City Centre Campus

City centre – a landmark building

The Manchester College and UCEN Manchester’s new city centre campus, which will open in a phased basis from spring 2022, will be a landmark building in the centre of Manchester inspired by our city’s rich industrial heritage.

The four-storey campus will have distinct further and higher education spaces, created around a central courtyard and ‘jewel box’ theatre as eye-catching focal points.

The theatre will double as a coffee bar on the ground floor and will be connected to the first floor courtyard by a grand habitable ‘Spanish Steps’ feature that forms an atrium in, what will be, the heart of the campus.

The building is perfect for supporting open, flexible, social and creative learning, and will host dedicated education spaces where students will receive first-class tuition and hands-on learning opportunities. Highlights include:

• Cutting edge suites for Computing and Digital and studios for Creative and Digital Media students
• A 'Click Studio' providing digital design and computer repair services run by students 
• Six double-height, professional, multi-purpose studios with semi-sprung Harlequin floor systems for Performing Arts and Dance students
• A bakery, restaurant and cafe for Hospitality & Catering students to refine their higher technical skills
• Eight specialist studio workshops for fashion, photography, jewellery, ceramics, printmaking, 3D design, and digital media students
• An incredible double-height collaborative arts studio and exhibition space for Visual Arts students
• The Arden School of Theatre, a studio theatre and performing arts spaces; the main theatre designed as a 'jewel box', served by a large scene dock and with facilities for wardrobe, set build and costume design
• Make-up artistry and special effects specialist studios
• Two Learning Resource Centres providing a range of study environments, including collaborative working spaces, silent study areas and bookable meeting rooms
• The Manchester Film School will include two large double height film studios, five edit suites and a state-of-the-art Foley suite.

Integrally social, with modern architectural planning and detailing, the site will be much more than ‘just’ an educational space. It will invite you to connect with fellow students, colleagues and friends in curated areas built for people to socialise and work together, and will be a safe space to share, study, reflect and access our personal support, careers and development services.