£16m Arkwright House revamp complete
The £16m refurbishment and extension of one of Manchester’s most impressive neoclassical buildings – Arkwright House – has been completed.
The project undertaken by building owners Catalyst Capital has created 98,500sq ft of grade A office space in the grade II-listed building in Parsonage Gardens, at the heart of one of Manchester’s conservation areas, just off Deansgate.
Arkwright House was commissioned in 1929 and was originally built for the English Sewing & Cotton Company in a design by renowned local architect Harry S Fairhurst. The building, completed in 1937, was part of Manchester’s once-thriving textile industry.
Having acquired the building in 2014, Catalyst Capital worked with architects Sheppard Robson to create a new layout and identity.
Project managed by Gardiner & Theobald, the main contractor Vinci Construction has undertaken the building’s transformation involving a comprehensive refurbishment and remodelling, which has created regular shaped, open plan floors, whilst retaining the building’s original character.
The scheme has included an architecturally inspiring roof extension, creating a new seventh Floor, providing a 7,000sq ft penthouse style space with panoramic views through floor to ceiling glazing to the south, across Spinningfields to Manchester’s skyline.
The first to sixth floors have also been extended by infilling three rear light wells, which also have full height glazing to maximise daylight.
Giles Hall of Catalyst Capital said: “Arkwright House is an important part of Manchester’s heritage that merits careful stewardship.
“Having acquired the building in 2014, we appointed a highly experienced and regarded professional team to set about transforming the third major historic office renovation that we have undertaken in Manchester city centre in recent years.”
Neil Mort, director and head of North West Office leasing at agent CBRE in Manchester, said: “Arkwright House offers an occupier the perfect opportunity to acquire modernised office space in a renowned grade II-listed building, overlooking Parsonage Gardens, which is one of Manchester’s very limited number of green spaces.”
Joint leasing agents for the building are GVA and CBRE.
