Bruntwood rebrands Portland Tower as Manchester One

BRUNTWOOD is rebranding Portland Tower as Manchester One, as part of a £2m investment plan to refocus the 21-storey building on the creative and digital sectors.

Manchester One will be the 131,000 sq ft building’s third name. Built in 1963 it was originally called St Andrew’s House before being named Portland Tower. It has been owned by Bruntwood since 1994.

The building’s distinctive yellow facade, a feature of the Manchester skyline since 2002 and Bruntwood’s sponsorship of the Commonwealth Games, will be replaced as part of the overhaul, which also includes a new reception and a revamped 14th floor.

Colin Sinclair, director of property marketing at Bruntwood told TheBusinessDesk.com the new name reflects the building’s sought-after M1 postcode, its central location and that the location would soon receive one gigabit of fibre connectivity.

“Customers will also be able to benefit from a new business lounge, which is a first for Bruntwood. There will be free wi-fi, drinks and newspapers, very much like a Virgin lounge, except users will be able to take advantage of stunning views across the city to the Peak District.”

The redevelopment, which is in the late-stages of completion, includes a new external approach and landscaped gardens, including 25 Silver Birch trees.

Bruntwood’s development director Peter Crowther said: “We’re constantly re-evaluating how our buildings can deliver the best experience for our customers.

“The vibrant new reception and fresh new-look ground floor works, both internal and external, will dramatically improve how people perceive and interact with the building.”

Bruntwood, which is owned by the Oglesby family, says it will give further details of the new business lounge concept next months when the revamp is completed.