Main contractor Conlon Construction gave the 1970s East Estate building a much-needed refresh, giving it a full internal strip-out and reconfiguring the educational facility to include a mix of modern seminar rooms, a Bloomberg Suite, informal study areas, café, and more.
Cassidy + Ashton led the redesign of the Lancaster University Management School’s 73,000 sq ft East Estate building. This included the inclusion of a glazed link corridor to connect the East Estate to the University Spine and West Estate.
Much of the revamp delved into the M&E of the building, with Conlon charged with replacing the heating and electrical infrastructure and connecting it to the university’s district heat network.
Replacing roof coverings, repairing the façade, adding glazing, redoing flooring, installing a new lift, and improving accessibility were also part of the work programme.
Lancaster University Management School reduced carbon emissins
The refurbishment, which cost £19m, concluded this spring.
Conlon estimated that by choosing to renovate the existing building rather than build something new, Lancaster University Management School produced 80% less carbon emissions and saved more than 4,700 tonnes of carbon.
The work was all done during term time, with Conlon ensuring that there was always clear segregation between the construction site and the in-use education spaces during the phased build programme.
Reflecting on the project, Conlon managing director Guy Parker said: “This is Conlon’s biggest education scheme to date, making it a special milestone for the business, and it’s particularly rewarding to see it deliver high-quality facilities that will directly support students and young people in our home of Lancashire.”
Cassidy + Ashton director Lawrence McBurney said that the project reinforced “the University’s position as one of the UK’s leading destinations for business and management education”.
He continued: “Working closely with Lancaster University, Conlon Construction and the wider project team, we have transformed the building into a contemporary, flexible and highly sustainable learning environment that reflects the School’s global reputation for excellence.
“The refurbished spaces will support world-class teaching, research and collaboration, while enhancing the experience of students, staff and visitors.”
With one project done, Conlon Construction is not taking any time to stand still. The contractor has a series of schemes in the pipeline, including the building of Hope SEND school in Wigan, enabling works at Pyramid Park in Bury, and the completion of King George’s Hall in Blackburn this autumn.
Source: https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/gallery-inside-lancaster-university-management-schools-19m-refurb/