KPMG sticks with Sheppard Robson

ID:SR, the interior design service of architects Sheppard Robson, has won another contract with KPMG to fit out its new 63,000 sq ft Manchester headquarters at One St Peter's Square.

The development is being delivered by a joint venture between Argent and the Greater Manchester Property Venture Fund, part of the pension fund for the ten local authorities of the city region.

KPMG has taken the top three floors in the building, designed by Glen Howells Architects. KPMG initially appointed ID:SR in 2011 to carry out due diligence reviews of a number of sites, culminating in its selection of One St Peter's Square as its preferred location. The building is currently under construction by contractor Carillion with the fit-out from shell and core due to start in April 2014, and complete early in 2015.

ID:SR has completed and continues to work with KPMG as a framework designer on projects in Newcastle, Leeds, Milton Keynes and Cardiff.

Andrew German, partner at ID:SR, said: "These new Manchester headquarters present an exciting opportunity for KPMG to create a best in class workplace that reflects and enhances its brand strategy, provides a dynamic, memorable and welcoming client experience and a flexible workplace which will respond to the rapidly changing technologies and requirements of all generations."

Jonathan Hurst, chairman of KPMG in the North, said: "The Manchester office has always been something of a trailblazer within KPMG for our approach to office design – for example, we were the first office to move to a fully open-plan working environment. It was therefore vital that we chose a partner who could deliver our vision of a modern, innovative and collaborative work space, whilst also fulfilling our environmental and sustainability objectives. This appointment is one of the biggest architectural commissions in the North West for the past few years and probably for the next few years to come, and we look forward to seeing our new home take shape over the coming months."

Ian Mackintosh, capital projects manager at KPMG, said: "We went out to the market in a design competition with a number of top interior design practices. All parties completed work to a very high standard, with three companies shortlisted to attend a final presentation. We believe that ID:SR's unique approach to the fit-out and client user/interface will provide KPMG with a truly inspiring place to visit and work in the heart of Manchester."