Ground broken at site of two commercial buildings at £750m Circle Square
Property developer Bruntwood has broken ground on the first two commercial buildings at its landmark £750m Circle Square joint venture development in Manchester.
Designed for innovative 21st century businesses, the buildings are due to be completed in early 2020. They have been designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios and will be built by contractor, John Sisk & Son.
Standing at 14 storeys and 17 storeys tall respectively, the buildings will provide a combined total of 400,000sq ft of space for progressive businesses across a range of sectors, including digital and technology.
The workspaces will be highly energy efficient grade A, BREEAM “excellent” standard, featuring floor-to-ceiling height glazing to maximise the light, raised-access flooring and full air-conditioning.
They will feature Bruntwood’s latest workspace designs, which include collaborative co-working, studios and social spaces.
Bruntwood will also offer a dedicated programme of social, health and wellbeing and business support events led by a designated community engagement manager.
The buildings form phase one of the planned 1.2m sq ft commercial offering at the new city centre neighbourhood and take their design inspiration from the surrounding grand Victorian warehouses, while inside a lofty contemporary industrial feel has been carried through.
Bradley Topps, head of transactions and asset management, Bruntwood, said: “Circle Square will be a city centre neighbourhood like no other and we are thrilled to begin the construction of these commercial buildings.
“Situated in the heart of the Oxford Road Corridor, the new workspaces will be ideally located for customers looking to access the world class academic research and development facilities located on the doorstep and, all just a few minutes’ walk from the city’s key transport links and commercial district.
“Businesses wishing to join this unique community as early as 2018, can take up space in the newly refurbished Manchester Technology Centre which will be re-opening in Spring 2018.”
Guy Fowler, managing director UK North & major projects said: “Sisk is proud to have been selected by Bruntwood to deliver this important development in such a key location within the city.”
The buildings will be centred around 250,000sq ft of public realm, comprising more than 1,000 plants and flowers,180 semi-mature trees and much needed open, inviting green space in the middle.
Significant development work has already taking place on-site and by early 2020 more than 60% of the masterplan will be complete. Select Property Group’s two Vita Student buildings opened last month, with over 400 students moving on to the scheme.
Work is taking place this autumn to clear a significant piece of land on the Circle Square site. Demolition contractors will remove Armstrong House and the Mancunian Way spur, which will be the location for one of the hotels and a large multi-storey car park.
