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Booth Street West, MANCHESTER, M15 6PB

Massive development which stretches across Oxford Road into Booth Street East. By Wilson & Womersley, 1970-72, for the University of Manchester. It was designed with elevated walkways over the main roads - that over Booth Street West which connected to the Royal Northern College of Music (just left of shot) has gone, but was there when I was a student in 1985-88, leaving that over Oxford Road as the only relic of that particular scheme (Image]). The Business School, part of the University, occupies the near part of the building seen here, while the next two sections with the semi-circular glazed staircase is now occupied by some sort of university innovation centre (the Harold Hankins Building). In its previous incarnation as a hall of residence, Cornbrook House, I called it home for two of my student years. We didn't need centres to go to innovate in my day, we had pubs. I have to confess it looks unnaturally orange in this photo. I haven't doctored it so I will blame the low summer sun.

The Crowne Plaza ® Manchester – Oxford Road and Staybridge Suites® Manchester – Oxford Road properties are being built as part of The University of Manchester‘s £1 billion campus development. The two hotels are part of the Alliance Manchester Business School Campus Masterplan https://www.mbs.ac.uk/about/campus-masterplan/ and are due to open in Summer 2018.

Located in the grounds of and sponsored by the Crowne Plaza & Stalybridge Suites, Beejing was created by Jessica Perrin. "This Bee fuses two cultures in one harmonious piece. Jessica wanted to design a sculpture fit to stand in the courtyard of a Chinese emperor and celebrating the dragons found in the folklore and art of ancient China. The bright and vivid colours bring life to a Chines traditional style hosted in the heart of Manchester - allowing the art of two peoples to come together." The Crowne Plaza & Stalybridge Suites is a dual-branded 19-storey, 328 roomed hotel which opened in 2018.

Located in the grounds of and sponsored by the Crowne Plaza & Stalybridge Suites, Beejing was created by Jessica Perrin. "This Bee fuses two cultures in one harmonious piece. Jessica wanted to design a sculpture fit to stand in the courtyard of a Chinese emperor and celebrating the dragons found in the folklore and art of ancient China. The bright and vivid colours bring life to a Chinese traditional style hosted in the heart of Manchester - allowing the art of two peoples to come together." The Crowne Plaza & Stalybridge Suites is a dual-branded 19-storey, 328 roomed hotel which opened in 2018.

The shopping centre built as part of Wilson & Womersley's large development for the University of Manchester, 1970-72. Behind the glass tent-like roofs is the back of the block pictured here Image During my time as a student here in 1985-88, it was thriving, but it since appears to have hit hard times. Most of the shops were empty. Delta Travel was there in my time, but only their signage remains. Natwest was still there, but the adjacent food outlet, very handy for chips between Maths lecturers, now cruelly tempts students when it offers nothing more than faded pictures.

New hotel development.

Buildings on Oxford Road.

This University of Manchester building was a conspicuous feature on the map and in reality, as it spanned the busy Oxford Road. Demolished in 2015 - see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rkp8k-qnptk

The iconic, 46-year-old precinct centre bridge over Oxford Road (see Image] ) has been taken down and the end of the precinct is being demolished prior to being reconfigured to create up to 14 units with glazed frontages onto Oxford Road. The link bridge was removed to improve views and increase light levels. The work is taking place as part of Manchester University’s £50m redevelopment of Manchester Business School. https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/oxford-road-bridge-demolition-begins-next-week/#sthash.tdtcUzN6.dpuf