SH could potentially be amazing. I just wonder if the taller tower might end up looking like that tall resi/hotel building near New Street (can't remember the name but it might have a Marriot on lower floors?)

I was out with some friends last year and someone got very drunk and spewed up all over the windows. Found out later there was a restaurant full of people on the other side of the glass who could see out but we couldn't see in

LOL, cracker. Hey, we've all been there!

Noted andysimo. It's not a bad building, certainly better than the "mini Lloyds of London" original version, but I remain somewhat disappointed. OK we can't have wall-to-wall skyscrapers, fair enough. I guess I would have been happier if it had been nicely crowned.

Edit: see this pic where bammy slapped a "hat" on the old version. It kinda works.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=10215802&postcount=230

The bit i don't like is the white box on the roof. Really spoils the view from Princess Street (Portland str. end)

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/020-10.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/021-9.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/022-9.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/023-10.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/025-9.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/026-8.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/030-9.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/031-10.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/032-9.jpg

great pics marky

thanks for the all pics marky :)

I think the blades seem a little bit sparse, to much space between them, they need to be a little bit more substantial, i think the top is letting this one down slightly. Still, ace building though :cheers:

flikr pic

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2123/2763003474_d397fbbb7a_o.jpg

flikr pic

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2123/2763003474_d397fbbb7a_o.jpg

Was just about to post that but you've beaten me to it (it's mine by the way) :)

he he - good pic though m8 ;)

Marky: thanks.

All: I think the top looks good here:

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/025-9.jpg

But not here:

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/023-10.jpg

That extra level of curtain walling makes all the difference.

Manchester Confidential article:

http://www.propertyconfidential.com/index.asp?Sessionx=IpqiNwc6IWArJ0qiNwF6IHqi&

today. 5 pics.

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_09_02/chancery%20place%20manchester/IMG_6561%20copy.jpg

albert square

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_09_02/chancery%20place%20manchester/IMG_6555%20copy.jpg

taken from the top exit to castlefield lift

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_09_02/chancery%20place%20manchester/IMG_6562%20copy.jpg

albert square

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_09_02/chancery%20place%20manchester/IMG_6626%20copy.jpg

taken west of trinity way, by the river

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_09_02/chancery%20place%20manchester/IMG_6631%20copy.jpg

taken from greengate

Manchester Confidential.

Not happy! Him, not me. For pictures and rants click on link.

Chancery Place: a call for early demolition

Phil Griffin really really can't stand the latest addition to Manchester's traditional business district

The Labour Party Conference this time around will be a dour affair. No queues around the block for the leader’s speech. Manchester Central is more likely to resemble an old fashioned labour exchange, without the clouds of cigarette smoke. The main conference building, Central Station as was, is not about to get another tall neighbour alongside the Hilton anytime soon. The proposed Axis building on a beer mat by the Rochdale canal and Deansgate Locks, designed by HKR for Russell Development appears to be 'on hold'.

Chancery Place is too ill considered, too big, too grasping and too imitative to be anything to which the word architecture can properly apply.

Another HKR scheme got in before the credit crunch. Chancery Place, in the tight Business Core of the city at the top end of King Street, bounded by Brown Street, Booth Street and Chancery Lane, is almost complete in all its awfulness.

Chancery Place has a neighbour across Booth Street, also in advanced stage of construction. This is Belvedere designed by Aedas. Or rather, Aedas appears to be making it up as it goes along. Despite, or perhaps because of, a heavy mix of materials and as much geometry as you can throw at a building, it is a dog’s dinner.

However, it’s an innocent mess compared with the tawdry tower it is reflected in. Chancery Place is too ill considered, too big, too grasping and too imitative to be anything to which the word architecture can properly apply. Presumably, the pipes and wiring will be in place, the basement car parking bays efficiently marked out, and the lift lobbies not reduced beyond the barest minimum. But what, exactly is going on fifteen floors up? What are those glass louvers doing at the top of the building (apart from so obviously aping some of the more questionable foibles of Ian Simpson Architects)? Chancery Place and its glass frill is all too visible from Albert Square.

The project is Design-and-Build, serving the double jeopardy of compromising a building’s finer points, whilst allowing the architect to take a back seat. It is not my point to deny a developer his profit. God forbid. But once again, and very critically, a low-grade building has been allowed into a high-grade slot. Chancery Place is 5 metres from the Grade II* former Midland Bank building by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Four metres – the plot is that tight – from Chancery Building with it’s Grade II façade. The juxtaposition is damaging, and damning to the reputation of the city. One thing might be said in rebuttal: there are remnants of the late medieval street plan in this area, walkways and narrow streets. Pumped-up Chancery Place only adds to the constriction. And there are fine 20th century buildings here, all of which are now compromised by a cynical development that offers nothing to the quality of place.

Chancery Place is bloated and clumsy. They’ve got maximum letable space on site by cantilevering the floor plates above ground. It’s a super-sized slab sandwich. Along Booth Street the concrete columns at ground cut into the building façade. On Brown Street two are fully exposed. It is difficult to rationalise, or describe what goes on along Chancery Lane. There is a full-height slot that offers no relief from the building’s unremitting dullness. Lest you should look at these images and shrug the building off as an Urbis look-alike, you should know that, like it or not, Urbis has a quite sophisticated double glass skin, that actually works with the building’s interior environment. At Chancery Place the glass skin appears quick and cheap, though presumably it is doing something to control the interior.

I gather Chancery Place already has 'prestigious lettings'. So saying, many developers probably wouldn’t work like this today. Even in these straitened times the city core is viewed as premium property. More mature developers appear to understand that quality design and materials, generous space and advanced environment handling attract blue chip clients with deep pockets.

Chancery Place may not be bad architecture, but it certainly isn’t good. Bad buildings may not do us much long-term damage, but they don’t make good places. Chancery Place devalues an otherwise commendable and mature city grid.

http://www.propertyconfidential.com/index.asp?Sessionx=IpqiNwc6IWArJ0qiNwF6IHqi&

So, like I said, the top lets it down.

The top's ok, it's the concrete tower at the back of it that looks pretty awfull.

I reckon if it was like this all round everybody would be raving about it. The curved glass simplicity is rather nice.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/025-9.jpg

Time for a little psychology. OK guys, watch and learn:

So come on somebody, fix it. Make it look like this all round the top, and you've got a cracker of a building. People will want to move in. It'll be in magazines. It'll be in a movie. No kidding. Wow, it'll be in the adverts, model shoots, vodka adverts, on the telly. Oooh. Could make all the difference. Go on, go for it. You know you want to.

I do like/love Chancery Place, but I don't undersatnd the thinking behind the top. Surely as Farsight has pointed out, it would have been better to leave well alone, instead of adding overly spaced glass finns.(can't think of the correct name to describe them)

Still a great addition to the CBD. :)

Belvedere next door is lookgin great too. Very Pleasantly surprised, it really has a much lighter presence than it's predecessor and despite the increase in scale seems to open the area up somehow. Together with Chancery the CBD has been significantly enhanced.

I don't mind the glass fins jerb, just the general untidyness up top. I think the fins add a bit of interest, but IMHO they only work when they're backed by the double-height glass curtain wall - they look flimsy and fragile when their upper portion is backed by fresh air.

I just don't find the fins visually offensive in the slightest. I really like them. I can totally see what you're saying in regards to the uneven single/double height inconsistency but for some reason it just doesn't bother me.

Since the hoardings have been taken down the overhang and ground floor is a bit of a shocker though. The bare concrete pillars look like the exposed ankle or tibia bones. It's like a cylindrical section of flesh has been cut off the building's lower leg by Gunther Von Body Worlds to show us what lies beneith the layer of sleek glass...and it's not pretty.

I'm not sure what further work is due on the ground floor but currently its only saving grace is you can't see it unless you're next to the building.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/047-8.jpg

I think the fins should of been more substantial. It just doesn't top the building off correctly with all the mess at the top this exacerbates the problem even Further. Shame really. Oh and is that pitched roof ontop of the building temporary?

I think the fins should of been more substantial. It just doesn't top the building off correctly with all the mess at the top this exacerbates the problem even Further. Shame really. Oh and is that pitched roof ontop of the building temporary?

Looks like a tent. Perhaps there's a party planned up top. I'm sure the roof has a viewing platform from what I can remember of the renders. Take your point about the fins though. Should have been much more compact. Still like it though.

Personally I like this building, but like many buildings it could be better I guess. I think the 'fins' are a good addition and gives the building some a more defined 'top' but I agree they would have looked better if they were less spaced apart.

Overall I think it makes a positive addition :)

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/023-10.jpg


a well-planned kind of the front and side elevation. I like it, the fulfilment of one's dreams
:cheers:

God that's sexy!! I thought Peat House in Brum was nice....

Best view IMO is from Princess Street, roughly when crossing the canal. Really must remember to take a photo from there one day!

a bit of a Chancery Place reflection type thingiemewatsit type thing going on here

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y139/rolybling/chancery1small.jpg

this looks fantastic from street level, i was in manchester on business a couple of weeks ago and deliberately went to see this, as I'd not been to the city since it was merely a concrete core.... must say I was impressed.

Roly, that shot is lovely - I knew there was a good phot to be taken with all that wet cloud knocking about.

cheers Goldie, its from a few weeks ago

any 1 with reservations about origin ruining its surrounding buildings should look at this building and shut up!

roly: old stone reflected in mirrorglass, mah favourite.

Tim: that's marky's picture. Thanks for the pictures marky.

No worries

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/DSCF5246.jpg

Sorry, but it WAS dark lol.

lot different from the designs

looking great in the dark now it's dark early enough for the lights to be on. king street area is looking really tall and dense, look at it from mosley street junction with nicholas street. :)

Great :-) I will have to get myself down there for some night shots of some of the newer buildings going up, won't suprise me if 1 New York streets has lights by now on the cladded floors lol.

Anyone know how the fitting out is going? Am looking to add to Mancs the completed thread in the near future.

I'm guessing not but does this have any retail/leisure e.g. cafe, restaurant provision in the ground floors or will it just be a office reception?

Yes there is one retail/leisure unit on the ground floor that faces the Booth Street side of the building.

http://www.shopproperty.co.uk/Pdf/40000051006SWMB.pdf?id=aa285026c75d41a6ae5f101ddee6b96a

The reception is completely fitted out, as far as I can see.

From zeroliberation, Flickr.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/3026058410_69c2063a49.jpg?v=0

The reception is completely fitted out, as far as I can see.

Well I've added it to our completed projects, as that's good enough for me. Its mostly externally completed now.

Compare that ...
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=17748844#post17748844
... with some other cities threads, they are no where near! :cheers:

Anyone going to the reception being held at Chancery Place this evening?

what's this about, a top-out ceremony? :)

No, it was a post-completion reception hosted by Sisk on the 13th floor (200 people invited) - great views of the city from up there, looking down on the Town Hall, across town up to the CIS and over towards Salford. Clever design with the upper floors overhanging the pavement occupying 105 % of its footprint. The office floors achieve a net to gross ratio of 82% v. impressive for an irregular shaped building.

Super slick...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3435/3225191040_21b847f728.jpg?v=0

Jones Lang LaSalle moves to Chancery Place

By Simon Binns

Property management firm and agency Jones Lang LaSalle has relocated its Manchester office from Ship Canal House on King Street into 7,800 sq ft on the 10th floor of Chancery Place, a new 105,000 sq ft office building on Brown Street.

Jones Lang LaSalle acquired the Chancery Place site in 2007 and its project and development services teams project managed the building’s construction and fit-out.

The firm’s agency teams are also leasing agents on the building’s office and retail areas. Chancery Place will be managed by Jones Lang LaSalle’s Investor Property Management team.

http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090126/FREE/901269973/1026/-/-/jones-lang-lasalle-moves-to-chancery-place

glimse of chancery place at the beginning of this video shot from a helicopter last spring- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7401584.stm

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202009/071.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202009/072.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202009/073.jpg

Well, this is never going to compare with Mark's pics above (camera phone shot!), but thought i'd take a quick snap whilst in the art gallery looking at the da vinci exhibition. Sure i've not seen a pic of it from this angle before

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r245/danielbulley/DSC00099-1.jpg

like the pics but the top is still weird

Pictures showing the Chancery Place site pre and post development can be found in the Photographs section of my website.

Euan

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202009/013-1.jpg

some snaps from today

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2009_05_20/IMG_7867%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2009_05_20/IMG_7849%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2009_05_20/IMG_7866%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2009_05_20/IMG_7864%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2009_05_20/IMG_7863%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2009_05_20/IMG_7860%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2009_05_20/IMG_7856%20copy.jpg

and some more


http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2009_05_20/IMG_7858%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2009_05_20/IMG_7859%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2009_05_20/IMG_7850%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2009_05_20/IMG_7847%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2009_05_20/IMG_7848%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2009_05_20/IMG_7853%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2009_05_20/IMG_7854%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2009_05_20/IMG_7855%20copy.jpg

Am I right in thinking that only one floor is so far occupied or in the process of being let? :(

i know not

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/DSC_1291.jpg

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/DSC_1294.jpg

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/DSC_1296.jpg

christ that looks smooth! i could wipe my bum on it :cheers:

http://www.photo-pimp.com/dgnr8/manc/cp1.jpg

http://www.photo-pimp.com/dgnr8/manc/cp2.jpg

The first time Ive seen light from there, I take it their not actuly used as offices yet?

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/914ChanceryPlace_pic46.jpg

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/DSC_1578.jpg

Hello, I'm doing a research project on chancery place and would welcome any ones comments on how they think chancery place fits with the spirit and place of the site and the area its in ?? Also if any one has any historical or design imformation on how the project was carried out i would love you forever....
Look forward to hearing your voice on the matter...

You can see Chancery Place being built and previous renders of the design from page one of this very thread.

This is the building it replaced:

Scottish Provident House
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/914ChanceryPlace_pic5.jpg

Hey AnIco, that is a great reminder of what was there, which was just horrible IMO. Basic, cheap, throughtless. That building could really have been plonked anywhere in the 60's.

Equally and at the same time conversely, so could Chancery Place (IMO)- but in a good way. It's, such a simple, unassuming and modern design that makes full use of the plot, fits in beautifully with the established street pattern and is at a height that gives presence without being over-bearing.

The ground floor is suitable active, again without being intrusive and the outer skin is reflective, bringing light into these narrow streets and mirroring the more detailed Victorian buildings that surround.

It's one of those new builds from the last ten years that have improved this city, yet can be easily taken for granted as it feels as though it has always been there.

I believe they demolished the old 60's building because been out of use for some time and had problems keeping it secure. It definitively was lacking a lot and did not add much to the surrounding area. Good to see that a lot of building from 1960's that were killing the area have been replace now :). I can deffinetly see how the new chancery place fits in with the vision of Manchester reinventing its self again, and must be a great place to work in, but do you think Chancery place could be a new 1960s empty box 50 years from now?

^^ One would hope not. This seems to be a much better fit for the area, the plot in which it occupies and the design IMO has a timeless simplicity.

If you want to go a bit arcane you could mention that in pre-industrial Manchester this area was a major water-source for the township of Manchester, this history echoed in the street names - Tib Lane (after the river) and Spring Gardens. Could be a metaphor in there for you.