Copperas Hill, Liverpool John Moores University

The five-storey former postal sorting office will be removed to make way for two new buildings. A new Student Life building will provide student facilities, including a student union, career advice centre and general teaching areas. The new sports building will be equipped with an eight-court sports hall and gymnasium with associated changing facilities.

As the site is located next to Liverpool Lime Street station, our geotechnical team had to demonstrate through complex analysis that the integrity of the rock was in line with Network Rail’s requirements when designing foundations. To ensure the office spaces adhered to the brief our teams proposed the use of long span cellular beams. This maximised the floor area and heights and integrated the building services within the structural zone in the Student Life building.

Alicja Brym, Associate commented, “The development will lead to the formation of LJMU’s Connected University Campus Village, with the new buildings becoming a central focal point whilst encouraging increased interaction and collaboration between different faculties.”