GALLERY | MediaCity launches refurbed Orange office
More than 100 guests were treated to a celebratory event on Thursday featuring a live band, skaters, and a boat trip with an onboard DJ taking in developments happening along Salford Quays, during the launch event at Orange.
The recently refurbished 8,000 sq ft of CAT B office space at Orange Tower may have been the initial reason for the gathering, but the MediaCity crew took the time to take a broader look at the Salford district’s future as a place to live, work, and play.
The launch party opened with a panel hosted by BBC presenter Anna Jameson, featuring Jason Prior, founding partner of Prior + Partners, Wayne Hemingway, partner at HemingwayDesign, Dan Anderson, director at Fourth Street, and Kai Ojo, chief executive of Planisware.
They spoke about the pull of what MediaCity has to offer, the green space and gardens, bars and restaurants, and touched on the newly-opened Kargo MKT, one of the largest food halls in the North.
The panellists saw these amenities as key to attracting and retaining the very best staff. They spoke about the significance of having the University of Salford on MediaCity’s doorstep, guaranteeing a pipeline of talent for the area.
Prior pointed to new quarters being developed to create more business, hotel, and residential space at the waterfront, while Anderson reflected on how far MediaCity has come as a destination since the BBC moved there in 2011
Guests heard that while a ceiling may have been reached for broadcasting outlets taking up residence, the media landscape is expanding and taking in every industry.
This is creating huge opportunities for other sectors such as R&D, tech, finance, and fashion to base themselves in Salford.
The event included a panel session featuring Wayne Hemmingway, Jason Prior, Anna Jameson, Dan Anderson, and Kai Ojo. Credit: PNW
Hemingway spoke about placemaking and “people being happy”, adding that MediaCity, a Peel and Landsec joint venture, is increasingly becoming a place for people of all ages and backgrounds to gravitate towards.
He talked about aims to make it a public playground for people, not just a place to work or for media executives.
Ojo reminisced about his student days in Salford and talked about why the global software company had alighted on MediaCity for its base. He added that the vibrancy, green credentials, and the university being on the doorstep helps to attract top-tier talent.
Head of asset management Stephen Kirk took guests on a walking tour of the refurbished 8,000 sq ft CAT B suite, with the Orange tower currently having 16,000 sq ft availability.
MediaCity is not your typical workspace district, as exemplified by the launch’s focus on culture and fun. Credit: PNW
Turning the heads of onlookers throughout MediaCity, guests then followed the band and skaters from Orange to board a boat trip for a tour of the quayside.
Sampling drinks and nibbles while enjoying a DJ set, guests were guided by Peel’s strategic project director Anna Bensky who showcased completed and ongoing development at the waterside hub as it looks to the future and regeneration continues at pace.
To see more information about Orange and the space available to rent, visit mediacityuk.co.uk/spaces
Click on any image to launch gallery
- Credit: PNW
“ Guests heard that while a ceiling may have been reached for broadcasting outlets taking up residence”
Hmm isn’t that the very problem? Peel and their partners have given up trying to attract them, foster trading relationships to other local media firms and build up the broadcasting eco-system at MediaCity? Without its USP it just becomes another generic office park competing for the same tenants.
By Anonymous