Manchester Metropolitan University secured £1.27 million from the Office for Students to create a Digital Education Nexus (DEN) within its John Dalton Building, a facility designed to put its healthcare and life science students at the forefront of clinically-focused, technology-led education. PSA provided full mechanical and electrical design from concept through to completion, navigating some significant on-site challenges along the way. Delivered to a tight programme, the DEN opened in 2026 and is set to benefit over 11,000 students across health, social care and life science programmes. It also opens up new opportunities for Manchester Met to collaborate with industry on AI-driven healthcare projects and training.
LOCATION: Manchester
CLIENT: Manchester Metropolitan University
SECTOR: Education
SERVICES: M&E Design & Consultancy
RIBA STAGES: 1–6
VALUE: £1.27 million (OfS funded)
COMPLETED: April 2026
CLIENT OBJECTIVES
Manchester Metropolitan University wanted to build a dedicated learning environment that would prepare thousands of healthcare and life science students for careers in an increasingly digital NHS. Backed by Office for Students funding, the brief was to create a space that combined advanced simulation technology, immersive theatre and AI-ready infrastructure, all housed within the John Dalton Building.
A key requirement was one of the largest suites of Anatomage tables in the country. These large-format digital tables allow students to perform virtual dissections using high-resolution 3D anatomical models, giving them a depth of clinical understanding that would be difficult to replicate through traditional teaching methods. Alongside this, the client needed an immersive theatre environment with three-wall projection, creating a fully enveloping clinical simulation space where students can interact with virtual scenarios as though they were operating in a real clinical setting.
OUR SOLUTION
PSA was appointed from concept stage and provided full mechanical and electrical design through to RIBA Stage 6. Given the intensity of the technology being installed, large digital screens, high-spec computing, immersive theatre and VR infrastructure, our primary design focus was on managing heat gain and ensuring reliable, resilient services throughout the space.
- Full M&E design from concept to completion (RIBA Stages 1–6)
- New local VRF cooling and heating system, independently servicing the DEN
- Existing mechanical ventilation redirected and redistributed to serve the new layout
- New electrical distribution to support high-power AV and computing equipment, with each screen in the theatre on its own dedicated circuit
- Zoned, manually controlled lighting designed to spotlight individual Anatomage tables during sessions
The main challenge emerged early. When mechanical subcontractor, Mercers, carried out water quality testing on the building’s existing heating and chilled water systems, the results showed the water in the pipework was unusable due to the age of the building and systems. Connecting the DEN to this infrastructure was not an option.
Rather than letting that delay the programme, we quickly redesigned around the problem. We specified and installed a standalone VRF system to serve the DEN independently, stripping out the existing chilled beam system that had been in place and replacing it entirely. It required a full redesign at pace, but we turned it around within the original programme.
THE OUTCOME
The Digital Education Nexus opened in April 2026 and Manchester Met is delighted with the result. The facility positions the University at the forefront of AI-driven healthcare education and gives students access to simulation technology that directly prepares them for NHS placements. 11,000+Students set to benefit across health, social care & life science programmes. £1.27m Office for Students funded project, delivered on programme.
Imagery courtesy of Red Tree Building Contractors
