With the music scene expanding in Manchester, there was a need for a larger capacity venue on the campus.

In 1984, a proposal was submitted for building a concert venue adjacent to the original Student Union.

[5] Following the re-opening of Academy 1 in October 2007, the University of Manchester Students' Union came under much criticism for large parts of the refurbishment being incomplete.

Customers originally had to use portable toilet facilities outside, suffered long queues for the one small bar and had no access to a cloakroom.

[citation needed] Manchester Academy has attracted positive publicity after being referred to as the UK's "greenest venue" with a third of the £3.5 million refurbishment budget going towards minimising the environmental impact and improving the sustainability of the reconstructed venue, as well as making substantial accommodation for disabled music fans.