PROJECT REPORT: COMMERCIAL & WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENTS 41
© Mike Dinsdale
© Mike Dinsdale
scheme, Zaman says that because there was one overall contractor (John Sisk & Son) across the whole project, “there was a lot of overlap, and that worked really well, there were lots of advantages in dealing with site constraints.” Being a central Manchester site, the council’s planning department was also kept involved throughout the process, and was a “constructive” presence, adds Zaman.
Density & efficiency With the site being tight and central, space was at a premium, and so the architects had to produce what Whittington admits is a “fairly dense,” but efficient composition of floorplates, however she says this is contextually apt, as “the local area is fairly densely built anyway.”
Zaman explains further that they “looked at the core configurations” across the site, and did the necessary weighing up of net to gross internal area (NIA to GIA) which is crucial to optimising commercial workplace projects’ efficiency.. The design originally had two cores, however the project team finally opted to install ‘superloos’ (self contained WC and sink units) which “help with the efficiencies,” says Zaman; “even though you need more of them, they take up less space, and can be combined.”
ADF MARCH 2022
Whittington even pinpoints a general move to these facilities among commercial sector clients as being “one of the major post-pandemic things that’s happened,” with the emphasis now on floorplate efficiency more than ever. She says that while the original brief required separate toilets for male and female users, the shift shows how “everything can change in five years.” However, in achieving a very efficient footprint, the architects have released 250,000 ft2 of public realm, including the first new park in central Manchester for generations – ‘Symphony Park.’ Sitting between the buildings as a communal amenity, it includes amphitheatre-style raised seating, and will host a variety of community and cultural events. The architects produced many different studies for the masterplan, says Zaman, “trying different block configurations, including looking at winter gardens as well as placing of receptions and meeting spaces.” She adds: “Even how we oriented the cores and how you walk onto the floorplates – all of it has been thought through in terms of how potential occupiers are going to be fitting out those spaces.” The two buildings are designed to have two distinct characters, number one for more corporate entities, and number two
BREEAM
The workspaces’ design helps contribute to the project’s BREEAM Excellent credentials, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing copious daylighting
© Mike Dinsdale
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