Member Article

New office space completed in Spinningfields

Preston-based Eric Wright Construction has completed work on the new No. 1 Hardman Street in the heart of Manchester’s Spinningfields commercial district.

The new building adds to the street scene extending from the main thoroughfares of Deansgate and Hardman Street to the public amenity space located at The Lawns on Little Quay Street and the developments beyond.

It provides five floors of office space and its styling sits comfortably alongside both its historic neighbours and the large glazed buildings of the district.

Levitt Bernstein’s design won a competition organised by Allied London in 2009 to design a scheme for one of the few remaining plots in the Spinningfields development which is closely bounded by numerous other buildings.

Initially designed as a restaurant and art gallery, the design was adapted to meet the increasing demand for high quality office space, increasing the overall floor area.

Gary Tidmarsh, chairman at Levitt Bernstein, said: “The plot at 1 Hardman Street is one of the smallest in Spinningfields and surrounded by commercial buildings that would dwarf the scale of any new development.

“The design responds to the challenge by establishing its own bold identity that allows it to sit alongside its larger neighbours and be an entrance landmark to Spinningfields off Deansgate”

Being one of the smaller buildings of the Spinningfields redevelopment, the design seeks to maximise its visual impact and optimise the potential of the site.

The new building is sensitive to its location within a conservation area while expressing a contemporary and individual character, providing a visual juxtaposition between the surrounding historic and contemporary developments.

John Wilson, managing director at Eric Wright Construction, said: “As soon as we saw the Levitt Bernstein design we wanted to be involved in the project and our site team worked closely with the architects and our supply chain to deliver this stunning project”.

The main entrance to No.1 Hardman Street opens to a double height foyer and feature staircase which provides access to the 1530 sq m of office space.

An external roof terrace is located at fourth floor level, offering occupants views of the surrounding conservation area, historic buildings and the city beyond.

The external materials are a key design feature - the main building envelope consists of a checkerboard layout of black cladding panels and large windows.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .