Contractor lands £28m Eversheds House overhaul

Gilbert-Ash has been appointed to lead on the Manchester redevelopment project, which follows the law firm’s departure for New Bailey.

The project has been designed by OMI Architects and will provide eight floors of CAT A office space and basement parking. With the building to be expanded by two floors, it will now offer 110,709 sq ft of office space.

Work is to begin this month on the scheme at 70 Great Bridgewater Street. The project will include the reconfiguration of the existing building to provide a replacement of the existing façades, a complete internal refurbishment and the addition of two new levels of office area.

With a BREEAM target of Outstanding, works also include an atrium infill to the existing floorplates, full CAT A fit-out to the existing and new areas and associated support spaces to the ground floor and lower levels.

The existing masonry façade is to be demolished and replaced with a new unitised curtain wall and aluminium cladding façade system.

A lounge space will be introduced. Credit: via Jago Communications

The building, originally constructed in 2001 as a 70,000 sq ft block designed by Fairhurst, is bounded by Great Bridgewater Street and the Rochdale Canal. It was sold by State Street Corporation in June 2019 for £24m+.

In its design & access statement, OMI said: “The central atrium space is dated, and results in a compromised typical floorplate that is dictated by the loss of let nettable area determined by the atrium and the position of the toilets and auxiliary uses.”

Describing that space as “sterile”, OMI added that the building services and suspended ceilings require a complete overhaul and removal to meet current market standards.

Gilbert-Ash construction director Raymond Gilroy said: “We are delighted to be working for Bridgewater Manchester (Luxembourg) Holding Sarl on this project, not only to complete refurbishment but also to extend this office block in the heart of the city.”

He added that the scheme would make 70 Great Bridgewater Street “one of the most innovative and modern places to work in Manchester”.

Savills is also on the professional services team as planner, while BWB has advised on heritage issues.