Express Building restoration completes

The overhaul of the grade two-listed building on Manchester’s Great Ancoats Street has been handed over with 52,000 sq ft of office space now available.

Workspace operator Huckletree signed a pre-let to take 25,000 sq ft over three floors of the 77,500 sq ft office building, which was built in 1939 and has been restored by OBI for Wittington Investments.

This leaves five further floors available with floorplates of around 11,400 sq ft, along with roof terraces on levels five and six.

Restoration works have included adding a café and breakout space at ground floor level, and the installation of a mezzanine level on the sixth floor, along with the addition of a feature staircase linking the ground and lower ground floors.

A 100-person event space has also been added along with staff wellbeing facilities in the basement. Wittington Investments bought the building in 2017 in a deal advised by Metis Real Estate; the restoration was designed by Ben Adams Architects.

Richard Lace of OBI said: “Located in one of Manchester’s most exciting districts, The Express Building is a Manchester landmark and we’re delighted the major restoration is now complete.

“The intention was to create something timeless, that celebrates the art deco era of the original building design, using high quality materials throughout.”