Stamford Quarter’s Foundation building officially opens
Altrincham’s former Rackhams building has officially launched today (March 21) as Foundation.
Manchester property group Bruntwood and Trafford Council have repurposed the site to create a collaborative workspace and leisure destination in the heart of the town centre.
The completion of the Foundation building signals a major milestone in the wider transformational plans for the Stamford Quarter, which will regenerate the high street and establish the area as a new and exciting day to night destination in Altrincham.
Foundation incorporates a total of five floors, including three floors of collaborative workspace.
The building has been designed to offer flexible workspace options in varying sizes, appealing to both scale-ups and well established businesses.
Alongside its workspaces, Foundation will create a connected and varied community. The blend of workspace with hospitality and leisure will create a new community at the heart of the high street.
WIth sustainability at its core, Foundation includes a 375 sq m living biophilic wall on the building’s exterior, made up of 36,000 carefully selected plants grown by I Want Plants in South Manchester. The HYVERT green wall will reduce the building’s carbon emissions and create a habitat for more than 125 invertebrate wildlife species.
Foundation’s new two-storey extension also creates an indoor-outdoor work and lifestyle experience, incorporating new terraces on the ground and second floors. A fitness studio, as well as cycle storage and showers and vanity areas, have also been created to encourage an active commute and promote wellbeing amongst its customers.
Global sports marketing agency, Sportfive, is the first business to officially move into the innovative new 50,000 sq ft of Foundation’s workspace. The business has agreed a lease for the entire second floor (13,600 sq ft) for 10 years.
The redesign of the ground floor offers a contemporary, welcoming arrival experience including the 1,708 sq ft Starbucks unit that is due to open soon.
The ground floor will also be home to three further hospitality businesses. Final works on the hospitality offerings are near completion, with the final businesses joining Foundation set to be confirmed soon. These operators will spill out onto Stamford Square providing an alfresco experience to both workspace guests and also the wider town.
The boutique bowling brand, Lane7, will be taking over the 12,640 sq ft lower ground floor of Foundation with an eight-lane bowling destination set to open in late summer.
The new and improved public realm will be launched in spring 2024 alongside a series of community events that will take place in summer 2024.
James Tootle, Head of Retail and Leisure at Bruntwood, said: “The completion of Foundation is a significant milestone for Altrincham and marks an exciting new chapter for this side of the town centre.
“Through the redevelopment of the building, Bruntwood has been able to blend leisure and workspace, which will create an exciting new destination where businesses and communities can collaborate and socialise. We’re now looking forward to announcing our three final hospitality brands and a host of workspace customers. This will undoubtedly cement the Stamford Quarter as one of the most exciting places to work, dine, and shop in Greater Manchester.“
Cllr Tom Ross, leader of Trafford Council, said: “Trafford Council is totally committed to improving and updating our town centres and this excellent work in Altrincham proves just that.
“Working alongside our partners, Bruntwood, we have transformed the centre of Altrincham and the Stamford Quarter with the completion of Foundation. This will be a fantastic addition to Altrincham and the surrounding community.”
