Oddfellows Hall is the oldest building on the University of Manchester’s new Engineering Campus Development which is currently under construction. Oddfellows Hall is being renovated and extended to provide a heritage focus for the £400m scheme.
The 21,000 sq ft Oddfellows Hall was originally built in 1857 and reconstructed in 1916. The building, on Grosvenor Street in central Manchester, takes its name from the Oddfellows Friendly Society, which is a non-political international fraternity first documented in London in 1730. The society aims to promotes friendliness, benevolence, charity and philanthropy.
Oddfellows Hall has been renovated and now includes a suite of conference rooms, academic workspaces and a restaurant. The project also included landscaping around the building to enhance the setting. When the construction project is completed Oddfellows Hall will be flanked by three new engineering centres.
Manchester Engineering Campus Development is scheduled for completion in 2022. Once complete, the buildings will accommodate student workshops and practical learning spaces for around 7,000 students.