Zinc-clad revamp for Zenith
Paul R Taylor
6/11/2007

A DOWDY former Post Office headquarters has been reborn as a sparkling office block.

The 14-storey Zenith Building is part of the £150m makeover of Manchester's financial district around Spring Gardens.

The conversion offers 67,320sq ft of offices, re-clad in zinc and Portland Stone and fitted out with high performance timber and aluminium windows.

It has a green flowering roof, a double-height entrance foyer and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Glen Ombler, of designers Ombler Iwanowski Architects, said: "The challenge for this project was to create what is effectively an entirely new office building, while re-using and extending the main structure of the original."

http://m.gmgrd.co.uk/res/189.$plit/C_71_article_1022947_image_list_image_list_item_0_image.jpg?

From PNW.

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/assets/_files/cached/img/191.31845841785x240/nov_07/pnw__1194457821_zenith.jpg

Wrather reaches Zenith with four deals
Rachael Tinniswood

Office lettings totalling 20,000 sq ft have been agreed by four companies at Wrather Group's recently completed Zenith Building in Manchester.

Cushman & Wakefield will occupy 5,100 sq ft on the building's 10th floor, relocating after two years in Property Alliance Group's Pinnacle on King Street.

Recruitment specialist Robert Half will move into the building's 8th floor, office fit-out specialist Overbury has taken the 9th floor, whilst Swiss-based Octapharma, a pharmaceutical company, will occupy the 11th and 12th floors.

The 14-storey, 75,000 sq ft building - once a Post Office headquarters - is part of the £150m makeover of Manchester's financial district around Spring Gardens which includes schemes by Bruntwood, Wilson Bowden and Langtree among others.

James Evans from Savills, joint agents on The Zenith Building with King Sturge and Edwards & Co, said: "A number of floors are still available to let, ranging in size from 5,124 sq ft upwards, but following the flurry of recent activity, we expect the remaining floors to attract other high profile companies to the development."

Quoting rents at the building are £28.50/sq ft.

Spring Gardens nearly complete .

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1713.jpg?t=1194891012

Great photo Highriser

Must say i think this has been a big success. It works really well in context. Love the thick columns and recessed windows. Works really well in this area.:cheers:

New block sold 12 months early
DAVID THAME
13/11/2007

A MANCHESTER office block has changed hands for £50m, more than a year before building work is due for completion.

The sale of the building at Booth Street comes well ahead of the October, 2008, completion date for construction work - and long before any tenants sign up for leases.

However, the buyer - a UK pension fund - has signed a deal which means the price will be lower if the lettings campaign does not go well.

Experts say the sale shows that some investors believe that a softer property investment market, in which many of the big funds have decided to take a break until economic cond-itions settle, provides real opportunities for others.

It is regarded as a significant sign of confidence in the city that the buy was on behalf of a UK pension fund.

Orchard Street Investment Management, a London-based business acting for some of the wealthiest people in property, has agreed a £50m funding and purchase agreement with Wilson Bowden Developments for Belvedere House, Booth Street, Manchester, on behalf of a UK pension fund client.

When completed, Belvedere House will total 103,000 sq ft. The building is expected to attract interest from both financial services and professional tenants.

Strategic Acquisition

Chris Bartram of Orchard Street said: "Belvedere is a strategic acquisition for a large UK pension fund client's portfolio. All of the funding for the scheme is being provided against a flexible final price arrangement, whereby the success of the letting campaign will define the total purchase cost."

Jones Lang Lasalle acted for Wilson Bowden, and Orchard Street were represented by Sanderson Weatherall.

Last week's city centre letting to a leading law firm shows that the city's professionals are still on the hunt for smart new city-centre office space.

Three is proving to be the magic number for Allied London, which announced a trio of office lettings in Manchester.

3 Hardman Street, in the heart of Spinningfields, due for completion in autumn next year, has already attracted international law firm Pinsent Masons and leading serviced office provider Regus.

Pinsent Masons has agreed terms for the top two floors of the building, totalling 35,000 sq ft, while Regus has pre-leased the floor below, totalling 17,500 sq ft.

In a separate move, Allied London has also announced London Scottish Bank is to move into 201 Deansgate, taking . all 39,500 sq ft of grade A office space over three floors.

Spring Gardens blossoms early

13/11/2007

WEEKS before building work is due for completion, a Manchester office block is already close to signing its first tenants.

Occupiers are negotiating for 20,000 sq ft at the Zenith Building, developed by Manchester property magnate Bill Wrather.

The deals, covering five floors, will see the Spring Gardens building claim an early success in the competitive city centre property scene.

The Zenith Building forms part of a masterplan for the Spring Gardens area, which is currently being transformed. Totally 67,000 sq ft, it is conspicuous for its zinc and Portland stone cladding.

Paul Smith of letting agents King Sturge said: "The secret of the success to date is simple - a good floorplate size, a prime location, superb finishes, stunning full-height glazing, providing dramatic views across the city, and a £1.5m investment in public realm works immediately outside the building. We hope to secure further lettings soon."

James Evans from Savills, joint agents on the scheme, said: "Commanding an impressive £28.50 per sq ft, this prestigious development is a unique and stunning addition to the Manchester office market.

"A number of floors are still available to let, ranging in size from 5,124 sq ft upwards, but, following the flurry of recent activity, we expect the remaining floors to attract other high-profile companies to the development."

Edwards and Co are also joint agents for the development

New block sold 12 months early
DAVID THAME
13/11/2007

A MANCHESTER office block has changed hands for £50m, more than a year before building work is due for completion.

The sale of the building at Booth Street comes well ahead of the October, 2008, completion date for construction work - and long before any tenants sign up for leases.

However, the buyer - a UK pension fund - has signed a deal which means the price will be lower if the lettings campaign does not go well.

Experts say the sale shows that some investors believe that a softer property investment market, in which many of the big funds have decided to take a break until economic cond-itions settle, provides real opportunities for others.

It is regarded as a significant sign of confidence in the city that the buy was on behalf of a UK pension fund.

Orchard Street Investment Management, a London-based business acting for some of the wealthiest people in property, has agreed a £50m funding and purchase agreement with Wilson Bowden Developments for Belvedere House, Booth Street, Manchester, on behalf of a UK pension fund client.

When completed, Belvedere House will total 103,000 sq ft. The building is expected to attract interest from both financial services and professional tenants.

Strategic Acquisition

Chris Bartram of Orchard Street said: "Belvedere is a strategic acquisition for a large UK pension fund client's portfolio. All of the funding for the scheme is being provided against a flexible final price arrangement, whereby the success of the letting campaign will define the total purchase cost."

Jones Lang Lasalle acted for Wilson Bowden, and Orchard Street were represented by Sanderson Weatherall.

Last week's city centre letting to a leading law firm shows that the city's professionals are still on the hunt for smart new city-centre office space.

Occupier interest strong as wraps comes off 80 Mosley Street

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/3338/80mosleystreetunwrappedls8.jpg

Agents on the redeveloped 80 Mosley Street are on course to pre-let around 50% of the building before completion in the first quarter of 2008.

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/archive/occupier-interest-strong-as-wraps-comes-off-80-mosley-street.html

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/archive/occupier-interest-strong-as-wraps-comes-off-80-mosley-street.html

Occupier interest strong as wraps comes off 80 Mosley Street

Agents on the redeveloped 80 Mosley Street are on course to pre-let around 50% of the building before completion in the first quarter of 2008.

Leeds-based Bilsdale Properties, controlled by the family trusts of the late steel magnate and Blackburn Rovers FC backer Jack Walker, acquired the original four-storey building from Royal London and set about more than doubling its height.

The resultant 32,000 sq ft, nine-storey offices are being offered for rents from £30/sq ft at the top to £25/sq ft lower down. Floor sizes range from 4,000 sq ft to 2,000 sq ft as it tapers towards the top.

Rob Yates, director at DTZ, joint letting agent with Knight Frank, said: "Given the interest we've had so far I would expect four floors to be committed to tenants by the time of practical completion. Conservatively, we will definitely do deals on the top two floors and have strong interest in the two below.

"The scaffolding is being taken off the building unveiling a stunning new office building, a far cry from the monstrosity that stood on the site previously.

"The building provides small to medium sized occupiers a genuine opportunity to acquire single floors of Grade A accommodation, a product that has been in short supply in Manchester's core."

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/043-3.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/042-3.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/041-3.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/039-3.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/043-3.jpg



More revealed today. Is this the worst new-build/refurb of 2007?

I think I counted 8 distinct clashing rectangular articulations on this one facade - the ceramic facing tiles, the lower story glazing pattern, the middle story glazing pattern, the top stories glazing pattern, the corner tower glazing pattern, the pseudo-structural frame, and the ground floor glazings (s split without any logic into two sections).

Is this some sort of punk mannerism, or plain incompetence?

More revealed today. Is this the worst new-build/refurb of 2007?

I think I counted 8 distinct clashing rectangular articulations on this one facade - the ceramic facing tiles, the lower story glazing pattern, the middle story glazing pattern, the top stories glazing pattern, the corner tower glazing pattern, the pseudo-structural frame, and the ground floor glazings (s split without any logic into two sections).

Is this some sort of punk mannerism, or plain incompetence?

Or is it much better than what was there before?

Unfortunately not every new office proposal can be Spinningfieldesk. There's some good stuff going up in the CBD at the moment, we were due something ordinary sooner or later.

Or is it much better than what was there before?

Unfortunately not every new office proposal can be Spinningfieldesk. There's some good stuff going up in the CBD at the moment, we were due something ordinary sooner or later.

It is every bit as crap as what was there before; and indeed worse than Abbey Life House next door. I would actually have preferred if they had simply repeated the Abbey Life facades - bad though they are - around this side of the block

It is every bit as crap as what was there before; and indeed worse than Abbey Life House next door. I would actually have preferred if they had simply repeated the Abbey Life facades - bad though they are - around this side of the block

I wouldn't say that was crap Nerd. Obviously our opinions differ. It's safe, predictable and somewhat boring. A bit like a pair of slippers at Christmas.

I wouldn't say that was crap Nerd. Obviously our opinions differ. It's safe, predictable and somewhat boring. A bit like a pair of slippers at Christmas.

I wouldn't have minded something safe, predictable and boring. The problem with this is that its far too busy and unnecessary. And the Arndale-esque tiles are ubershite.

As per, nerd is right.
This piece of shit is made all the more worse because it was slimed through planning as a refurb and not a new build.
Its cynical and its shit.
Thats not an opinion - thats a fact.

As per, nerd is right.
This piece of shit is made all the more worse because it was slimed through planning as a refurb and not a new build.
Its cynical and its shit.
Thats not an opinion - thats a fact.

Everyones entitled to their opinion. (don't get all defensive JB.)

You've both got valid points, however, I wouldn't call it crap or shit. It's erm.... very dissapointing. (trying to find any positives)

Anyway Shaftford. (is it shaft?) How come you never replied to my offer? It's still stands until I spit my dummy out.

It is every bit as crap as what was there before; and indeed worse than Abbey Life House next door. I would actually have preferred if they had simply repeated the Abbey Life facades - bad though they are - around this side of the block

Yep. That is truely awful. And such a prominent and sensitive location to stick two fingers up to the quality surrounding it and chase the mighty dollar. The fenestration is piss poor and thats the least of its worries.

It is every bit as crap as what was there before; and indeed worse than Abbey Life House next door. I would actually have preferred if they had simply repeated the Abbey Life facades - bad though they are - around this side of the block

I've been waiting to comment on this but you've all beaten me to it. Its bollocks. I'd rather it was old and shit than new and shit. At least if its pre-refurb you can hope its days in its current state are numbered. Not the case anymore.

Such an important site too :ohno: as much as any new development/refurb in the city at the moment.

Recent unveiling of [christmas] wrapping from buildings have uncovered nice surprises. It was only a matter of time that one let the side down. Why it had to be this one is real shame.

Youre lucky to have so much refurbishment going on in Manchester, it will certainly improve the city massively, despite it being great anyway!!! I wish Leeds would get a bit more refurbishment treatment, we can all dream!!!

From MC.

Take it to the top

Phil Griffin loves Zenith and the re-packaged Post Office

'Post Office'. Even the name is beginning to sound like it belongs on the pages of Sherlock Holmes. Parcels and postal orders, telegrams and even letters begin to feel as remote as ink wells. The Post Office is melting into the past, like sealing wax. There’s been a Post Office on Spring Gardens since the mid-nineteenth century. Still is, and you can still walk straight through to Brown Street when you’ve finished at the counter. You might not know it, but the building that surrounds it today isn’t the building it was when the latest Post Office opened for business in 1968. The building has been neatly transformed into something two storeys higher and, frankly, a whole lot more attractive. The job has been done by developer The Wrather Group and by fledgling architectural practice Ombler Iwanowski.

As a contribution to the refreshed business district of the city it is an exemplar. Yet its impact on the street is modest. Ten years ago Manchester’s central business district was being written off by any number of commentators and agencies.

The quality begins outside and quickly moves in through the door. Soft white Whitbed Portland stone wraps the triple height podium and reflects the Lutyens bank building that terminates the view along Spring Gardens. The new entrance off Spring Gardens is recessed, double height, fully glazed and (soon to be) gated in bespoke steel. The gently sloping ceramic tiled foyer slots in where a vehicle ramp used to be. By some neat architectural origami, the podium also incorporates mezzanine and full floor, linked by open staircases. The mezzanine overlooks the light-filled foyer through dark timber louvered screens that are on runners, so they can be moved about. A simple touch that neatly sets off the space.

http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/property/images/20072111arc3.jpg

There are nine floors in the tower, each one flooded with light through full-height timber-framed windows. These are light spruce frames from Denmark, and it’s almost shocking to see them in an office setting. We are so used to powder-coated aluminium frames in commercial buildings that light timber lends an almost domestic atmosphere. Each floor would make a big and very attractive apartment.

http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/property/images/20072111arc1.jpg

The original building had blank brick gables the height of the tower. Ombler Iwanowski has replaced them with their Danish windows on the city. Each floor incorporates deep brise soliel. For once these actually do the job. They are close enough to the windows and wide enough to function properly. What is going on here is maximum light and seriously considered environment handling. These are the details that make building recycling ultimately sustainable.

http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/property/images/20072111arc2.jpg

The Zenith building is more efficient than the building it replaces. Developer and architect have worked with as much of the original building as possible. They’ve even cleaned and matched the original terrazzo in the stairwell and lift lobbies. For this, and a number of other carefully worked details, the new building retains a cool sixties feel. The newest bit is the penthouse that adds two floors, 11 and 12, to the building. This is one chic office suite. The lifts open onto the 11th floor double height glass walled panoramic lobby. The 450 sq m of accommodation is spread over a two floor glass box; one floor and a floating mezzanine, which is literally suspended from the roof in a steel harness. It would make a great bar.

Zenith is a building that gets better the further into it you may go. As an exercise in sustainable building recycling it is exemplary. As a contribution to the refreshed business district of the city it is an exemplar. Yet its impact on the street is modest. Ten years ago Manchester’s central business district was being written off by any number of commentators and agencies. Potential development was hamstrung by squabbles over rights of light and other issues. Today there are new buildings in construction and used buildings in refurbishment. The city is beginning to pay closer attention to the spaces between buildings. Spring Gardens is an example. Manchester has what many might consider an in-glorious sixties heritage. Others, such as the Wrather Group and Ombler Iwanowski, know better.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/002-10.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/003-12.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/004-11.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/005-9.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/006-11.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/007-9.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/008-12.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/010-8.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/011-9.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/012-7.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/015-10.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/016-9.jpg

i'm the zenith building's number 1 fan. go on top of the arndale carpark and you can see the splendour of the massive glass extension it has. looks like they made the ground level look great too.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/001-10.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/002-11.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/003-13.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/142.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/141.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/140.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/159.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/155.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/145.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/144.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/143.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/157.jpg

Belvedere House

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1790.jpg?t=1200076043

45 Mosely St

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1791.jpg?t=1200076254

A few more of them Arne tiles find a home!!!

ha ha lol lol :P

:bash::bash::bash::bash::bash::bash::bash:

45 Mosely St

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1791.jpg?t=1200076254

that is much more horiffic than i ever imagined :ohno:

I did warn you all ....but did you listen...............?

Thankfully won't be very visible should the gardens be built on.. (?)

Thankfully won't be very visible should the gardens be built on.. (?)

But we dont want the gardens built on thank you very much .

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/019.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/020.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/022.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/023.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/024.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/025.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/027.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/028.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/029.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/033.jpg

But we dont want the gardens built on thank you very much .

Why not? Who uses them other than the occasional hobo?

Thankfully won't be very visible should the gardens be built on.. (?)

But we dont want the gardens built on thank you very much .

Why not? Who uses them other than the occasional hobo?

The Gardens aren't really big enough for anybody to 'use', but it's a really pleasant splash of green in the city and I have enjoyed the pleasure of walking past the green space many a time. There were murmourings of the land that Elisabeth House occupies being exchanged for the Peace Gardens and the public realm being reshaped, along Oxfrod St, but I personally like how that sapce allows a platform for the rear of the town hall (original and extension and the Art Gallery, down to the Library and the Midland Hotel.

The new plans would have to be particularly impressive to convince me.

Why not? Who uses them other than the occasional hobo?

Are you serious , there are plenty of other sites in the city to develop on rather than chopping them trees down , and like Shutty said you can see the back of the town hall .

Why would we maintain a template (which we would be doing should we chose to save those trees) of ofseting urbanisation with sparsely placed, useless greener. That are there frankly for the sake of it. So the greenery box can be ticked.

A far more sensible model of forming a city is to build dense. And maintain a large park elsewhere. As most world cities already do.

What about the back of the townhall?

http://images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=8413

^^ pic also shows how much better the square would feel should this happen, it'd actually feel like a square, funny.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/016-1.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/020-2.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/025-2.jpg

Not sure if this has already been mentioned or not, but back in December I was speaking to the butcher who's shop was in the buildings on Brazennose street and he said that the reason he was moving out was because his lease had not been renewed as the entire building was being knocked down to make way for apartments

Anyone know anything about this development?

that is much more horiffic than i ever imagined

I agree - so much so, I cant bring myself to quote the picture. I hope tenants arn't daft enough or desperate enough to be paying the sort of prices I've seen quoted for this building (up to £30 per sqare foot).

I agree - so much so, I cant bring myself to quote the picture. I hope tenants arn't daft enough or desperate enough to be paying the sort of prices I've seen quoted for this building (up to £30 per sqare foot).

well that rate has been the going rate for grade A in manchester...

That grotty old office block on Charlotte Street, between New New York Street (whatever it's called) and Chinatown, seems to have begun renovation.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/faggotbrain/Image0237.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/faggotbrain/Image0236.jpg

I guess its this:

Vitreo, 3 - 5 Charlotte Street, Manchester, M1 4HB

Looks like the Stephenson Bell Charlotte St project is going to happen soon as a planning application for hoardings around the site are now online, it looks like the scheme will be called Vitreo.

http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/associateddocs/MCCList1.aspx?088324/AO/2008/C2

http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/4078/charlottestjo2.jpg

http://www.egpropertylink.com/EGPLPROPERTY12514399.htm