City council takes space at iconic Bridgewater House
Manchester City Council has taken 20,000sq ft of office space at Bridgewater House in Manchester.
APAM, the specialist real estate and investment manager, has let the space on behalf of its client Britannia Invest.
The council has taken a new five-year lease for the fifth floor of the grade II-listed office building on Whitworth Street.
Quoting rents at the property are £18.50 per sq ft.
On behalf of its client, APAM has invested £1m into the refurbishment of the building’s reception, transforming the space through the creation of a new business lounge, coffee shop and meeting areas, and installing cycle facilities, changing rooms with showers, and free wi-fi.
Some 28,500sq ft of open plan office space across the 8th and 9th floors of Bridgewater House has also been refurbished and remain available through joint agents, Savills and OBI Property.
Built in 1912, Bridgewater House offers in excess of 200,000sq ft of high quality office accommodation across 10 storeys and features many of its original characteristics, including cast iron columns, exposed brickwork and historic lift shafts.
Peter Owen, asset manager at APAM, said: “It is fantastic to have secured a letting of this scale, to one of Manchester’s major occupiers.
“Bridgewater House offers prime office space in the city centre and the recent refurbishment works have completely transformed the building’s offer.
“With the new reception and amenities almost complete and this part of Manchester proving attractive, occupier interest in the remaining space is strong.”
Richard Lowe, office agency director at Savills which represented APAM in the deal, said: “We are pleased that Manchester City Council has chosen to locate a significant part of its operations within Bridgewater House.
“This is an appealing property thanks to its combination of contemporary business space, original features and very well-connected location. The major reception refurbishment and additional amenities have further strengthened its offer.”
