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 str...