Bruntwood breaks ground on first phase of commercial buildings at Circle Square (1)

Leading property developer, Bruntwood has broken ground on the first two commercial buildings at its landmark £750m Circle Square joint venture development in Manchester.

Designed for innovative 21st Century businesses, the buildings are due to be completed in early 2020. They have been designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios and will be built by contractor, John Sisk & Son Limited.

Standing at 14 storeys and 17 storeys tall respectively, the buildings will provide a combined total of 400,000 sq ft of space for progressive businesses across a range of sectors, including digital and technology.

The workspaces will be highly energy efficient Grade A, BREEAM “excellent” standard, featuring floor-to-ceiling height glazing to maximise the light, raised-access flooring and full air-conditioning.

They will feature Bruntwood’s latest innovative workspace designs, which include collaborative coworking, studios and social spaces. Bruntwood will also offer a dedicated programme of social, health and wellbeing and business support events led by a designated community engagement manager.

The buildings form phase one of the planned 1.2m sq ft commercial offering at the new city centre neighbourhood and take their design inspiration from the surrounding grand Victorian warehouses, while inside a lofty contemporary industrial feel has been carried through.

Bradley Topps, Head of Transactions and Asset Management, Bruntwood said: “Circle Square will be a city centre neighbourhood like no other and we are thrilled to begin the construction of these commercial buildings.

“Situated in the heart of the Oxford Road Corridor, the new workspaces will be ideally located for customers looking to access the world class academic research and development facilities located on the doorstep and, all just a few minutes’ walk from the city’s key transport links and commercial district.

“Businesses wishing to join this unique community as early as 2018, can take up space in the newly refurbished Manchester Technology Centre which will be re-opening in Spring 2018.”

Guy Fowler, Managing Director UK North & Major Projects said: “Sisk is proud to have been selected by Bruntwood to deliver this important development in such a key location within the City. It has been an enormous privilege to work closely with the Bruntwood team to help develop the logistics strategy for this prime development and we look forward to utilising our extensive commercial experience in the creation of this new and important neighbourhood in Manchester”

The buildings will be centred around 250,000 sq ft of beautiful public realm, comprising more than 1,000 plants and flowers,180 semi-mature trees and much needed open, inviting green space in the middle.

Significant development work has already taking place on-site and by early 2020 over 60% of the masterplan will be complete. Select Property Group’s two Vita Student buildings opened last month, with over 400 students moving on to the scheme.

Work is taking place this autumn to clear a significant piece of land on the Circle Square site. Demolition contractors will remove Armstrong House and the Mancunian Way spur, which will be the location for one of the hotels and a large multi-storey car park.