Southway Housing Trust, Manchester
Transforming an existing office into an activity based headquarters

We were commissioned to produce a feasibility study for the Southern Gate site for client Southway Housing Trust. From this initial feasibility process, a scheme for a new headquarters was developed into a full planning application. The brief was to develop a high quality internal fit-out, new entrance extension plus associated landscape areas.

The client requested a ‘no compromise’, contemporary office that reflects the principles of the business: openness, honesty and ambition. The key drivers within the brief were to provide a future-proofed and environmentally friendly building, which is both flexible in terms of workspace and future technologies.

We increased the ground floor accommodation and core reception space to 707sqm (GIA), including a 40sqm entrance extension, addressing the gateway location. With a focus on sustainability, we have concentrated on a betterment of the existing fabric and raising the EPC Rating, where we have achieved a 50% improvement across the refurbishment.

The project completed in July 2018 and was subsequently shortlisted for both a Mixology North and a BCO Regional Award.