Manchester Metropolitan University

Arts & Humanities Building

FURNITURE CONSULTANCY / PROCUREMENT / DELIVERY / INSTALLATION

ARCHITECT: ALLIES & MORRISON
LOCATION: MANCHESTER
PROJECT COMPLETED: 2020

Aram Trade was approached by the architects, Allies and Morrison (A+M), in the spring of 2020 with a brief set by Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) in connection to their new Arts & Humanities Building, designed by A+M.

The brief was to source seating furniture for the main entrance foyer and atrium spaces but in two distinct styles: ‘human-scale’ and ‘city-scale’. The human-scale theme called for large, comfortable furniture that “cultivated conversation” where students would congregate before and after lectures whereas the city-style needed to be easily reconfigured to different seating configurations, as and when required. There was also a request from MMU for the human-scale furniture to provide a statement, something beyond the usual, that would suit the grand, triple-height atrium surroundings.

Aram got to work, mining the vast portfolio of furniture brands we represent to put together a presentation of ideas for selection by the board and we were very happy with the final specification that went forward for procurement. Aram then handled delivery and installation up to site under the exacting and restrictive conditions that were in place at the height of the Covid pandemic that year.

We were really happy to be invited in by A+M to work on this project with them for such a prestigious educational facility, and even happier now knowing students are back on campus using the furniture, post-Covid, in the social and collaborative manner originally intended.

Photography credit: Jack Hobhouse