City Campus, Manchester

City Campus, Manchester, a landmark development by Manchester College, combines purposeful design with sustainable ambition. Situated in the heart of the city, this state-of-the-art educational building exemplifies how carefully chosen materials and collaborative expertise can shape environments that are high-performance and inspiring.

A Glazed Focal Point for a New Era of Learning

Designed by SimpsonHaugh and delivered by Willmott Dixon, the City Campus project features over 2,500m² of curtain walling from TECHNAL. Fabricated by Hadrian Architectural Glazing, the products chosen play a central role in defining the campus's architectural identity, delivering expansive glazed facades, an internal atrium, and a rooftop terrace that floods shared spaces with natural light.

The TECHNAL facade was selected not only for its clean, modern aesthetic, but also for its technical performance. With high acoustic insulation (38 db reduction) and strong thermal credentials (U-value of 1.6 W/m²K), TECHNAL curtain walling provides comfort and quiet in the bustling city centre environment.

Sustainable Materials, Measurable Impact

Lower carbon was a key driver in material selection. Hydro CIRCAL® 75R, an aluminium alloy made with a minimum of 75% recycled post-consumer content, was used for the glazing system which significantly reduced embodied carbon. By specifying this low-carbon material, the development avoided nearly 2 million kg of CO², demonstrating the circular design in large-scale construction.

Designed around the User

City Campus, Manchester accommodates thousands of students daily, offering bright, energy-efficient learning spaces and communal areas that support collaboration and wellbeing. To enhance the student experience further, ten commercial doorsets from TECHNAL were installed, ensuring safe, robust, and thermally efficient access throughout the facility.

Award-Winning Performance

The completed campus achieved BREEAM "Excellent" certification, underscoring its success as a forward-thinking, sustainable educational hub. Delivered on time and on budget, the project reflects a shared vision between client, contractor, and supply chain partners, all committed to creating a long-lasting, high-quality space for learning and growth.