Credit: GRAHAM ConstructionThe UK’s University of Manchester has reached financial close on a £530m ($713m) redevelopment of its Fallowfield campus, paving the way for the delivery of 3,300 new student rooms designed to high sustainability standards. The scheme, developed through a 50-year partnership involving the University of Manchester, Equitix, GRAHAM and Rothesay, is expected to become the world’s largest single-phase Passivhaus-certified student accommodation project. These include a student bar, study spaces and bookable social, music practice rooms, and dedicated health and well-being amenities. The university has stated that the project aims for “operational energy usage approximately 50% lower than conventional new-build student accommodation.” The financial model is intended to ensure investment in accommodation does not limit university spending in areas such as teaching and research.