New and improved facilities on campus

LJMU begins the academic year with brand-new teaching spaces and a host of improved facilities for students and staff across the university estate.

The works have been carried out over a busy summer period, led by the Estate Development team, alongside the faculties and professional service teams.

City Square

The university’s contractor has completed works on City Square on Tithebarn Street, which will provide temporary teaching and student spaces for the Faculty of Health, Innovation, Technology and Science.

The fourth floor has been remodelled over the summer to create flexible, high-quality spaces from which to deliver modules from across a wide range of programmes in both faculties.

The works reflect LJMU’s commitment to sustainability, with a host of green measures including LED lighting and the latest building management system to regulate temperature and ventilation. The remodelled space also includes 90% furniture repurposed from elsewhere in the LJMU estate, along with reused doors, frames and computers.

City Square is also home to Civil Service Pensions (fifth floor) and the courts (floors 1-3).

Henry Cotton Building

City Square will provide temporary accommodation while a major redevelopment project transforms Henry Cotton Building.

The building will be decarbonised and reconfigured to provide flexible, modern new facilities for students and staff.

The new-look Henry Cotton Building will feature an attractive, redesigned entrance with a double-height foyer, new lecture and teaching spaces, a Harvard-style lecture theatre, new student zone, IT suite, staff lounge, meeting spaces and breakout areas.

Work on the project is intended to start before Christmas and be completed for teaching in summer 2027. The university is currently in advanced discussions with a preferred contractor to ensure that these timeframes are met and the detail of how construction will be undertaken.

James Parsons Building

A major project over the summer has delivered a series of improvements to James Parsons Building.

The £5m investment has provided new teaching rooms on the first floor, new staff accommodation on the first and second floors, two brand-new large IT suites on the third floor and refurbishment of the student social area above the café at the rear of the building.

There is a new ventilation system throughout these areas and we have improved the efficiency of the heating the building, while a multi-faith room has been temporarily relocated to the third floor, while the Henry Cotton Building redevelopment takes place.

Redmonds Building

Refurbishment works have been completed in Redmonds Building to enhance its efficiency and sustainability.

Over the summer, the air conditioning system and lighting has been upgraded across the third, fourth and fifth floors. The works have improved the resilience of the heating and cooling system as well as the efficiency and sustainability of the building. 

John Lennon Art and Design Building

The John Lennon Art and Design Building has reopened following a major decarbonisation project.

With the help of a £1.2m government grant from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, the university has removed all gas boilers from the building and replaced them with two air source heat pumps which use electricity instead of gas to produce heat. 

The project has also included the installation of solar panels and the replacement of all remaining fluorescent lights with more efficient and sustainable LED lighting.
It is estimated that the works will save around 188 tonnes of carbon every year.

Joe H Makin Building

As part of the university’s drive to ensure we are operating as efficiently as possible, the Joe H Makin Building has been sold. The former drama building has been bought by the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA).