Island
Planning permission has been granted for ‘Island’, a 100,000 sqft, net zero carbon, smart-enabled office building designed by us for HBD and the Greater Manchester Property Fund
Situated within the St Ann’s conservation area in Manchester City Centre, Island will be modern and contemporary in appearance but sympathetic to its context and celebrate local heritage. The building is designed to be net zero carbon, BREEAM Excellent and WELL-enabled.
Chosen for their robustness and ability to age gracefully, the material palette includes orange brickwork pointed with dark mortar and a black/brown patinated steel base. Asymmetry in the façades breaks up the ordered rhythm and mass, introducing different scales. This adds layers of interest and intrigue, helping to create a more memorable façade and encouraging people to ‘look again’.
Permeable both physically and visually at ground level, the mix of uses will activate the surrounding streets and create a lively, vibrant entrance to the building.
Planning permission has also been granted to pedestrianise a section of Ridgefield, tying in with the city’s drive to improve pedestrian links between Lincoln Square and St Ann’s Square.
Island is set to have the ambience of a hospitality environment such as a hotel, giving users an amenity-driven experience.
The ambitious plans reflect the fact that the coronavirus pandemic has been reshaping our perceptions of work. Many people will be migrating to a hybrid working pattern or setting themselves up in third spaces such as coffee shops. Island is designed to reflect these changes and provide a blended environment that suits the aspirations of future occupants.
With integrated food and beverage offering, regular events and a sense of seamless transition from one area to another, it will be very unlike a traditional and sterile new-build office.
“The new scheme will incorporate a range of uses, creating a vibrant, fluid and inviting ground floor which will provide amenity for both tenants within the building and the wider community, while its upper floors will deliver high quality commercial space benefiting from fantastic levels of natural daylight and 360° views across Manchester and beyond.”
Peter Cartwright
Director, Cartwright Pickard
“Having the opportunity to deliver our first net zero carbon building is a major deal for us and something we’re very proud to be doing. We have the potential to push the boundaries of what’s possible here and believe this is an important step towards a net zero carbon future. Island has been designed to embrace a new hybrid model of working; where seamless technology combines with a scheme design which will enable people to work fluidly. We look forward to bringing this to market for forward thinking occupiers who share our ambition and values.”
Adam Brady
Executive Director, HBD
