Who: University of Manchester

When: 2024- Ongoing

What:

The Simon Building was named after the industrialist and Politician Ernest Simon, who was made Lord Mayor of Manchester in 1921 and Knighted in 1932. The building was opened by Ernest’s wife Shena, who herself has the Shena Simon campus named after her at Manchester City College.

The build currently has a wide user base including active lecture theatres, office space and specialist laboratories running grant funded experiments. This presents challenges as the building works cannot happen without taking these works out of action, and RECOM have worked with the University and those involved to find solutions and timings that work for everyone.

RECOM’s current works involve looking after the long-term maintenance of the building and the upkeep and decarbonisation to support the University in their goals of being carbon neutral by 2038.

Key Features:

• Managing the complexities of working in an extremely large building with multiple stakeholders which resulted in the planning and execution of a complex multi-phase delivery strategy.
• The building is an amalgamation of different construction types, built up over time, which means that is very difficult to take a ‘holistic’ approach to the sustainability/zero carbon goals of the building.
• Improving the thermal performance of the building including external wall insulation, window and curtain walling replacement and roof insulation.
• A full mechanical and engineering replacement and upgrade throughout the building.
• Additional upgrades throughout the building to improve the user ‘experience’ and compliance including remodelling, decoration, and upgrades to the teaching, seminar and lecture theatres.