Two move to The Sharp Project
The first tenants have signed to the third and final phase of the 200,000 sq ft digital content complex in east Manchester.
The new companies moving to the third phase of The Sharp Project, known as Gold, include Playface, a sports software and digital media solutions company, and Fac365, which provide crew, facilities and equipment for the broadcast industry.
The 30,000 sq ft space has a mezzanine level with 28 units ranging from 500 sq ft through to 1,300 sq ft.
A large communal space, where a cafe will open later this year, also features and can be used for social and event space and includes wireless connectivity.
Mark Chadwick, director of Playface, said: "The Sharp Project is the ideal location for us. It's close to the city centre but also right at the heart of the Eastlands development area and world leading sports facilities."
Sue Woodward, director for the Sharp Project, added: "This part of the building adds to the range of working environments we can offer new tenants and existing ones who want to expand into a larger space. It's great that we also have companies who started off in shipping containers, and now want to move into bigger units as they grow. Our vision, to create our own eco-system where start-ups can flourish within a vibrant business community, is becoming a reality, which is fantastic. The Sharp Project has always been more than just a building and always will be."
This not-for-profit initiative is led by urban regeneration company New East Manchester on behalf of site owners Manchester City Council.
The former Sharp warehouse has undergone a £16.5m refurbishment funded by Manchester City Council, the North West Development Agency and the European Regional Development Fund.
Led by New East Manchester, Bramall Construction undertook the construction work on the refurbished building, which was project managed by Mace and designed by PRP Architects.
The building, which was completed in June, is located on Thorp Road, off Oldham Road in Newton Heath and next to Central Park's Gateway transport interchange, which includes a Metrolink station, due to open by the end of the year.
