Work starts on Waterhouse

The building at 41 Spring Gardens in Manchester city centre is being redeveloped to provide new office space.

Designed by Alfred Waterhouse and completed in 1890, 41 Spring Gardens is amongst a string of notable commissions undertaken by the Victorian architect during the time he was based in the city, which includes major buildings for Manchester University, the Refuge and Prudential; and the neo-gothic Grade 1 listed Manchester Town Hall.

Wirral-based freeholders Associated Property Owners has started on a comprehensive redevelopment which will see all the upper floors and ground floor entrance foyer completely stripped back to shell, re-modelled, re-equipped and refurbished to provide approximately 17,000 sq ft of grade A office space within the now Grade 2 listed building.

The construction works will be completed in late July this year and the finished building will be brought back to market in early September 2011.

A gala opening ceremony will celebrate the heritage of Alfred Waterhouse by re-naming the building Waterhouse. Space will be available for rent from £23.50/sq ft.

P3 property consultants and BNP Paribas are retained as development advisors and letting agents. BNP Paribas are managing the refurbishment contract, which is being undertaken by Claremont Group Interiors.

Peter Gallagher, partner at p3 property consultants, said: "Waterhouse occupies an absolutely prime site at the top of King Street, at the very centre of the established business district – over 150 years in the making and still the beating heart of our city.

"Completion of this development will provide high quality offices equally suitable for either a 17,000 sq ft whole building 'own front door' office user, floors from 3,673 sq ft or as prestigious part floor suites from just 650 sq ft for smaller companies."

The cost of the redevelopment work was not disclosed.