Sackville Street Building

The Sackville Street Building is a twelve-story structure with French Renaissance architectural details, featuring carved stonework and terracotta ornaments on its exterior walls. Inside, multiple lecture theaters and the Joule Library serve the university's teaching and research functions.

Construction began in 1895 as the Manchester Municipal Technical School and the building opened to the public in 1902. This expansion reflected Manchester's growing investment in technical education during the early 1900s.

The building houses the Godlee Observatory on its roof, actively used by the Manchester Astronomical Society for scientific observations today. This connection between the university and astronomy remains visible to visitors through the observatory's presence on the rooftop.

The building uses an alphabetical floor system from BA to L, which requires some attention when navigating. Visitors may want to take time to understand the layout when looking for different departments or facilities.

The top floor was originally planned as a swimming pool but structural concerns led to its conversion into a gymnasium first. It later became an examination hall, completely changing its original purpose.

Location: Manchester

Architectural style: French Renaissance architecture

Floors above the ground: 12

GPS coordinates: 53.47612,-2.23550

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:55