Former Engineering building changes name in honour of former vice-chancellor Nancy Rothwell

Over the summer, the Engineering Building officially changed its name to the ‘Nancy Rothwell Building’, commemorating the former President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester. 

Rothwell’s term as President and Vice-Chancellor ended on July 31 2024, after starting the role in 2010. 

The change in name was instated at a ceremony on July 24, honouring Rothwell’s tenure. An additional portrait unveiling ceremony was hosted at the Manchester Art Gallery on July 19.

Students know the former engineering building for its distinctive design, spacious seven floors, and quality specialist equipment. 

Described as one of the “largest education spaces in Europe” the now-named ‘Nancy Rothwell Building’ is a frequented part of campus by both students and staff.

The Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD) completed construction in 2021, costing £400 million.

The move to rename the Engineering Building is not unprecedented. Dame Nancy Rothwell’s predecessor, Professor Alan Gilbert, had the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons named after him once construction was completed. 

Dame Nancy Rothwell faced controversy during her tenure at the University of Manchester, which made her unpopular. In February of 2021, she faced a student vote of no-confidence, which she lost by 89%.

Notably, Dame Rothwell’s tenure was marred by the controversial decision to fence off students in Fallowfield during COVID and a failure to contact Zac Adan after an alleged incident with campus security.

In an online post written by the University heralding her tenure, she is described by the University as having “presided over the development of the wider campus, including the Graphene Innovation Engineering Centre, the Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials, the Paterson Cancer Research Centre, and the redeveloped Alliance Manchester Business School.” 

Additionally, Rothwell’s efforts to ensure Manchester “remains the most applied to British university for undergraduate study”, in addition to her commitment to research funding, were both highlighted.

Manchester Leftist Action (MLA) encouraged students to protest at the naming ceremony, following long-standing tensions with senior faculty over the current war in the Middle East and the university’s alleged links to Israel-associated arms manufacturers.