Balfour Beatty | Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD)

A flagship project to create a world-leading teaching, learning and research campus.

The Manchester Engineering Campus Development is the University of Manchester’s flagship project to develop the engineers and innovators of tomorrow, breeding collaboration and forward-thinking research techniques.

MECD is one of the largest, single construction projects ever undertaken bya higher education institution in the UK and will transform the way the University educates engineers in response to the needs of the fast-changing global economy. Once complete, MECD will become home fo four of the University’s engineering schools and two research institutes form the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences.

Furthering the University’s sustainability and low-carbon goals

The building plans will include several features that will facilitate research around energy saving, smart buildings and innovative construction materials. Student and research projects will be identified to accompany the construction stage.

The objective of the University is to ensure that the building is utilised as a ‘Living Lab’ to enhance the learning of the students.

Multiple buildings providing excellent teaching and research facilities

The project is split across four different buildings. These include the refurbishment of the Grade 2 listed Oddfellows Hall, the provision of significant laboratories in both the Upperbrook Street Building and the York Street Building and the MEC Hall which provides a vast amount of the teaching and research facilities, running through the spine of the scheme.

2020: Completion date
7,000: students to benefit
77,000m2: across four new buildings
8: storeys plus basement levels

Manchester Engineering Campus Development