£23 million Liverpool School of Architecture extension to soon begin construction

by Ian Hughes
12th September 2022

Main contractor ULCCo Special Projects is set to begin work on constructing O’Donnell + Tuomey Architects’ competition-winning design later this season.

ULCCo Special Projects is a subsidiary of the University of Liverpool.

The three-storey extension to the University of Liverpool School of Architecture was the subject of an international design competition in 2019. At that time, the project was set to cost £23m and to complete in 2025.

Liverpool City Council approved the project in July. The application calls for the construction of the extension on part of the Peach Street car park, as well as outline permission for a landscaped open space on the existing sports centre car park.

The scheme also includes internal changes to the Leverhulme Building, which consists of the Georgian Abercromby Terrace and the 1930s Budden extension.

Most of the changes relate to the Budden extension, which consists of classrooms and studios. The planning statement submitted by P4 Planning stated that these rooms are no longer fit for purpose, as the construction of the Stirling Gallery in 1987 has shrunk the space of the studios and lessened the amount of natural light.

Under the approved plans, a large central workshop will be built within the Budden extension. The School of Architecture’s main entrance will also be moved to the new extension and will be accessed from Bedford Street. A second entrance to the extension will be found off Peach Street.

The new extension will be more than 27,000 sq ft and will hold a café and exhibition area, as well as research spaces and studios.

Building the extension will result in the loss of 49 staff parking spaces. The approved outline application will result in the loss of 78 car parking spaces.

Max Fordham is the MEP and environmental consultant for the project. Ridge and Partners is the sustainability report consultant.

AKT II is the structural and civil engineer. IM2 is the principal design advisor and E3Cube is the access appraiser.

Buro Happold is the fire strategy and acoustics consultant. Cunniffe is the cost consultant and Peter de Figueiredo is the conservation consultant.

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Ian Hughes
Ian Hughes
Marketing Manager
12th September 2022