Objectives
The Partners of Edwards & Co acquired the office
suites on the upper floors of 24-26 King Street as
part of their long-term expansion plans.The main
objective was to refurbish and remodel the premises
to allow them to operate from the second and third
floors of the building whilst creating a self-contained
unit available for letting on the first floor. The brief
clearly requested a very high standard of
specification and finishes as part of a bespoke,
contemporary and ‘funky’ solution.We were also
required to take into account the constraints posed
through the location within the Manchester City
Centre conservation area.
Our View
The existing layout of the building was compromised
by a central light well which separated the suites
facing King Street and South King Street and limited
the efficiency and flexibility of the overall space. Our
solution was to build across the light well at the first
and second floors to link the floors and maximise
space. The design and construction of this two level
bridge was particularly challenging, taking into
account the de-structuring of the light well and
building over a live retail environment.
Close liaison with the client was required throughout
the project to ensure that their operational
requirements and quality aspirations were met in
every aspect.
The Results
The building has undergone a dramatic transformation.
The original inefficient maze-like layout has been
replaced with office suites that offer real space
flexibility, as well as a contemporary interior which still
has people saying ‘wow’.This is a development which
has surpassed everyone’s expectations.
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