New Students’ Union opened at MMU

THE new Manchester Metropolitan University Students’ Union has been officially opened.

Students’ Union President Mike Palmer said: “If there’s one building that shows how much a university cares about their students, it’s their Students’ Union, and I’m very proud to be here today.

“This is a modern, vibrant home, equipped for the needs of modern students and I am thankful to the students who gave us their vision for their Students’ Union.”

The building was officially opened by Mike Palmer and Vice-Chancellor Professor John Brooks, along with three former Students’ Union presidents, Hannah Templeman, Rob Croll and Tunde Adekoya.

Historic moment

The building was designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley, who also worked with the University on the Stirling Prize-nominated new Manchester School of Art and on their award-winning Business School. It features a new bar and café space, which serves around 500 meals a day, free gaming pods for students and custom-built spaces for societies and clubs.

There are more than 70 societies at the University, with around 2,300 members, as well as 1,600 sports team members over 60 sports clubs.

Vice-Chancellor Professor John Brooks said: “Without doubt it is an historic moment, not just for the Students’ Union but also for MMU.

“In the past decade we’ve seen the students union evolve and develop beyond anything we could ever have imagined. The vision for this building has evolved over the past couple of years and is based in the context of the new idea of students and what they require from their university.”

“We wanted to give a higher profile to the amazing volunteering societies and the support the students receive from their elected officers.”