ACS Construction Group is currently in a partnership with NG Bailey who are the principal contractor for the Readiness and Moves (RAM) Project with the University of Manchester.

The project involves facilitating the University of Manchester in moving their academic equipment from current facilities located around the Sackville Street Area or commonly known as the North Campus, to the newly built Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD) which is located in the Booth Street East and Grosvenor Street area. This new campus is described as “unrivalled in scale in the UK as a HUB of engineering and material expertise”.

As the new MECD Campus has over 70 different faculty departments (user groups), our scope is varied dependant on the individual requirements of that user group. Some of the work we have recently undertaken are:

• Enabling works to the existing North Campus to ensure the existing engineering equipment can be safely moved. This includes items of works such as designing and installing bespoke scaffold systems, which includes crash decks and landing platforms to facilitate the movement of heavy machinery and equipment out of these buildings. The enabling works also requires the removal and reinstatement of walls/doors/windows etc, as well as survey and investigation work to support the move programme.
• Modifications to various locations within the MECD Campus where the University equipment is being relocated to, including erection & dismantling of partition walls, fire stopping and BWIC, furniture modifications, worktop alterations.
• Design and install a Category B internal fit out solution to Odd Fellows Hall. Odd Fellows Hall is a grade 2 listed building which required comprehensive consultation with various third parties which ACS managed on behalf of NG Bailey.

Other works that ACS are carrying out as part of the project are:

• The design and installation of a bespoke netting system which will allow the University to safely operate Drones within the laboratory space.
• The removal / reinstatement of existing bison floor planks including associated screeding and resin flooring, to facilitate the relocation of heavy machinery and equipment to the basement areas of the MECD Campus.
• Design and installation of fixings as part of the relocation of Flight simulators which required a detailed understanding of the load & Stresses, that these unique items of equipment impose on the floor structure of the building.
• The installation of circa 700 wayfinding signs to a significant area of the New Campus building.
• Design, supply and install bespoke steelwork solutions in several laboratories which include a raised steel flooring system to the Avery Test Pit, structural steel wall supports & bespoke cage enclosures required to segregate specialist Thermatron equipment.
• Various alterations and modifications to doors, furniture, lab benches & worktops.
• Supply and installation of new tables, workbenches and shelving to various rooms within the campus.
• Formation of penetrations and firestopping to support M&E Modifications and upgrade works.
• Along with the above ACS have also been completing decorating works, bespoke joinery, raised flooring modifications & associated floor finishes.
• As well as the internal building works, we have also undertaken traditional civils orientated works such as, external bollards / cycle hoops, concrete & screeding works, Gate modifications & keyclamp handrail installations.

ACS started works in February 2022 and the project is due to complete in December 2022.

If you are interested in commissioning a similar type of project or have more questions regarding ACS’s capabilities then please feel free to get in touch with one of the team.