Manchester
Metropolitan University - Chatham Building &
Benzie Building This
complex of buildings belong to Manchester Metropolitan
University's School of Art. The building in the
foreground is the Benzie Building opened on November
19, 2013. It is named after Alan Benzie, the
outgoing Chair of Governors. The
University describes the Benzie Building as, "...
home to an impressive vertical gallery, workshops, a
roof garden and hybrid studio areas offering
flexible space for a range of events from meetings
and conferences to product launches and
exhibitions. The roof terrace, located on the
fourth floor, offers a unique new space for events
with a capacity of up to 200 people.
The new building brings together the traditional and
modern aspects of Manchester Metropolitan
University, with stunning views over the campus and
the city of Manchester."
 David
Crow, Dean of the Manchester School of Art, is quoted
on the MMU website saying that he thinks, “...
the building is so successful because its design
is based on a clear vision about what we were
trying to achieve which was interpreted with a
great deal of care and attention to detail by the
Architects FCB and the design team who were
helping us realise our vision.”
     This new and renewed building was
designed by the architectural practice of Feilden
Clegg Bradley Studios. They say of the
project that, "A highly visible new
vertical gallery space creates a new 'Window
on the Arts' for the Faculty. It includes a
spectacular new entrance gallery, circulation
and exhibition zone, and provides strong
linkages both vertically and horizontally
between the existing Chatham Tower and the new
building. ....
 .... The
gallery space acts as a shop window providing a
showcase for the Faculty of Art and Design to
the University and the City, while the hybrid
studio spaces beyond offer flexible and
adaptable space, appropriate for the changing
needs of 21st century Arts education.
Inspiration for the new Art and Design school
draws from the traditional warehouse typology,
whilst applying a modern interpretation."
********************************
Below are images taken during the construction phase. 
   Updated views - March 2014   The original Chatham
Building was designed by S. G. Besant Roberts of the
City Architect's Department, and built between 1966
and 1971.
        ***************** As I walked past the
Chatham Building on Higher Chatham Street on January 18,
2011 it was difficult to miss the fact that the two
storey portion of the building was gone!
  When I took the images
below, on October 13th, 2011, work was well underway
on the new building.
    ***** April 2012     |