Situated in the heart of Manchester's historic Northern Quarter, an area of city center regeneration, this former textile store and office building had stood disused for over a decade and was in a state of dereliction.

 

Due the site being in one of the city's conservation areas, works to the building had to be undertaken sensitively and under a carefully strategic entitlement process. The existing fabric had to be maintained where possible and new materials only approved following a considered selection process.

 

The brief, under a Traditional Contract of full architectural design and contract administration services, was for exterior refurbishment and interior shell fit out for speculative retail use at street level, office accommodation to the two floors above and basement storage below. A new mezzanine and large zinc clad dormer were added at roof level to increase the lettable floor area.

 

The original interior fabric was predominantly lost to the rot and required total replacement of floors and structure. The exterior shell was maintained and cleaned, with new shopfront glazing installed at street level to better serve the new retail use.

 

This project was undertaken alongside the practice Associate Director, with my role key from SD through to construction completion. I was involved in all aspects of design, entitlement, permit and construction documentation along with overseeing the build on site under the Traditional Contract.

I used the project as my 'Case Study' - the major component of the RIBA Diploma in Professional Practice - and my performance during this project was instrumental in passing the licensing examination.

 

 

THOMAS STREET / Manchester UK 

Project Type: Commercial Adaptive Reuse

Project Value: $1.2 million

Project Status: Built

 

Legacy Project / Reid Architects