Work starts on a £14.7m contract to transform a Liverpool John Moores University building into a new flexible teaching and learning facility. Tony McDonough reports
Contractor Vinci Building has started work on a £14.7m contract to transform one of Liverpool John Moores University’s (LJMU) main buildings.
Built in 1989, the three-storey Henry Cotton Building is located on Trueman Street in LJMU’s City Campus and at the heart of the city’s St George’s Gateway. It is now undergoing a “significant refurbishment”.
This project will provide modern and flexible teaching and learning facilities and decarbonise the building. The improvements to Henry Cotton Building will deliver:
- A redesigned entrance to the building with a double-height foyer, improved reception and increased natural lighting.
- Additional teaching spaces including larger classrooms and a new Harvard-style lecture theatre, aligned with cohort sizes, to support “flexible teaching and learning experiences”.
- A new student zone, staff offices, staff lounge and meeting spaces.
As part of LJMU’s net zero drive, the building will be decarbonised, with new photovoltaic panels, increased thermal efficiency and new mechanical heating and ventilation. These enhancements are in addition to the air source heat pumps already in use.
Mark Askem, LJMU’s director of estate development, said: “The redevelopment of Henry Cotton Building will transform one of our key assets into a major gateway site in the city centre.
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“The new facilities, layout and appearance will make this a fantastic place for our students and staff to study, work and socialise.”
Redevelopment works are scheduled to be completed by July 2027 after which the remodelled building will be home to programmes from LJMU’s Faculty of Health, Innovation, Technology and Science.