Buro Four to pull First Street North together

Buro Four has been appointed as strategic project manager for Ask and Manchester City Council's 500,000 sq ft First Street North development in central Manchester.

First Street North will contain two separate developments, one by the council and another by Ask. Ask is building a 208-room hotel for Innside, part of the Melia Hotels International Group, a small retail and leisure block, multi-storey car park, another hotel of 110 rooms, and new public realm.

The council is building a £20m cultural building to house the Cornerhouse cinema and gallery as well as Library Theatre Company.

The cultural building is designed by Mecanoo. Quantity surveyor and design manager is Aecom.
Construction of First Street North is scheduled to start in July 2012 with the first phases completed by summer 2014.

Buro Four will co-ordinate delivery of the overall masterplan by bringing together the constituent parts to create a cohesive project.

David Boles, regional director of Buro Four, said: "First Street North is a landmark project for the city of Manchester and we are delighted to be working alongside the city council and Ask Developments to deliver a new cultural destination.

"On a scheme of this size and complexity, our role is vital to ensure that the two separate construction teams are working in partnership to deliver each aspect of the masterplan as quickly and efficiently as possible."

Buro Four recently worked as project manager for the restoration of the Florence Institute in Toxteth, Liverpool, which completed in March.