Manchester Metropolitan University has appointed Morgan Sindall to deliver its new flagship £46 million Arts & Humanities building, as the first project in the wider strategic transformation of the city-centre campus over the next five years.

The project will involve the construction of a 133,472 sq ft development on the corner of Oxford Road and Cavendish Street.

The building will provide teaching space for the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, and house a new Poetry Library alongside the prestigious Manchester Writing School – led by Creative Director and Poet Laureate Professor Carol Ann Duffy. Other features of the building include a 180-seat auditorium for Manchester Theatre School productions; new in-house TV and radio studios for the exciting new Multimedia Journalism programme; and the University Language Centre.

As part of the thriving Faculty for Arts and Humanities, this new facility will support a growing need for training in the expanding creative and media industries in the region, as well as providing a unique cultural hub within Manchester Metropolitan University.

The development, which is expected to complete in early 2020, will be on the site of the former Mabel Tylecote Building, facing Oxford Road and All Saints Park at the centre of its main campus.

Barry Roberts, area director at Morgan Sindall, said: “Manchester is one of the UK’s most vibrant student cities and we look forward to working closely with the University to deliver this exciting, state-of-the-art facility at the heart of its city campus.

“The University’s commitment to investing in the creation of world-class teaching facilities will create an inspirational space where future generations of talent will be nurtured and developed and we’re proud to be playing a pivotal role in that process.”

Morgan Sindall is also on site at major schemes across the North West, including the new flagship office building for Bupa in Salford Quays. The development is nearly complete and will deliver a multi-million pound flexible office building for around 1,700 Bupa employees, named Bupa Place. The company is also delivering the new Paddington Village project on behalf of Liverpool City Council – a planned £1 billion extension to the city’s Knowledge Quarter.