Milestone for 100,000 sq ft Manchester office
HBD and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund’s Island on John Dalton Street has reached its highest point ahead of completion in the summer.
Contractor Bowmer+Kirkland has topped out the 100,000 sq ft Manchester office less than two years after starting work on the scheme.
Adam Brady, executive director at HBD, said: “With the highest point now reached and the external façade being installed, we can start to see Island become a reality and appreciate first-hand how the scheme will sit very comfortably within its surroundings.
“Every element of Island, from the structure to the internal operations, has been carefully thought through to provide occupiers with a highly intelligent building which will support their business and their ESG criteria for many years to come.”
The joint venture partners are aiming high when it comes to Island’s sustainability and hopes the development will become one of Manchester’s most sustainable office schemes.
The scheme is targeting an EPC A rating, NABERS 5.5 stars, and BREEAM Excellent.
Designed by Cartwright Pickard, it is also set to become one of the first net zero carbon in operation commercial office in Manchester, with energy consumption 46% lower than the 2020 Real Estate Environmental Benchmark, according to the JV.
Island is being built on a speculative basis and is available as single or multiple floors of 10,000 sq ft.
It looks nice but there’s already loads of empty space around Deansgate and Victoria Station, what will they do differently?
By DH
Stunning brickwork cladding on this one. Hope other developers take note and we get more of this around the city. It’s up there with Vincent Kompanys one in Ancotes. Both quality builds.
By Bob
I work in the city and my office is empty
By DH
I work in the city and my office is full
By Anonymous
My office is full? Sometimes I wonder if people just lie about offices being empty so they can work at home
By Marcus
Looks a great development. The buildings that were there were no loss and looked tired. Better density as well. The wider pedestrianised road at the side will be a nice addition to the public realm.
By Tomo
HBD couldn’t have got the timing worse unfortunately. All the best to them, hopefully both the occupational and investment markets will improve for them over the next couple of years
By John W
I also work in a city that builds office space for jobs and a leadership that works for its city instead of against it .
By Anonymous
You claim that building offices is working “for” a city but it’s not good if you consider the environment, there are many who believe destroying the environment for economic growth is a bad thing and that people should be encouraged to work from home and construction should be curbed due to the carbon emissions.
By Gilly
The cladding on this is superb! Cant wait to see it completed
By Steve
Newer office space is needed but I think it is time to use the space for more homes. I work and live in Manchester City Center. My apartment block is full whilst my office block is around 70% capacity.
By Anonymous
Good on HBD. They deserve credit for believing in the City and cracking on.
By Mancunian
Gilly you’re obsessed with cars and remind us on every article. Now you’re claiming to care about the environment?
By Anonymous
@January 17, 2024 at 10:03 pm
By ‘Gilly’
Who are these many? Please provide sources. Thank you.
By Rye&Eggs
It’s one of those rarer schemes that actually looks as good as—if not, better than—the mock ups!
By Tom
Looks great , decent design, watched it being built. I know we get the usual suspects wittering constantly about ‘offices arnt required…blah blah blah’ whilst contributing to a site whose very being is city development ..have to chuckle bless ‘em….As always the office is alive and well…in London, Manchester and Leeds at least. I saw an empty house once …near me it was. There’s clearly no requirement for houses…ever.
By Calisback
Good for them, can’t be all apartments and restaurants. A few thousand civil servants coming to Manchester gonna need somewhere to work.
By Gillybilly
I work opposite this building and I’m loving seeing the cladding going on! Excited to see the final design of it!
By Anonymous