to develop at the city block scale, creating new connections and a new destination. A melting pot of buildings and spaces, KAMPUS will celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of the city with respect to the historic quality of Canal Street.
Pixels and Dutch houses
The architecture expresses the individual building blocks with variations in height to make each facade legible. The alternating positions of accentuated apertures in the facade work to reduce the scale of the brick mass while the light pixel elements add relief and balance to the facades.
The buildings are horizontally divided into three distinct elements: a podium with dark profiled metal cladding, a mid-section with rough textured red brickwork, and a roofscape characterised by Dutch houses also clad in profiled metal.
Secret garden
The podium anchors the new build and tower elements in a consistent base while creating a defined edge to the street. A transparent plinth will provide views into a variety of independent bars, cafes, shops and restaurants that will breathe life into the scheme and create a unique sense of place.
The newly landscaped entrances provide access to KAMPUS and the interesting spaces between the buildings will draw people into the heart of the scheme; a unique ‘secret garden’ that forms the perfect backdrop for afternoon and early evening social events.
KAMPUS at the former Manchester Metropolitan University -Building Information
Programme 533 apartments and leisure/retail spaces across five unique buildings, totalling 44,000 sqm; public realm and gardens
Design: 2016
Realisation: 2017-2021
Client/ Property Developer: Capital & Centric and Henry Boot Developments
Design Team: Mecanoo (design architect/landscape), Shed KM (architect of the listed canal warehouse buildings), Exterior Architecture (landscape architect for the new build), Chapman Taylor (delivery architect for the new build).
Photos: Greg Holmes Photography
KAMPUS, former Manchester Metropolitan University images / information received 151221
Previously on e-architect:
20 Oct 2019
KAMPUS
Architects: Mecanoo
photo © Uniform
KAMPUS Development
Location: Canal Street, central Manchester, Northwest England, UK
Manchester Buildings
Contemporary Manchester Architecture
Manchester Architectural Designs – chronological list
Manchester Architecture Walking Tours
Maggie’s Oldham Building
Design: dRMM architects
photo © Alex de Rijke
Maggie’s Oldham Building
HOME Manchester Arts & Cultural Centre
Design: Mecanoo architecten
photo courtesy of architects
Manchester Arts & Cultural Centre
Henry Royce Institute, University of Manchester
Design: NBBJ Architects
image courtesy of architects office
Henry Royce Institute Building
Manchester Architecture Offices
Recent Manchester Building Designs
The Factory Manchester Building
Design: OMA
image courtesy of architects
The Factory Manchester Building
Great Northern Warehouse, Square and Deansgate Terraces
Architects: SimpsonHaugh ; Masterplan: aLL Design
image : SimpsonHaugh
Great Northern Warehouse and Square
Comments / photos for the KAMPUS, former Manchester Metropolitan University building design by Mecanoo Architects, NL, page welcome
