Completion of School of Digital Arts

We have successfully delivered the School of Digital Arts (SODA) building to the Manchester Metropolitan University.  The overall SODA project was jointly funded by the University and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

The purpose-built 5,200m² school comprises state-of-the-art teaching facilities over 5 floors. The building brings creative, digital, technology and business assets together. The interdisciplinary school houses subjects that span film, animation, User experience design, photography, games, AI and more.

The new building has the capability to adapt to technological changes, enabling students to explore and innovate for the future.  Alongside spaces to collaborate, the specialist facilities include a UX Suite, film studios, green screens, edit suites, sound, music & production studios, a cinema and a gallery. 

The new facility is located on the site of the Students’ Union car park on Higher Chatham Street, Manchester.

The project had targets set for sustainability and they achieved a fantastic 87% diversion of construction waste to landfill. 

Committed to leaving lasting local legacies, we have worked with the University and the local community to deliver the following throughout the duration of the project:

• 28 hours supporting local schools
• 6 hours of careers support
• 348 weeks given to training apprentices
• 13 hours given to work placements
• 35 hours of community engagement96 training hours
• 13 weeks given to work placements

Sean Fenner, regional director for Kier Construction North & Scotland said: “The new School of Digital Arts building is a first-class educational facility in the heart of Manchester that we are extremely proud of.  This new building gives students access to state-of-the-art facilities, enabling them to study an exciting range of subjects under one roof and further enhances our experience of delivering higher education schemes in the North West.”

• 

• 

• 

• 

•