Published by Student Direct: Mancunion


DEMOLITION WORK on the old Refectory on Oxford Road will not be completed until April 2010, while construction of the new building in its place will take until 2012 –meaning that this year’s freshers might just catch the opening ceremony.



Situated between the Union and John Rylands Library, the Mobberley Tower and Refectory began to be demolished in the summer of 2009. They make way for what is being described as a “world-class 21st century learning environment”- the Learning Commons.



The Commons will include 1,000 learning spaces, high quality IT facilities as well as a variety of learning support services, according to a spokesman for the University of Manchester.



“Sustainability is an important part of this project,” added the spokesman, “and the new building will include a variety of energy efficiency measures, as well as public realm improvements to the surrounding area.”