Bruntwood Works’ Lowry House refurb underway

The 16-storey Marble Street building in Manchester has been rebranded Bloc in the latest refurbishment project in Bruntwood Works’ £50m Pioneer workspace rejuvenation programme.

The 108,071 sq ft property between King Street and Market Street will be transformed to create a “productivity-boosting urban oasis”, according to Bruntwood Works, the offices arm of developer Bruntwood. 

Bloc is Bruntwood Works’ third Pioneer building following the recent redevelopment of Blackfriars House and 111 Piccadilly, also in Manchester.

The Lowry House project, which has a focus on wellbeing, will include the introduction of technology in the building to monitor and optimise air quality, a wellness suite that will host yoga and fitness classes, a cascading garden in the foyer, and green walls. 

Sleep pods will also be provided as part of Bruntwood Works’ effort to promote a good work-life balance in its office buildings. 

A local independent coffee shop and cinema room are to be installed, while work to build a ground floor annexe featuring 180 flexible working desks is already underway. The whole project is due to complete next spring. 

Ciara Keeling, chief executive of Bruntwood Works, said: “Bloc will bring balance to business for our customers and community. But many businesses still face the challenge of creating the optimum work life balance.  

“The guiding thought behind Bloc is that we all work more productively when we’re in more natural and comfortable environments.  

“Now more than ever, the flexibility of the space and level of service we provide is crucial in supporting our changed ways of working, particularly as our customers bring their teams back together and return to the office.”