Celebrating award wins for our University of Manchester projects

Paul Bibby, Principal Mechanical Engineer, and Nathan Trott, Engineering Apprentice, represented our team at the ceremony, where our achievements as part of project teams were recognised for their outstanding delivery.

The awards celebrated excellence for the University’s estate, and we’re proud to have achieved:

• Outstanding Impact on Student Experience – Old Quad redevelopment
• Large Project of the Year – Old Quad redevelopment
• Small Project of the Year – Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Lab project

The Old Quad redevelopment was also highly commended for Environmentally Sustainable Achievement of the Year.

Old Quad redevelopment

The Old Quad was part of a regeneration project to mark the University's bicentenary celebrations and reopened as the University's 'green heart' in June 2024. The project transformed a hard-surfaced car park into a vibrant biodiverse garden and social space, achieving an impressive biodiversity net gain of over 80% and aligned with the University’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy.

Our building services team designed the mechanical and electrical services for the redevelopment of this Grade II* listed site, which included implementing a digital multiplex lighting control system that provides scene-setting and automatically adjusts lighting output based on outdoor conditions, as well as enhanced security systems. We worked closely with the project team throughout the feasibility and design stages to ensure a balance between sustainability, heritage integrity, and campus safety.

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) laboratory project

The EPR laboratory project involved developing a new state-of-the-art BioEmPiRe laboratory within the Michael Smith Building for the Pilotas Group. Bruker, the manufacturer of the laboratory’s magnet, and an industry leader with over 100 global installations, recognised the facility as one of the best they've ever seen.

Our mechanical and electrical engineers were integral in delivering the laboratory infrastructure and addressing the specialist needs of the facility. We provided technical guidance from the initial feasibility stage, all the way through to final commissioning, which included designing a water-cooling system to minimise water consumption and optimise energy efficiency.

Steve Ogden, Senior Director and Project Lead commented: “It has been a pleasure to be involved in these exceptional projects and our success reflects the collaboration among our team, the University, and the project teams involved. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the University in support of their ambitious estate portfolio.”