International Case Study | Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK | Winter Semester 2023/24
The Case study focused on examining the Student Life Building and Sports Building at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) in Copperas Hill, Liverpool. These new buildings, which were officially opened in October 2021, have been constructed to accommodate student life and sports facilities, adhering to the latest design and construction standards.
- Site Location: Coperras Hill
- Budget: approx. £ 64 million
- Project duration: Jan 2018- July 2021
- Size – Student Life Building: 9,683 m2
- Size – Sports Building: 4,177 m2
- Gross internal floor Area: 13,500 m2
For the case study task, students collaborated in groups each focusing on different aspects like processes and procurement, construction and logistics, user requirements, sustainability and building operations.
The groups responsible for user requirements & building operations carried out on-field surveys, collecting about 100 samples. Using the knowledge gained from other study courses students proposed potential innovations based on the survey findings. The case study results were later presented to the LJMU real estate management and academic staff.
Project Highlights:
- Complex ground conditions: The project faced complex ground conditions due to its proximity to railways, necessitating meticulous planning and execution to mitigate any potential risks.
- Stakeholder management: Effective stakeholder management was crucial, involving various user groups internal to the university and external stakeholders such as neighbours. Constant communication and engagement were maintained to address concerns and ensure community involvement.
- Ambitious sustainability goals: The project embraced ambitious sustainability goals, incorporating eco-friendly practices and technologies to minimise environmental impact and promote energy efficiency.
- New and flexible work and learning environment for staff and students: The design focused on creating a new and flexible work and learning environment, emphasising activity-based spaces to accommodate various activities e.g. the Student Advice Centre, Financial Advice Centre, Career Centre, Health Centre, many individual and group study spaces and the digital library services and the Liverpool John Moores Students' Union & the student representative body. The sports building is equipped with a sports hall with eight pitches, two multi-purpose halls and a fitness centre.
- COVID 19 impact on the construction process: The construction process faced challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating rigorous safety protocols and adaptations to guarantee the health and wellbeing of workers while adhering to project deadlines.
- Ambitious timeline that required innovative procurement and contracting methods: To meet the ambitious timeline, innovative procurement and contracting methods were employed, streamlining processes and facilitating efficient project delivery.
- Ambitious architecture: The project showcased ambitious architectural designs, reflecting the university's commitment to innovation and excellence in education infrastructure. The building received several architectural awards.
The case study provided an amazing learning opportunity for students where they could witness best practice examples and gained an insight into project management within a dynamic project context.
The project was supervised by Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Christine Kappei (Faculty of Architecture and Design), Prof. Dr. Markus Schmidt (Dean of Studies - Infrastructure Management) and Prof. Jürgen Volm (Dean of Studies - Master International Project Management). Our collaboration partner Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool Business School, hosted the group works.
