Arthur Lewis Building Refurbishment.
Aspire Construction carried out a series of internal refurbishments and upgrades to meet evolving needs and ensure that facilities remain at the forefront of academic excellence.
Project Introduction.
The Arthur Lewis Building at The University of Manchester stands as a prominent hub for social sciences research and teaching. Situated within the university’s central campus, this building is home to postgraduate and doctoral students and academic staff who require modern, flexible environments that reflect the latest in design and learning innovation.
As part of the university’s ongoing commitment to enhancing its study and research spaces, which is part of the wider framework agreement, a series of internal refurbishments and upgrades were commissioned to meet evolving needs and ensure that facilities remain at the forefront of academic excellence.
Project Brief.
Aspire Construction, a leading North West construction civils and construction contractor, was engaged as a specialist partner to carry out a comprehensive refurbishment program within the Arthur Lewis Building.
The brief involved working within a highly sensitive and fully occupied environment, ensuring minimal disruption to academics, students, and other building users.
Key elements of the scope included careful strip-out works, mechanical and electrical (M&E) alterations, the installation of new glazed screens and meeting pods, and the formation of larger open-plan teaching spaces. The client’s priority was a high-quality, on-time, and on-budget solution that balanced the need for modernisation with the ongoing day-to-day functions of the building.
Development.
Aspire Construction’s team initiated the project by conducting a detailed soft strip of existing corridor partition walls, ensuring minimal disturbance to adjacent areas. Coordination with the university’s facilities team was paramount, as the remainder of the building remained operational throughout the 10-week construction period.
M&E systems were upgraded to support new lighting, power, and data requirements, seamlessly integrating contemporary teaching facilities and ensuring optimal comfort and efficiency.
Working closely with the client and designers, Aspire installed new glazed screens to improve transparency and natural light flow, while simultaneously reconfiguring offices to create more spacious, open-plan teaching environments.
Meeting pods were introduced to provide flexible, collaborative areas, and new AV equipment and furniture were incorporated to elevate the teaching and learning experience.
Throughout the delivery phase, Aspire Construction scheduled noisy or disruptive works outside core hours, maintaining a safe and productive environment for building users. Clear communication, proactive problem-solving, and careful phasing of tasks around room bookings helped to reduce downtime and ensure a smooth, uninterrupted academic program within the fully occupied building.
Outcome.
The completed project resulted in a transformed interior space that more effectively meets the needs of The University of Manchester’s staff and postgraduate researchers. By delivering the refurbishment on time and within budget, Aspire Construction reinforced its reputation as a reliable and adaptable partner.
The new office layouts, enhanced M&E infrastructure, and updated teaching spaces significantly improve user experience, supporting better interaction, collaboration, and flexible use.
For the university, the outcome is a modernised environment that aligns with its vision for future-ready education and research facilities. For Aspire Construction, the successful execution of this inaugural stage on the framework sets a benchmark for future projects, demonstrating our capability to deliver quality, value, and minimal disruption even in highly sensitive and operational academic settings.
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