A strikingly designed, high-quality student residence opened recently in Manchester on schedule and in time for the new University year. Developed by Alumno, the development is unique in its appearance and architecture, and makes active contributions to the community, heritage, regeneration and arts scene in its locality. It also provides much-needed accommodation for students in Manchester, freeing up housing for local residents.
Named after the disused public house that previously occupied the site, the nine-storey Church Inn building in Manchester was designed by Carson & Partners and built by GMI Construction Group. Located close to major arterial road The Mancunian Way, it features 62 studio apartments, along with a communal area, rooftop terrace, office and storage space for 16 bikes. External landscaping highlights the history of the site, with the reclaimed facade bricks used to create a bespoke seating area.
Architect Iain Carson has created an iconic building, instantly recognisable with its name carved into the balustrade surrounding the rooftop. Ben Kelly, the legendary Hacienda designer, has added his own touch with the wooden slats on the ground floor, where there is also a nod to the Manchester’s musical history, with an oval window reminiscent of a speaker in an old-school sound system.
This is also reflected in the artwork in the communal areas on each floor, with portraits by Chris Floyd, including Sean Ryder (Happy Mondays), New Order and Oasis. Again, the work of finalists from the Photo North competition are on display. Meanwhile, signage from the old Church Inn pub is displayed at the entrance, and there’s even a model of the original pub building in the foyer.
Bespoke furniture in the development has been provided by David Tatham of Tatham Studio. Attention to detail picks out the orange in the Church Inn on the furniture, which is followed through on the wayfinding and interior design.
Commenting on the completed development, Alumno Managing Director David Campbell said: “We are delighted with this latest example of our design-led student accommodation philosophy of delivering exceptional quality and functionality for our residents. It’s all part of our mission to change the perception of student accommodation by creating unique buildings that reflect the heritage of the local areas and make a valuable contribution to the communities within which they are built.”
