Redefining place: The Circle Square effect

A place is only ever as successful as the people in it. That was the message at the ‘Redefining our towns and cities’ debate at Manchester Metropolitan University, held by Grant Thornton. Ciara Keeling represented Bruntwood on the panel to discuss the art of creating attractive, urban environments - of which Circle Square, a joint venture between Bruntwood and Select Property Group in the heart of Manchester, is a great example.

When complete, Circle Square will redefine buildings and neighbourhoods, creating an environment where everything works together to foster connections. Situated next to world leading centres of knowledge, art, music and innovation, the destination will be a hub and enabler for this part of the city.

Bruntwood’s commercial buildings will provide sustainable office space designed with technology and wellbeing in mind. Working with Manchester Science Partnerships (MSP), and building on research with the CityVerve project, they will feature smart building technology, offering users more control of their environment than ever before.

Combining vibrant living, working, social and leisure spaces, Circle Square will have vast green space and benefit from a range of amenities. It will be a dynamic, collaborative and connected place: a place where original ideas and original thinking can thrive to enable the extraordinary. As such, it will play a crucial role in supporting the ambition for Manchester’s Oxford Road Corridor to become one of the top 5 innovation districts in Europe.

Customers are increasingly expecting and demanding technologically advanced, sophisticated buildings and facilities which is exactly what Circle Square will provide - a true living lab which adopts smart city technologies; a place where scientists and students, analysts and artists will work together, alongside researchers, innovative businesses, entrepreneurs and academics.

Manchester Technology Centre, located at Circle Square, demonstrates how this is already very much a reality. Earlier this year, the building re-opened its doors and became the official home of a tech incubator for data science and technology innovation businesses, with the upper floors providing growth space or soft landing space for companies looking to be a part of Circle Square.

Operated and managed by MSP, the tech incubator provides a unique and comprehensive range of business support services to help early stage businesses grow.

Manchester is already a European top 20 digital city and this new incubator, alongside Circle Square, will play an important role in strengthening the city’s status as a leading location for technology businesses over the coming years.