Our brief was for a sustainable landmark office building with spacious and flexible floorplates to mark the success and culmination of the Spinningfields Masterplan, Manchester’s thriving office-led, mixed-use district.
No.1 Spinningfields’ varied and fully accessible offer includes Category A office, retail and restaurant accommodation across 19 storeys. A mix of expansive floor plates at lower levels and smaller, easily subdivided floorplates on the upper levels, serve different commercial markets. It boasts Manchester’s highest restaurant, 20 Stories, with a double-height terrace and panoramic city views, and ground floor retail uses. Its reputation as a new world-class commercial destination has attracted high-calibre tenants including professional services firm PwC and M&S Foodhall, and drawn shared workspace provider WeWork and restaurant operators D&D from London to the North West for the first time.
No.1 Spinningfields is one of a cluster of tall buildings that acts as a group landmark. Principally made up of interlocking “podium” and “tower” components, it addresses and relates to the surrounding conservation areas, historic and listed buildings, contemporary buildings, views and vistas. Dramatic cantilevers visually extend the podium and the tower, framing views and terminating vistas, announcing and protecting active street frontages and entrances, and providing architectural emphasis to important street corners. These devices also provide greater visual and pedestrian permeability between Spinningfields and surrounding areas, maintaining Hardman Square as a lively public space.
The high performing façade was key to the building achieving its BREEAM Excellent rating, a rare achievement for a fully-glazed building. A triple-glazed, unitised system maximises views out and permits high internal light levels that reduce the reliance on artificial light sources. Informed by solar radiation analysis, the facades incorporate different solar coatings and ceramic fritting in response to orientation to reduce overheating and maximise natural light transmission, creating an optimum working environment and a visually powerful envelope.