Design Tonic to inspire interior at £150m St Michael’s
The Yorkshire-based commercial interior designer has been chosen to fit-out the communal spaces at Gary Neville’s Manchester office scheme, which is due to be completed this year.
Design Tonic’s brief prioritises the delivery of a reception area, a business lounge, multiple lobbies, changing rooms, and communal meeting facilities for the Relentless Developments and KKR project.
The fit-out is already underway and completion is targetted for early 2025.
Amanda Cook, co-founder of Design Tonic, said: “No1 St Michaels is a truly impressive project, and we are delighted to have been appointed on such a high-profile scheme.
“The team will be creating spaces that balance contemporary elegance with practicality and accessibility, to provide an environment for employees and visitors that is focussed on productivity, wellbeing, and the creation of a world-class workspace.”
The Relentless site will comprise offices, hotels, apartments, public spaces, and a rooftop restaurant, and will feature Design Tonic’s interior touches.
Office space at No1 St Michaels has already been fully pre-let, at the highest office rents in Manchester. S&P Global signed a lease at the Jackson’s Row block in May, at a rent of £44/sq ft.
Other tenants at No1 St Michaels will be Channel 4, Pinsent Masons, and Arm.
The project’s £150m phase one has been built by contractor Bowmer + Kirkland who began work on site in January 2022.
Anthony Kilbride, co-founder of Relentless, said: “No1 St Michaels is attracting an extremely high-calibre tenant, and we’re committed to providing the highest standards throughout all areas of the building.
“This extends to the design and fit-out of all shared spaces in order to offer the occupiers an unrivalled experience in functionality and comfort.”
He added: “The team at Design Tonic impressed us with their extensive experience delivering outstanding office interiors. We’re thrilled to be partnering with them.”
Design Tonic has worked on various projects across the North, including County Arcade in Leeds, and recruiter Goodall Brazier’s offices in Leeds.
No1 St Michaels is the £150m first phase of the wider £400m St Michael’s project.
The second phase, a residential skyscraper currently under construction, has been designed by Hodder + Partners.
Relentless has partnered with Salboy for this phase of the scheme, with Domis Construction handling the build.
The apartment and hotel complex is expected to be completed in 2027.
One of the projects I’m most looking forward to seeing completed in Manchester.
By Tom
Good luck to all using those stairs. They will be lethal/miserable for 300 days of the year.
By Anonymous
I suppose they could use the lifts inside as well? This isn’t difficult stuff.
By Anonymous
How on earth can this be net zero with all that concrete poured.
By We're just Normal men
The crazy stairs element always reminds me of Liverpool One.
By Watcherzero
How long before somebody is seriously injured on those stairs? Manchester is drowning in either ugly grey boxes or ridiculous impractical designs. When did we stop building function beautifully. Manchester City centre is repeating the mistakes Salford made in the 60s and 70s.
By AR
I agree 1000% with AR
By John
This is definitely one of the nicest high rises in Manchester, with a much needed creative design over some of the other rather boxy apartments. I understand the comments about those stairs, as it does rain an awful lot in MCR (and that’s being polite), but I guess indoor options like lifts/escalators will be used most of the time. I suspect the external stairs are more of a design element (form over function) rather than actually using them, much like the huge steps on the Sydney Opera House and there is nothing wrong with that. Part of beautiful design is to not force functionality everywhere, but part of good UX design, is to offer the real-use alternatives as well.
In relation to the Liverpool One comment – I personally love Liverpool One. It’s the best CBD shopping centre in the UK, and it is incredibly successful. Most top decks are often quiet in shopping malls, but Liverpool One’s top deck is bustling, especially in summer.
By EOD
Oh Puuleese !…oh when did they stop building…??ya de ya de ya…. It’s called Modernism. It’s been around for decades ..the architectural schools teach only that. Trying to conflate stairs with a highly developed modern city and getting made up mates to agree is poor…just very poor. There’s plenty of dross around..go point at them and moan.
By Anonymous
Hey folks – let’s keep the comments on topic going forward. While the debate about the stairs has been interesting, let’s keep the discussion on the *interior* design.
By Julia Hatmaker