Lendlease will transform the former Royal Mail sorting office at Copperas Hill into a flagship building.

The Enquirer tipped a Lendlease victory last year.

The firm already has staff on site surveying the existing structure, in order to strip it back to its frame ahead of developing it into a university building.

The Copperas Hill development is expected to create a significant focal point for the university opposite Lime Street Station.

It will create a gateway to Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter, and bring together the university’s Mount Pleasant and Byrom Street campuses.

Simon Gorski, Executive General Manager of UK Regions for Lendlease, said: “We’re really pleased to be getting underway with our work at Copperas Hill, which has been described as a “transformational” investment for LJMU.

“The challenge of retaining the existing and very prominent structure and utilising it to create an iconic and inspirational multi-purpose facility is really exciting.  We are delighted to be back in Liverpool”.

The new building will house the University’s three libraries (which will be combined into one facility), a central teaching unit with lecture theatres and seminar rooms, and study zones and IT suites.

Sports facilities on the site will include an eight-court sports hall, a gym and dance studios, while the building will also house offices for the Liverpool Students’ Union and spaces for other services including a careers centre and cafes.

Two new mezzanine floors will be added to the existing structure, and the roof developed to allow use for sports and recreation, with the total floor area of the building increasing from an existing 280,000 square feet to 355,500 square feet.

The enabling work is due to complete in August, and Lendlease is hoping to commence the main construction works in the summer, with a view to delivering a completed building in the first half of 2018.

The design team for the project comprises BDP Architects, Curtins Structural Engineers and Arup Building Services Engineer.

Neil Martin, Managing Director of Construction in Europe, said: “Working for clients on sizeable and complex projects is something Lendlease does well.

“We like to work closely with clients to find out exactly what they want, and we hope we add value to them by bringing both our local relationships and global expertise to bear.”