Soapworks cleans up at awards
SALFORD commercial development the Soapworks, which is to become the headquarters for broadband provider TalkTalk in 2017, has won the title of Recycled/Refurbished Workplace at the British Council for Offices (BCO) North West, Northern Ireland and Wales Awards.
The iconic development was recognised for its innovative design and remarkable commitment to ensuring that the historic elements of original building remained throughout the regeneration of the former Colgate Palmolive Factory.
Soapworks was commended as a highly desirable workplace destination when the development was awarded Regional Deal of the Year at last year’s MIPIM UK awards, in recognition of its landmark agreement with TalkTalk.
The national telecommunications business took 106,000sq ft on a 15-year lease, making it the largest letting of speculative office space in Greater Manchester in 2015.
The letting was secured by global alternative asset manger The Carlyle Group and its joint venture partners Nikal and Abstract Securities.
Soapworks is now 90% let, after securing other significant lettings with The Home Office and global engineering firm MWH Global.
Ben DuBoulay, director at The Carlyle Group, said of the win: “Soapworks’ award winning design is testament to the unique vision of sheme. The team’s understanding of how to utilise the building’s original features to create a magnetic place to work is worth celebrating, and we are thrilled to have won Recycled/Refurbished Workplace at the BCO Awards.
“The success of Soapworks is owed to our team’s hard work, and demonstrates how being creative and ambitious with new regeneration projects can create new and innovative working environments in the North West.”
