Great news. :)

In todays MEN Business section. Peter Crowther (Bruntwood) confirmed the 13-storey office block proposed for 45 Mosley Street 'will' be built.

Office tower for 'canyon'

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/882.$plit/C_17_Articles_221270_BodyWeb_Detail_0_Image.jpg

Peter Crowther

MANCHESTER'S biggest landlord is planning a new 13-storey office tower in the city centre.

Bruntwood's new office block at 45 Mosley Street will total 101,471 sq ft, and will signal the area's return to popularity among local businesses.

Since the Metrolink tram line was introduced in the mid 1990s Mosley Street has been regarded by many businesses as an undesireable location, and described by some as a "canyon" which it was impossible to cross.

Since then law firm Cobbetts has signed up for new offices at Mosley Street and other occupiers are set to follow suit.

Now the planning team at surveyors Drivers Jonas in Manchester has secured planning permission for a new striking 13-storey office. It is due to be ready for occupation by mid 2009.

(The important quote below is in the MEN's Business section, but is missing from the Manchesteronline Business section)

Bruntwood's Pete Crawther said: "45 Mosley Street represents our first city centre complete new build development. We are exceptionally excited".

Information and renders already posted on the CBD thread.

Denton Corker Marshall has won planning permission for a new office building in Manchester for Bruntwood Limited. Located at the strategic Mosley Street / York Street junction, the project comprises 10,000 sq m of office space over 12 upper floor levels with an active ground floor retail space. The development acts as a landmark gateway to the Mosley Street corridor and Bruntwood’s evolving New York Street project.

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/481245MosleyStreet_pic1.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/481245MosleyStreet_pic2.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/481245MosleyStreet_pic3.jpg

http://www.dentoncorkermarshall.com/resources.ashx/NewsChildDataImages/64/fileName/378825371D50D5A55BA79CBB52156A38/7255_R02_20060804_SS.jpg

:cry:

Is it wrong that I like it? :runaway:

Is it wrong that I like it? :runaway:
Nah!
You know i'm just sad cos i like the building thats there.
You know me........! :horse:

Its ok Beardy - you go ahead and proclaim your support - you wont get any argument from me (unless of course your real name is Peter Crowther then i will be in a big sulk!)

I'm looking forward to this one.

As long as they sort out the blank side. A decent material should be enough to avoid disaster.

Nah, keep the blank side and demolish barclays nextdoor. whack a 100m tower there. bish bash bosh.

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/481245MosleyStreet_pic3.jpg

Hmmmm...

nice building, doesnt help street level though...

Nah!
You know i'm just sad cos i like the building thats there.
You know me........! :horse:

Its ok Beardy - you go ahead and proclaim your support - you wont get any argument from me (unless of course your real name is Peter Crowther then i will be in a big sulk!)

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/1076/crowtheryk9.jpg

After CJC, Hardman Boulevard, the new Maths building at the uni and now this, are blocky bits the new asymmetric windows? I'm sooo last season!

Looking forward to seeing this going up. It might lift the area a little.
Really hate what's there now - it's just so univiting and dull.

Design is pretty good, lacks something though, renders manage to make it look very dull considering its so formaticly striking. However the building that's already there is very fine and only needs a scrub. If anything I think it fits better in context than the new scheme. What I don’t understand is that only two/three weeks back it was the exact opposite storey, are Bruntwood just playing a propaganda game?

The 'blank wall problem' is only going to get worse as the centre densifies, but I don’t really see a way to solve it, they cant legally invade the building next doors air rights without stepping back; and no developer is going to use the very best materials on a wall that could be totally concealed within months.

I like it.

The 'blank wall problem' is only going to get worse as the centre densifies, but I don’t really see a way to solve it, they cant legally invade the building next doors air rights without stepping back; and no developer is going to use the very best materials on a wall that could be totally concealed within months.

Fair enough, but surely they can break it up in some way (like the groovy markings on the sides of City Tower or some nice thin vertical lines of something (bronze strips, ceramic strips) - just something that can break that monotony without costing too much???

Huh? But it's got vertical lines:

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/481245MosleyStreet_pic3.jpg

Course, I'd like it more if it was twice as tall with a pointy top, and turquoise.
But hey, you can't have everything.

Huh? But it's got vertical lines:

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/481245MosleyStreet_pic3.jpg

Course, I'd like it more if it was twice as tall with a pointy top, and turquoise.
But hey, you can't have everything.

The slabs have vertical grooves between them, but it's really boring. Just something to break it up more. The vertical edges in blue or something. Any thing to break the monotony of this side. The rest is fine. Of course I too would prefer something twice as tall (taller than city tower at least) that would complement city tower, be in blue and have a pointy top!!

..... they cant legally invade the building next doors air rights without stepping back;

Which the present building does with great aplomb i might add. You can buy light rights though cant you? - which i presume Bruntwood have done (one would hope!!)

Isn't it going to get a bit windy along Moseley St ?

Oh right, let's knock down all our skyscrapers then.

Have you ever walked down Victoria St, between Westminster Abbey and Victoria station. Very similar, very windy, cold and unattractive. Home to many Government offices because the private sector won't touch it.

If you walked by tall buildings every day as I do, you would understand what I mean.

What a shame, as the existing building is one of the few post war buildings in Centra Manhester, of quality. It fits well with the street, respects the skyline and has weathered extremely. This new building (if needed at all ) could have replaced numerous eyesores in this area, such as that nasty block that houses the bank of china or Abbey House opposite the art gallery.

More glass, more angles, oh well.......

In todays MEN Business section. Peter Crowther (Bruntwood) confirmed the 13-storey office block proposed for 45 Mosley Street 'will' be built.

Office tower for 'canyon'

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/882.$plit/C_17_Articles_221270_BodyWeb_Detail_0_Image.jpg

Peter Crowther

MANCHESTER'S biggest landlord is planning a new 13-storey office tower in the city centre.

Bruntwood's new office block at 45 Mosley Street will total 101,471 sq ft, and will signal the area's return to popularity among local businesses.

Since the Metrolink tram line was introduced in the mid 1990s Mosley Street has been regarded by many businesses as an undesireable location, and described by some as a "canyon" which it was impossible to cross.

Since then law firm Cobbetts has signed up for new offices at Mosley Street and other occupiers are set to follow suit.

Now the planning team at surveyors Drivers Jonas in Manchester has secured planning permission for a new striking 13-storey office. It is due to be ready for occupation by mid 2009.

(The important quote below is in the MEN's Business section, but is missing from the Manchesteronline Business section)

Bruntwood's Pete Crawther said: "45 Mosley Street represents our first city centre complete new build development. We are exceptionally excited".

Information and renders already posted on the CBD thread.

Denton Corker Marshall has won planning permission for a new office building in Manchester for Bruntwood Limited. Located at the strategic Mosley Street / York Street junction, the project comprises 10,000 sq m of office space over 12 upper floor levels with an active ground floor retail space. The development acts as a landmark gateway to the Mosley Street corridor and Bruntwood’s evolving New York Street project.

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/481245MosleyStreet_pic1.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/481245MosleyStreet_pic2.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/481245MosleyStreet_pic3.jpg

http://www.dentoncorkermarshall.com/resources.ashx/NewsChildDataImages/64/fileName/378825371D50D5A55BA79CBB52156A38/7255_R02_20060804_SS.jpg[/QUOTE]

What a shame, as the existing building is one of the few post war buildings in Centra Manhester, of quality. It fits well with the street, respects the skyline and has weathered extremely. This new building (if needed at all ) could have replaced numerous eyesores in this area, such as that nasty block that houses the bank of china or Abbey House opposite the art gallery.

More glass, more angles, oh well.......



I fully agree; Harry Fairhurst built a lot in Manchester - not all of it of the highest quality - but this is one of the best (certainly better than his bank extension across the road). Now the Barclay's Bank building next door would be a much better site.

I'm heartened by the support for the 'old' building. Its not an easy building to love because it isnt very street friendly and a bit cold looking but it is a 'good' building with lots of qualities.
Fairshursts did the Barclays next door believe it or not nerd but it was after their golden age had passed (all 80 years of it!).
For those interested there is a talk about Fairhursts in October that i'm helping to organise so let me know and i let you know the details.

Don't know if this has already been posted?

Stephenson Bells losing design.

http://www.stephenson-bell.com/87403.jpg

45 mosley street

Our proposals have been developed from an analytical approach both in terms of the building’s impact on the urban fabric of the City and the provision of optimum, flexible office space. One, it can reinforce the edge of the close grained business core of the City after which the scale of space changes to a large city square. Two, it is a corner building which must act as a marker, but perhaps more importantly, provide a comfortable transition from the tight corridor which is Mosely Street into the new environment dominated by Bruntwood buildings on New York Street. We have articulated the mass into two parts, an underbuilding which responds to the ‘corner dynamics’ and pays homage to the height of adjacent buildings. Then an overbuilding which fills the site, thus maximising useable space at these levels.

http://www.stephenson-bell.com/mosleystreet.pdf

Don't know if this has already been posted?

Stephenson Bells losing design.

http://www.stephenson-bell.com/87403.jpg

[im]://www.stephenson-bell.com/87403.jpg[/img]

45 mosley street

Our proposals have been developed from an analytical approach both in terms of the building’s impact on the urban fabric of the City and the provision of optimum, flexible office space. One, it can reinforce the edge of the close grained business core of the City after which the scale of space changes to a large city square. Two, it is a corner building which must act as a marker, but perhaps more importantly, provide a comfortable transition from the tight corridor which is Mosely Street into the new environment dominated by Bruntwood buildings on New York Street. We have articulated the mass into two parts, an underbuilding which responds to the ‘corner dynamics’ and pays homage to the height of adjacent buildings. Then an overbuilding which fills the site, thus maximising useable space at these levels.

http://www.stephenson-bell.com/mosleystreet.pdf

I'm sure this has been answered before, but why do so many renders have this strange perspective thing going on? They always show the top corners of buildings wildly distorted - why? Why not just show the render as it would look in a photo?

(That said, I don't know if this particular example is actually like that by design...)

BG it WOULD appear like that in a photo though, it wouldn't to the naked eye but you always get converging verticals or keystoning in photographs of buildings unless you have a vantage point from further back or you have a perspective control lens. Most photos of buildings will have to be corrected to appear normal to the eye, so in a sense the renders are correct as thats how they would appear in a photo. Those 2 new renders for that new tower in Mac Village for instance, one looks quite normal because the viewpoint is from the corner of Whitworth St ie:further back, but the other looks wildly skewed because its view is from directly beneath the tower and thats how it would look in a photo. I think thats right anyway lol:dunno:

Thanks jrb, interesting stuff. Seems Stephenson-Bell have updated their website. Looks awsome. Not sure I don't prefer it to Denton Corker Marshall's winning scheme. Has a sort of PWC look to it... but better of course!

BG it WOULD appear like that in a photo though, it wouldn't to the naked eye but you always get converging verticals or keystoning in photographs of buildings unless you have a vantage point from further back or you have a perspective control lens. Most photos of buildings will have to be corrected to appear normal to the eye, so in a sense the renders are correct as thats how they would appear in a photo. Those 2 new renders for that new tower in Mac Village for instance, one looks quite normal because the viewpoint is from the corner of Whitworth St ie:further back, but the other looks wildly skewed because its view is from directly beneath the tower and thats how it would look in a photo. I think thats right anyway lol:dunno:

Thanks Roly - I suppose that makes sense, it's just that some of these renders seem ridiculously exaggerated - almost as if it's been done on purpose to make the renders look more interesting than they actually are.

(...just noticed it's a question that's also being addressed on the Southern Gateway Developments thread...)

Of course i'm an awful name dropper but you all know Roger Stephenson is my bezzy mate. I obviously collared him about this scheme, what with 45 Mosley Street being close to my heart. He went into great depth about the rationale behind this building and it sort of made sense but to be honest i'm not convinced. He wanted to make references to the building that is there now and he mentioned the former NatWest on King Street aswell, but i think this building looks faddy and dated. Not keen on the DCM scheme but not keen on this either (which is rare for me cos i'm the founder member of the SB fanclub!).

Manchester developer Bruntwood has selected Stephenson Bell as preferred architect for its proposed 60,000 sq ft office on Manchester's Fountain Street.

Its designs were picked above those of HKR and Ian Simpson.

The 16-storey development will have an end-value of £25.5m.

Bruntwood will retain ownership of the scheme.

why do so many renders have this strange perspective thing going on? They always show the top corners of buildings wildly distorted - why? Why not just show the render as it would look in a photo?

I know what you mean, it's like they've tried to get more into the shot than actually possible from the view point, and have had to skew it all in.

Its not going to be fun for us folk working in the Barclays offices next door when this is being built. The trams causes enough rattles and vibration as it is.

(...just noticed it's a question that's also being addressed on the Southern Gateway Developments thread...)

Great minds...

I too quite like that Stephenson Bell design. Maybe not from every angle. But IMHO there's something different and interesting there in the rightmost pic.

Longy shut your ears .

Fencing is now around the old RBS building ,, with demolition in progress sign's all over it.

Looks like this one is about to start .

Fuck!

Fuck!

double fuck!!

when you look up at the soffits below the overhang, you see a finely tesselated surface. Very few modern buildings are concerned with the quality of small experience for passing pedestrians, but this one is.

I shall miss it a lot.

What's the concensus about this building? The Stephenson Bell losing design looks good, but the Bruntwood one is erm........I'm not sure what it is, but it doesn't look good next to that piece of crap which replaced Bernard House.

when you look up at the soffits below the overhang, you see a finely tesselated surface. Very few modern buildings are concerned with the quality of small experience for passing pedestrians, but this one is.

I shall miss it a lot.

Now you've said that, I'll have to make a detour to look at the old RBS building, because I've haven't got a clue what it looks like and what we're about to lose!

What's the concensus about this building?

I like it.

I took a little look at it recently because it is going to be turned into demol, but I can't truthfully say it is worth keeping. I think the form of the current building is alright to good, and the cladding is also uncommon (not concrete or glass) and different. But the darkness of the cladding, the overhang, and the lack of interest at the base make it difficult for walkers-by to really engage with it.

I don't know enough about the new building to comment, beyond the fact that the height seems to be in that 'middle place' of neither tall and graceful, nor fitting in with its surroundings.

I still don't completely undersatnd why buildings are still proposed to hang over the pavement. Basically every other development in town with a shelter beneath it ends up becoming sheltered accomodation smelling of piss

I don't like this one, simply because it is a bandwagon jumper following after CJC and AMPPS (?) to make a third wave of fad buildings (Non-uniform 'cascading' windows, and sloping roofs being the previous waves). The SB design as rejected is far classier and fits with the vibe of Mosley street far better.

I demand a recount.

I agree the DCM scheme looks like it was knocked up out of the unwanted left overs of CJC; it really doesn’t sit well and I'm normally a big fan of buildings with this kind of aesthetic. I hope the finished article will have been tweaked sufficiently to give it the edge its lacking at present.

Stephenson Bells looser is better for me, in terms of relating to the neighbours; but I agree with Longford that it too has a dated feel to it, so I wont be shouting too loud about wanting that either.

When it comes to it the existing building is the right answer for the site; and its very worrying that our until recently good stock of quality early post-war buildings have either been hacked about in dubious refurbishments or totally destroyed. We are repeating the mistakes of the past, literally criminal.

I rang Bruntwood today to see if i could get in a take some photos for posterity.
There was a vague "Who is this nutter?' tone in her voice but apparently the building has been handed over to Connell Brothers (who hold the dubious distinction of demolishing loads of buildings that are important to me) and is coming down as we speak. She said if i'd rang last week......! :doh:
She confirmed that it was very 'period' inside ie. cool in my eyes - old fashioned in hers!
I went to pay my respects today and will try to document it before it gets clad in sheet plastic. A quality building but as Emma says very difficult for the casual observer to love.
One for the purists i feel.
I can feel a detailed study and documenting of Manchester's post war stock coming on - we are losing them too quickly for old codgers like me!
Anyway I'll miss it but if the new building is any good i'm sure i'll get over it!

I'll have to get into town tomorrow for a goosey gander....

I agree with everyone here, it doesn't sit well, it looks squat next to City Tower, and it'll just serve to make Mosley St even more claustrophobic than it already is.

I still don't like Mosley St, even with the Cobbetts HQ, even though that's a good building for its site. It's basically a bus lane you walk down very fast to get elsewhere.

I don't like this one, simply because it is a bandwagon jumper following after CJC and AMPPS (?) to make a third wave of fad buildings (Non-uniform 'cascading' windows, and sloping roofs being the previous waves). The SB design as rejected is far classier and fits with the vibe of Mosley street far better.

I demand a recount.

I agree with this although I do like the DCM proposal as I believe it will massively improve the look and experience of the Mosely St / York St axis acting as an effective new landmark for two fast regenerating streets. Those cantilevered boxes do look a little derivative now though. The Stephenson Bell proposal did look amazing and that much more distinctive though but Id imagine that much more expensive to build. Shame. :(

Does the demolition work mean that construction will follow shortly after? I find this unlikely but why else start demolition right now?

Does the demolition work mean that construction will follow shortly after? I find this unlikely but why else start demolition right now?

The bird from Bruntwood was not forthcoming when i pressed her whether construction was imminent. She said something non committal.

Tell you what though compare this process to Albany.
Bought the building early 2006 - got PP 2 months ago and now Connell Brothers are doing the do. Likewise Belvedere House.

its definately a love/hate building. i walk past it everyday. the problem was that you didn't really notice it. all you saw at eye level was the empty lobby. very dark and imposing.

today after reading the posts i looked up.

probably some expensive finishes for its day, but in my eye rather dour.

it's not in a spot where you will ever see what it looks like above street level.

Similar for the whole of mosley street really. some quite grand buildings on a dour bus route

What is the building behind it on York Street? It is of the same period, and also green (but lighter). The outside is chipped and scarred like something out of a war, but the shape of the windows really sets me off.

(There is also a really cute little modern building down once again, opposite the entrance to the City Plaza carpark.)

Thats Rutherford House (another one for the purists?) and is being converted (very nicely i may add) by Stephenson Bell.
You are not alone in noticing the window pattern:

Sitting above the A-Bomb proof telephone exchange Guardian this building demonstrates a sophisticated and controlled design aesthetic. Referring to the work of Italian Rationalist Terragni the primary elevation to George Street carefully manipulates plane and grid to express the activities of the offices and the building’s framed structure. At the buildings base the civic façade of reconstituted stone and large areas of glazing to contrasts with large service openings to the building’s rear.

The other one is Bank Chambers.

Bank Chambers is a more conventional tower with bronzed glazing and cream panelling. The tower elements are suitably corporate in their character, distancing themselves from their urban surroundings. They refer to a time when Portland Street was conceived of as a transport artery with towers rather than an urban street.

Thats Rutherford House (another one for the purists?) and is being converted (very nicely i may add) by Stephenson Bell.

You are not alone in noticing the window pattern:

Sitting above the A-Bomb proof telephone exchange Guardian this building demonstrates a sophisticated and controlled design aesthetic. Referring to the work of Italian Rationalist Terragni the primary elevation to George Street carefully manipulates plane and grid to express the activities of the offices and the building’s framed structure. At the buildings base the civic façade of reconstituted stone and large areas of glazing to contrasts with large service openings to the building’s rear.



Steady on! I've not finished reading me nuffin' book yet. I haven't got to the bit about Tagliatelli. But anyway, will they repair the stonework? I do like it, but it looks chipped to hell.



The other one is Bank Chambers.



Not that one! Between there and Rutherford House. Really quite small, looks like a smaller version of St John's House on Deansgate, only in green instead of powder blue. Not great architecture, but cute. Has a sandwich shop in the bottom, I think.

Where the baby murderers ....sorry Brook Advisory Clinic is?

Steady on! I've not finished reading me nuffin' book yet. I haven't got to the bit about Tagliatelli. But anyway, will they repair the stonework? I do like it, but it looks chipped to hell.

I've got a mate who does that. Goes round building sites and stuff repairing chipped stone and brick work. Its expensive, but cheaper than replacing the bad bricks. I ind it ammusing that he's called the plastic surgeon. Maybe I should put him onto this place.

Thats Rutherford House (another one for the purists?) and is being converted (very nicely i may add) by Stephenson Bell.
You are not alone in noticing the window pattern:

Sitting above the A-Bomb proof telephone exchange Guardian this building demonstrates a sophisticated and controlled design aesthetic. Referring to the work of Italian Rationalist Terragni the primary elevation to George Street carefully manipulates plane and grid to express the activities of the offices and the building’s framed structure. At the buildings base the civic façade of reconstituted stone and large areas of glazing to contrasts with large service openings to the building’s rear.

The other one is Bank Chambers.

Bank Chambers is a more conventional tower with bronzed glazing and cream panelling. The tower elements are suitably corporate in their character, distancing themselves from their urban surroundings. They refer to a time when Portland Street was conceived of as a transport artery with towers rather than an urban street.

.. but the best building of all in the street is no 26 - the former telephone exchange by Leonard Stokes and JW Beaumont; built in 1909 for the English Telephone Co. (who were to be taken over by the Post Office). It is one of only two buildings I know of in the City Centre in the Edwardian Freestyle (the other being the former YMCA on Peter Street.

See especially the door detailing (within a big semicular arch), the overall rectangular grid, and the subtle use of bay windows to articulate the facade. The Freestyle was a sort of urban version of Arts and Crafts - and Stokes particularly explored how to give honest external expression to a steel frame structure, utilising a non-historicist decorative forms and bold abstract geometry - rectangular grids, arches, triangles. English Freestyle architects loathed continental Art Noveau (which also claimed Arts and Crafts as a source, and which they considered pernicious and immoral); and sought to differentiate themselves by eschewing all sinuous curves and figurative decoration.

Stokes's built lots of superb telephone exchanges, most of which have (not surprisingly) tended to suffer from gross over-extension - where they have not been demolished altogether. Miraculously, the one on York Street survived this (and indeed the Manchester Blitz); only to be scandalously mistreated in its recent refurbishment. The leaded windows, whose surface effect is often crucial to Freestyle buildings of this date, have been replaced by highly unsympathetic plate glass. Since it is a listed building, I am surprised they got away with it, and the windows should be restored to their former state as soon as possible.

**

I went to have a look at 45 Mosley St today, and there's nothing wrong with it.......if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

That was my initial thought. This soon-to-be demolished building looks good and solid. It looks like it's clad in marble.

I think it is marble at ground level and i was told what the other panels are but cant remember what they are. Very expensive building when it was built. Did you see the lamp shades in the foyer?
Habitat do something similar except these ones are 35 years old!

Playing the devil's advocate the plot wasnt fulfilling its full financial potential. It would be difficult to market the building as is and probably wouldnt earn enough to be viable. When it was a headquarters it didnt have to pay its way - it just had to 'be'.

I think it is marble at ground level and i was told what the other panels are but cant remember what they are. Very expensive building when it was built. Did you see the lamp shades in the foyer?
Habitat do something similar except these ones are 35 years old!

Playing the devil's advocate the plot wasnt fulfilling its full financial potential. It would be difficult to market the building as is and probably wouldnt earn enough to be viable. When it was a headquarters it didnt have to pay its way - it just had to 'be'.

I thought the main problem was the very extensive provision of strong-rooms throughout the building - which it would be uneconomic to rip out without complete demolition.

Does anybody know what is happening with the building on Mosley St that is opposite Manchester Art Gallery? Is states that it will be ready for occupation Autumn 2006 on the hoardings, but seems to be some way off that.

BTW the Cobbets buildig looks stunning, all lit-up at night, as you head from St Peter's Sq, to Piccadilly Gardens (up Mosley St)

It's an office refurbishment with a couple of floors added - there has been some renders posted somewhere

:goodbye: :wave: :cry:

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f85/garybaldy/R1.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f85/garybaldy/R5.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f85/garybaldy/R4.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f85/garybaldy/R3.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f85/garybaldy/R2.jpg

http://www.dentoncorkermarshall.com/resources.ashx/NewsChildDataImages/64/fileName/378825371D50D5A55BA79CBB52156A38/7255_R02_20060804_SS.jpg

Hmm, just been studying the above render, and have come to the conclusion that something is a miss, notice the hot brunette in the blue skirt?? thought so, it's a recognised technique to use the hot girl in order to distract your attention away from something, you can see it in most renders, i'd start digging for the developers "secrets" if i were you.

Having said that it's a nice tower in a kind of dis-jointed way, although i prefered one of the other designs for this site.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f85/garybaldy/R2.jpg

Thanks for the photos Longford. Looks like a pretty timeless design, it wouldn't look out of place in the atlas of contemporary architecture or borneo island in Amsterdam. The new building does smack of quality, but i'm not sure how it'll fare in the future.

[Hmm, just been studying the above render, and have come to the conclusion that something is a miss, notice the hot brunette in the blue skirt?? thought so, it's a recognised technique

:lol:

I thought it was just me who looked at the computerised talent on images like this. I can't help it, my eyes get drawn in. Oh the shame.

They could build an asbestos wigwam in the middle of Piccadilly Gardens for my money, as long as they sell it to me using a bit of totty. :)

BTW the Cobbets buildig looks stunning, all lit-up at night, as you head from St Peter's Sq, to Piccadilly Gardens (up Mosley St)

I'm very impressed with that newly constructed building, It's quite impressively tall.

Scaffolding is going up fast ,, its days are numbered ,,, further up York St , Faulkner House is fenced off , any clues?


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1125.jpg?t=1163945982

Cant wait for this to start. Looks alright on the whole, just im far more intrested in the lower detail of the building and how it changes the scope at street level. Also the landscaping pavements etc...

Mosley street is tatty! Im glad to see it changing, all be it not too drastically...

Thats Rutherford House (another one for the purists?) and is being converted (very nicely i may add) by Stephenson Bell.
You are not alone in noticing the window pattern:

Sitting above the A-Bomb proof telephone exchange Guardian this building demonstrates a sophisticated and controlled design aesthetic. Referring to the work of Italian Rationalist Terragni the primary elevation to George Street carefully manipulates plane and grid to express the activities of the offices and the building’s framed structure. At the buildings base the civic façade of reconstituted stone and large areas of glazing to contrasts with large service openings to the building’s rear.


I may be wrong, but I don't recall this full on frontal shot of the refurbished Rutherford House being posted. The building is being re-branded as 'The Exchange'.

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/5939/exchangewx7.jpg

http://www.exchangemanchester.co.uk/

Mmmm - full frontal :drool:

As long as they keep the window shape, I'm happy. As Longford said, 'it is very reminiscent of tortellini'. Word knows what he was babbling on about though...

I can see the demolition of number 45 from my office. They've been hacking at the top floor for the best part of two weeks, making very slow progress. Wonder whether 45 gets demolished before Sarah Tower rises - could be a close thing.

But it shows how well put together the original tower was.

I'm visiting the Fairhurst archive on Thursday and will be looking at the original plans for this building (amongst others). I know it was built to a high standard and its heartbreaking to see them knocking ten shades of shit out of it. The lower levels are clad in marble and seems such an awful waste.

Application as gone in today for this


082562/FO/2007/C2 21/03/2007 45 Mosley Street Manchester M2 3HQ Erec0tion of 13 storey office development with Class A1 (shop) and or Class A2 Financial and Profess... Application Pending Consideration

Application as gone in today for this


082562/FO/2007/C2 21/03/2007 45 Mosley Street Manchester M2 3HQ Erec0tion of 13 storey office development with Class A1 (shop) and or Class A2 Financial and Profess... Application Pending Consideration

This should cheer everyone up a bit.

Photographic images.
http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/associateddocs/selecteddoc.aspx?082562-DPH-0001.pdf

Full application.

http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/associateddocs/MCCList1.aspx?082562/FO/2007/C2

This should cheer everyone up a bit.


Not me!

Not me!

Come to think of it. I'm still pissed off. :lol:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/10.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/12.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/20.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/18.jpg

I hate fu*^ing bollards. They serve no purpose. infact, they will make the road worse. Why do Bruntwood feel the need to add street clutter? Have any of them read the manual for streets????

I hate fu*^ing bollards. They serve no purpose. infact, they will make the road worse. Why do Bruntwood feel the need to add street clutter? Have any of them read the manual for streets????
I'm not positive, but I think they might have summat to do with keeping cars off the pavements.

I'm not positive, but I think they might have summat to do with keeping cars off the pavements.

Yup - i agree. I hate street clutter more than anyone but bollards stop delivery vehicles bumping up onto the pavement and cracking all that lovely expensive (chinese) York stone.

I think bollards are better than raised curbs, because vthe curbs enforce a no pedestrian zone which alienates people from large chunks of the citites, ie, roads.

I like the kind of bollards that go down into the ground, and then come back up to lift motor vehicles off their wheels, when they think they are going to get away with driving over them.

They could at least stick pointless statues of birds on them to make them interesting (like they do in Morecambe).

Or this being Manchester giant bees.

My piont regarding the bollards. If we have double yellow lines then people should not park or stop there. If people do then they should be fined by traffic wardens.

If we have double yellow lines here (and we will), then the bollards are being put there because we dont trust people not to ignore the rules and park on the road/pavement. Are bollards therefore not a sign that the powers that be dont trust car/van drivers to obey the rules. Is this a reflection on society at this time that we have bollards everywhere because people cant be trusted???

It's true, but then we also shouldn't have locks on our doors - it does make sense to have physical objects help to enforce laws as they are cheaper that human time.
Also I think it is a different situation for a busy city centre street where a lot of people are likely to be dropping stuff off etc.. need to be in and out quickly and won't be using their own cars. They'll just think, perfectly resssonably, I'll only be a minute, I'll just pull it up on the curb outside.

It is also a balance of costs though. The cost of a lock is buying the lock and then the 'visual intrusion' of the lock on the door.

The cost of bollards is the cost to buy and plant them but then they have a cost to society 24/7 in terms of taking up what would otherwise be usable space for pedestrians. If we widen the footpath to create a better pedestrian environment and fill the widened space with bollards have we really created any extra space for pedestrians??

Interestingly, bollards and pedestrian barriers also encourage traffic to speed. They give the perception to drivers of it being safer as there is a formal barrier between vehicle and peds. They also better define the road space by marking out the sides of the road, encouraging speed. There is research on this particularly from the Netherlands that suggests that removing many of the segrational pieces of road infrastructure encourage slower driving and save lives. This includes pedestrain gaurd rails and in some cases, traffic lights.

I am from the school of thinking where a 20mph speed limit within the inner ring road and the removal of pretty much all of the traffic lights in the city centre would benefit everyone. But thats maybe another thread. Several people i know also believe this would be a good idea but in this country, it is unlikely, unlike the Netherlands.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c388/Corris_/P22-04-07_13-1.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c388/Corris_/P22-04-07_13.jpg

today. Site's current building under demolition.

The site is now clear ,and the Rutherford House redevelopment behind

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1437.jpg?t=1181398231

Walked past on Friday, sad to see it gone. I just hope the DCM replacement starts quickly and we are not left with another scar in the city for very long. Does the new one have full planning?

Yes I believe it does have full planning permission and Bruntwood are advertising it for a 2009 completion.

Also it would appear they may be keen to make progress with their Fountain St scheme too with construction tenders being returned recently.

http://www.glenigan.com/news/asp/projectdetailpage.asp?pid=DR3320060807004

Approved.

082562/FO/2007/C2

45 Mosley Street
Manchester
M2 3HQ

Erection of 13 storey office development with Class A1 (shop) and or Class A2 (Financial and Professional Services) use at ground floor and 2 levels of basement parking for 19 cars below

http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/associateddocs/MCCList1.aspx?082562/FO/2007/C2

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/944_1_1000%20DCM%20Manchester.jpg

1 New York Street

Deveoper Bruntwood Estates
Architect Denton Corker Marshall
Contractor Robert McAlpine
Description 10,000 sq m office and ground floor retail development over 13 floors at the junction of Mosely Street and York Street.




http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/project/uploaded_files/944_385DCMBruntwood.jpg




http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/5862/1newyorkstreetzg0.jpg





http://www.ahd-imaging.com/silo/projects/7/images/0.jpg





http://www.ahd-imaging.com/silo/projects/7/images/1.jpg

Crane being erected today
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1435/1423855785_dd5b9a2920.jpg?v=1190489718

I do like this one actually, but wish it'd been a few floors taller to make it less stumpy

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/005-5.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/057-3.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/056-3.jpg

Driving(A6) in to Stockport yesterday morning 9 ish, saw two lorries carrying green crane sections heading towards Manchester. Could be?

Driving(A6) in to Stockport yesterday morning 9 ish, saw two lorries carrying green crane sections heading towards Manchester. Could be?
Salford Quays...;)

Offices come in from cold

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/5862/1newyorkstreetzg0.jpg

Bruntwood's 1 New York Street

DIAL 'M' for more property deals, says the company behind the £6m redevelopment of a top secret Cold War telephone exchange.

Bruntwood, the Manchester-based property empire controlled by the Oglesby family, has signed the charity Turning Point as new occupiers at its The Exchange development, New York Street.

It is the first tenant to sign up for space at the former BT building. The social care charity will take 10,400 sq ft at the scheme.

The deal was signed four months before building work is due for completion.

Despite its modern look, the building was originally constructed during the Cold War as a hub for the city's underground telephone exchange.

The underground exchange was created at a cost of £4m to preserve essential communications links should the centre of Manchester come under attack from an atomic bomb.

The basement of the building will continue to function as a telephone exchange, with the remaining five floors being converted into office space.

Lee Treanor, development surveyor at Bruntwood, said: "We're delighted to announce our first deal at the building with Turning Point, especially with another four months before we practically complete at the building.

"When it's finished in 2008, The Exchange will provide them and other customers at the building with a quality office space that comes with some unique benefits, including floor to ceiling heights of more than 11 feet."

Turning Point is moving into the first floor at the building, and it will house a number of head office functions.

John Barton, special projects manager for Turning Point, said: "Everyone involved is looking forward to moving into the new Manchester base, where quality and professionalism is going to be of the essence. The Exchange provides us with this and more, combining high specification office space with a location that offers everything we need for our staff. The move will help us to turn even more lives around."

The Exchange, due for completion in February, will offer 41,257 sq ft of office space over five floors, with a new glazed extension entrance that fronts New York Street.

Bruntwood spent £1.3m improving New York Street.

Andrew Timms of Edwards & Co and Chris Lloyd of DTZ are acting on behalf of Bruntwood, with WHR Property Consultants representing Turning Point.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/business/s/1021081_offices_come_in_from_cold

I was unsure about how it would look at first, but that new render has won me over!

Yes that night time render really shows off the building really well

Also got these other new renders only small though from

http://www.bruntwood.co.uk/newyorkstreet/Office

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/2370/1newyorkstreetduskik2.jpg

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/6703/1newyorkstreetgroundku1.jpg

Excellent new images of this development although the use of that image in the article is misleading in that the article refers to a letting at The Exchange (http://www.exchangemanchester.co.uk/), next door to 1 NYS.

Yes i know but that is just the way M.E.N is they mis inform there readers by using different pictures anyway at least we got a new render out of the silly mistake.

I'm sorry, I'm not impressed by this building at all. Seems to be a 70's/80's standard office with bits jutting out to either replicate modernity a la civil courts or to justify its existence. I love it how nighttime renders have all lights on on the floors. How dreary the building would look if at 8pm only half of the floors had their lights on.

Superb renders... Hopefully this will get some snaps of it when its progressin

larger images of the above renders

http://www.bruntwood.co.uk/assets/61/2477_elevateddusk_02.jpg

http://www.bruntwood.co.uk/assets/61/2477-heroshotday.jpg






http://www.bruntwood.co.uk/assets/61/2477-foyer.jpg

love it!

Wow. Very nice! I'm jealous. :yes:

That's shit!...

Hot!:)

Loving the new wireless trams
......and the way they are getting rid of the street clutter and signs aswell.


Ah - if only we all lived in Renderland eh?

lovely stuff that :)

Another world class building for Manchester! Loving it!

Loving the new wireless trams

I'm not so keen on the new destination signs though.

Before those larger renders, I never realised the top corner 'block' came out diagonally. Cool.

What with this (the Jenga Building) and DCM's Whitworth Street West (the Tetris Tower), Manchester's getting a bit of a last day of term look about it :banana:

Not forgetting teacher's Filing Cabinet (CJC)!!

Ah - if only we all lived in Renderland eh?

:lol:

ah dear. funny.

i love archiporn. i think this is deserving of an article now work is underway and there's big flash images.

Some trees have now been planted in planters alongside the pavement on New York Street

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/7025/sunp00720011qy2.jpg

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/6897/sunp00730012xv9.jpg

This street is really beginning to look the part. Full credit to Bruntwood for transforming one of the darkest, most unattractive thoroughfares in the city centre. There is a discernable increase in footfall down this street now.

Im also intruiged to find out which version of the refurbished Exchange building emerges from beneath the scaffolding. There are a few different renders around - each with a slightly different roofline.

Notice the feel of the new paving when you walk across it? Its made up of longer and narrower slabs, in a shape similar to planks of wood.

Is this that new, lighter replacement material for concrete paving slabs I read about? It certainly feels softer to walk on.

Im also intruiged to find out which version of the refurbished Exchange building emerges from beneath the scaffolding. There are a few different renders around - each with a slightly different roofline.

It looks good.

Some of the less enlightened people on here took the piss out of me for liking Rutherford House (as it was) but now its done it it looks great and if it was presented today as a new design all those nay sayers would be wetting their pants over it. Its only that it was 'old' that people didnt like it.

It looks good.

Some of the less enlightened people on here took the piss out of me for liking Rutherford House (as it was) but now its done it it looks great and if it was presented today as a new design all those nay sayers would be wetting their pants over it. Its only that it was 'old' that people didnt like it.

i was one of them that took the piss ,, it was in a terrible state ,, the refurb looks great :)

i was one of them that took the piss ,, it was in a terrible state ,, the refurb looks great :)

So what you are saying is that you were wrong and I was right? :lol:

So what you are saying is that you were wrong and I was right? :lol:


Now now Longy i would'nt go that far :laugh: Rutherford House 12 months ago was a pile of crumbling shit ,, it either needed to be drastically refurbed or dropped

But thats the point - it hasnt been drastically refurbed. The elevations and window pattern have been retained. It always was a good building - it just needed a bit of TLC.
The original essence of the building hasnt changed.
One of the many great things about me is that i'm a visionary - i can see beyond the obvious and see the potential in things. Basically i'm just pretty great.

Dont get that head of yours stuck up your arse :laugh:

I actually agree with most things your say Sir Longpants ,, but some of the shitholes you defend are SHIT , end of :)

But thats the point - it hasnt been drastically refurbed. The elevations and window pattern have been retained. It always was a good building - it just needed a bit of TLC. The original essence of the building hasnt changed.

Well said Longpants. You're right about this one. And Renderland, LOL!

One of the many great things about me is that I'm a visionary - i can see beyond the obvious and see the potential in things. Basically i'm just pretty great. I think that too...

About me!

Well said Longpants. You're right about this one. And Renderland, LOL!

I think that too...

About me!

Bloody hell! It's Farsight. Take That! Are you back for good?

1 New York Street and surrounding area
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/019-7.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/020-8.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/021-10.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/022-9.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/024-4.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/022-9.jpg

the street looks seriously cluttered and messy. Shame because the materials look high quality.

I'd have gone for bigger trees on this road. A street where the first thing you notice is how green it is would have attracted more footfall through the area. Its pretty good though.

I'd have gone for bigger trees on this road. A street where the first thing you notice is how green it is would have attracted more footfall through the area. Its pretty good though.

but trees grow tho dont they?

1 New York St ,, with the refurbed Rutherford House being unveiled behind


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1719.jpg?t=1197568588

just walked past in the dark with floodlights on site- there's one BIG hole in the ground!

I saw a cement truck next to this today. Not sure if it was for this site but am guessing it was? In a month or so do we reckon this will above ground level?

yes

larger images of the above renders

http://www.bruntwood.co.uk/assets/61/2477_elevateddusk_02.jpg

I like this design, does any one know when the completion date is?

I like this design, does any one know when the completion date is?

12 months time i'd guess- it's a hole in the ground with a crain in place right now. Nice though eh.

i think the foundations were started about a month or two ago. i should get some pics

great building :) i love that stepped block effect

this thread should be merged with 1 new york street perhaps?

That's what I thought....either that or there's just going to be a lot of similar-looking buildings being built on Mosley Street.

Bruntwood Complete New York Street

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/3290/newyorkstsl1.jpg

Bruntwood are delighted to announce that their public realm work on New York Street is now complete. Having successfully purchased all of the buildings along York Street, the north of England property firm took the decision to completely refurbish the entire streetscape, unveiling a public realm scheme in early 2006.

Funding the project entirely independently, Bruntwood have now spent over £1.3m in improvement works that have seen the street completely transformed. Works have included the narrowing of the road and extending the pavement, as well as the inclusion of trees, lighting and illuminated seating to provide a more boulevard feel. Traffic calming measures have also been incorporated into the street, to make the user’ experience safer for pedestrians.

Bruntwood director, Peter Crowther commented, “This project is a first for both Bruntwood and the city. Indeed, we’re exceptionally proud of what we’ve achieved; helping turn what was, historically, a thoroughfare into a brand new destination for Manchester. It’s also been a catalyst for other similar public realm improvement in the city, such as the work we carried out with Wrather & Co. and Langtree within Spring Gardens, which we’ve just completed too.”

The completion of the New York Street works help pave the way for the construction of The Exchange and their new build project, 1 New York Street, both of which will be ready for occupation in summer 2007 and autumn 2009 respectively; collectively offering over 145,000 sq.ft of high specification office space.

Crowther commented further, “Now these works are complete, we’re keen to see the final blocks fall into place with The Exchange and 1 New York Street, which we’re all excited about. The symbolic renaming of the street has also now been ratified by the city council, which is great news. Indeed, far from being a new name, it’s actually a return to its original name from the 1800’s, when the road was actually called New York Street”

http://www.bruntwood.co.uk/news/57/

From York to New York

Bruntwood breathe life into New York Street

In early 2006, Piccadilly property firm, Bruntwood, took the decision to completely refurbish the entire streetscape of York Street, unveiling an ambitious project to create, what has now been renamed, New York Street.

Now complete and having funded the project entirely independently, Bruntwood have spent over £1.3m on improvement works that have seen the street completely transformed from a bland thoroughfare into a real city centre destination. With works including the narrowing of the road and extending the pavement, as well as the inclusion of trees, lighting and illuminated seating, the street now provides a much more cosmopolitan and inviting boulevard feel for everyone to enjoy.

Bruntwood director, Peter Crowther said: “This project is a first for both Bruntwood and the city and it’s been a catalyst for other similar public realm improvement in the city, such as the work we carried out in Spring Gardens, which we’ve just completed too. We’re exceptionally proud of what we’ve achieved and we hope our customers and the general public are as pleased with the outcome as we are.”

The completion of these works late last year has helped pave the way for the construction of The Exchange and their latest project, 1 New York Street which is due to be completed in 2009 providing office space over 12 floors. Next door, The Exchange is set to complete in spring of this year and will offer office space, with a brand new extension entrance that fronts directly on to New York Street itself.

Peter Crowther said: “Things are going well at 1 New York Street and The Exchange. With ground works reaching their conclusion at 1 New York Street, you should be able to see steel work being erected very soon, something we’re very much looking forward to.Over at the Exchange, works are far more progressed and we’re delighted to announce that we’ve exchanged contracts with Turning Point, the UK’s leading social care organisation, for 10,400 sq.ft at the building, which is a great start to 2008.”

http://www.piccadillymanchester.com/index.asp?Sessionx=IpqiNwc6IlOrNwB6IaqiNwA&realname=From_York_to_New_York

£1.3m on a street??
no wonder the chinese have overtaken us

anyone been able to see into the site yet? they've got it covered pretty up well

The hoarding's were getting covered today in some fancy new renders , i'll get a pic tomorrow .

yeah saw the fancy renders :) but again i couldn't quite see into the hole. someone needs to walk in there pretending to get lost and get some snaps. otherwise we'll never see the foundations, unless someone from an overlooking building posts some up here :D pretty please...

anyone been able to see into the site yet? they've got it covered pretty up well

The side door was open on Friday. I didn't take a look but your welcome to.

:lol: why thankyou. was open again today, but you can't really take a look without going inside

Construction paparazzi needed :devil:

this thread should be merged with 1 new york street perhaps?

perhaps it should, but I am not psychic so a pm would have helped move it along.


SteKnight - thank you for putting a note in the 'threads that need to be moved' thread. Good man :)

perhaps it should, but I am not psychic so a pm would have helped move it along.


SteKnight - thank you for putting a note in the 'threads that need to be moved' thread. Good man :)

gotcha :okay:

yeah saw the fancy renders :) but again i couldn't quite see into the hole. someone needs to walk in there pretending to get lost and get some snaps. otherwise we'll never see the foundations, unless someone from an overlooking building posts some up here :D pretty please...

I look down on this, and I can assure you that, thus far, there's bugger all to see. There has been no excavation at all - the hole is simply the (very well built) armoured basement of the Fairhurst's former bank building - you can see the entrance to the tunnel that they built under Mosley Street to link it with the other Williams & Glynn's Bank building. Otherwise, the floor and walls on view are recogniseably of the mid 1960s.

I look down on this, and I can assure you that, thus far, there's bugger all to see. There has been no excavation at all - the hole is simply the (very well built) armoured basement of the Fairhurst's former bank building - you can see the entrance to the tunnel that they built under Mosley Street to link it with the other Williams & Glynn's Bank building. Otherwise, the floor and walls on view are recogniseably of the mid 1960s.

Does it look like this? :lol:

http://www.milesago.com/Almanac/images/apple-shop.jpg

Well Dotty the nice people at Bruntwood have fitted windows in the hoardings around the site , you can now see everything without tresspassing on site :laugh:

highriser :okay:

wonder if they read ssc :)

highriser :okay:

wonder if they read ssc :)

Of course they do.

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg270/SteKnight/1NewYorkStreet140208002.jpg?t=1202998070

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg270/SteKnight/1NewYorkStreet140208001.jpg?t=1202998152

Nice one!

WELL DONE!!!

:D

Is this nearly at the same stage as Sarah tower yet this has been under construction nowhere near as long.

Is this nearly at the same stage as Sarah tower yet this has been under construction nowhere near as long.

That's because the guys building it aren't a bunch of cowboys.

Might have been posted before? Click on link. First PDF. Also a bit more info on Axis.

http://www.whrproperty.co.uk/properties.asp

New York, New York

Phil Griffin wants to be a part of New York Street

When you’ve been sitting pretty in the pavement café of a decade’s growth, it is chilly to feel the recession blowing round you ankles.

The residential market has caught a cold. If you’re losing money and you can’t find a tenant for your buy-to-let, or you’re having to drop the price of your three year old two bed apartment in City South or the Hacienda, I’m really sorry. But it was inevitable.

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/6554/citytowerjs8.jpg

Heat loss in the residential market doesn’t make a recession. Tight money, lack of investment and fewer jobs does. Once again, Manchester City Council has to look to the commercial health of the city. Not that the city has ever taken its eye off that thermometer. Fundamentally, the city centre is a place of business. Its job is wealth creation. Shops, cinemas, bars and restaurants don’t create wealth, they help share it around. Big companies in big offices make jobs. And we need them. The business districts, around Piccadilly and King Street, and Deansgate and the Irwell (Spinningfields) are vital to Manchester. Which is why it is important to see them upgraded.

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/3237/theexchange2xp9.jpg

The Piccadilly Plaza put a lot of buildings in shadow when it topped out in the early 1960s. The city was lucky to have an imaginative Chinese community ready to move into all-but abandoned fabric warehouses and create (if not quite the biggest, certainly) the best China Town in the UK. The street between the Plaza and Chinatown has always been a problem. York Street has been a dismal back-of-house bus run. Now it is being reworked by developer Bruntwood as New York Street, and its success will be an important indicator of the state of Manchester’s health in testing times.

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/9523/newyorkst1nv4.jpg

Bruntwood and architect Stephenson-Bell have nearly completed work on Exchange House, a 1960s Post Office building that housed a telephone exchange. Technology has shrunk that to part of the ground floor, and Bruntwood has transformed the building around it. Take a look at it now, before their brand new building at No 1 New York Street begins to rise up in front of it. Exchange House has a stepped profile and a lot of glass. It is completely refreshed. Inside is white and light with limestone and timber details that are high quality. Being a conversion, the building has character. Having been converted by an experienced developer and a creative architect, the character is distinctive and confident. Bruntwood now owns all the buildings along New York Street and not all of them are about to convert as comfortably as Exchange House, but I expect they will strive to hit the same level of quality.

Paul Heathcote’s Grado restaurant is a real plus for New York Street. It’s the best thing to happen here since Tootsy’s Café, and in a short time it has brought new people onto the street. Bruntwood has invested in the street itself, the lighting, furniture and surface, and this is the part of the New York Street turnaround that is most significant. Across the last decade and more Manchester City Council and its Planning Department has built relationships with private developers such that they can now look for partners in renewing and upgrading spaces between buildings, the public realm.

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/262/theexchange3uf7.jpg

Public Realm renewal is more important than most aspects of our redevelopment. Personally, I don’t think we are getting it quite right yet. Spending money on high quality materials seems, so far, to translate into rather dull black granite, street lighting that strives too hard to be “contemporary” and at least a dozen different types of tree-planters. I get the impression that the designers responsible for this new public realm are more attuned to fitting out offices. So I’m delighted that money is being spent and efforts made by developers such as Bruntwood who recognise the cost-benefits of a top-notch city centre.

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/6388/theexchnageps8.jpg

Most buildings are merely the edge condition of public space. They define the spaces that most people will use. By turns they cast them into shadow and bathe them in light. They configure the ways we cross the city. Whilst our Council is charged with creating and maintaining spaces funded by our taxes, it is clear that the private sector stands to benefit from a truly high grade city. Bruntwood is right to enter a partnership with this aim.

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/2756/citytowermallpicdf0.jpg

I would argue that our retail and leisure offer might only be as good as the multi-national traders who come here. But the quality of our commercial workspaces raise Manchester’s game. Additionally, the quality, condition, vision and imagination of the spaces between our buildings, and the ways we occupy and use them will give our city true definition and character. Manchester’s progress and positioning over the next few years is not only, or even mostly, a matter of the residential market. It is about the condition of our working environment, and the spaces in between. Exchange House and New York Street is in the forefront.

http://www.propertyconfidential.com/index.asp?Sessionx=IpqiNw86KDXpNwB6IaqiNwA&

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/033-3.jpg

The windows are getting a bit mucky...
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg270/SteKnight/1NewYorkStreet170308002.jpg?t=1205770570
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg270/SteKnight/1NewYorkStreet170308001.jpg?t=1205770643

I think this is one of my most anticipated city developments at the moment, it's not a big n' but there is something really downtown and commercial about it, looks the business :D

nice one ste, first shots i think i've seen inside

http://www.dentoncorkermarshall.com/resources.ashx/NewsChildDataImages/64/fileName/378825371D50D5A55BA79CBB52156A38/7255_R02_20060804_SS.jpg

I hope they're not gonna put a zebra crossing there :ohno:

Went past this on the tram(Friday) and doesn't look far off just appearing over the top of the fence. No idea about time scale not seen it up close.

You could just see them lifting one of the sides of one of those "doka" things today. Presume this'll mean the core(s) will start shooting up?!

Went past this on the tram(Friday) and doesn't look far off just appearing over the top of the fence. No idea about time scale not seen it up close.

i think it might be higher than the fence. had a look through the perspex windows in the 'fence' (thing) about a week ago and the core looks higher than the fence.
i have phone pics but my home pc is playing up so no can share. :ohno:

Has this popped over the Fence yet guys?

Yes!

I need proof! ;)

I need proof! ;)

was hoping someone else would get a pic last saturday else i'd have done it :)

I should be able to gets some pics this Saturday, unless someone can beat me to it.

Good job you just posted in here. The core is about 3/4 floors up above street level now! I was looking really hard to see something over the top and I was like bloody hell, where did that come from.

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/9923/sunp01290001kz5.jpg

I can't figure out whether that's a second core (in front of the big core in Flange's pic above) or just some kind of concrete box-thing. From the Moseley Street side it looks like it just has three side walls and the rest is hollow.



I'm glad I could lend my insight into the matter. My work here is done.

Where the f**k did that come from? this is moving fast now, im really excited about this one :)

just wish it was that wee bit taller, cos it is such a cool design and has a real down-town vibe to it.. if it was just another 10 or 15 m taller it'd be one of the best in manc

just wish it was that wee bit taller, cos it is such a cool design and has a real down-town vibe to it.. if it was just another 10 or 15 m taller it'd be one of the best in manc


Agreed -it should be taller.

http://www.ahd-imaging.com/projects/No1_NY_St/index.php?image=NY_Street_00&title=NY_Street_00&content=main_text

http://www.ahd-imaging.com/projects/No1_NY_St/images/NY-Street-02.jpg

http://www.ahd-imaging.com/projects/No1_NY_St/images/NY-Street-09.jpg

That first image says it all. It only just clears the building in front of it on one side. It only needs another one of them stepped sections on to complete it.

Today.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture361.jpg

At one time it was just exciting seein cores goin up, but with all the talk of crunch crunch crunch, now they're not just exciting, but encouraging :):|

1 New York street and surrounding buildings
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/002-4.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/035-4.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/034-6.jpg

fantastic to see OFFICES goin up lol, just wish were a bit taller

Chorleyboy , you obviously dont know shit on whats being constucted in Manchester city centre ,,i can think of a least 7 office developments going up atm

Axis , 3 Hardman St , Belvedere , Chancery Place , Piccadilly Place , City Park GQ , Peel Court .

Oh and 1 New York St

"Chorleyboy , you obviously dont know shit on whats being constucted in Manchester city centre "

^^ Very aggressive??

he was probably just referring to the fact that the vast majority of recent development in the city centre has been residential...

got some pics to post tonight when i get a minute.
spoke to the site manager, as he was on the pavement outside the site. nice guy.

You should have asked him if he could sneak a few extra floors on, im sure no one will notice.

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/48121NewYorkStreet_pic6.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/48121NewYorkStreet_pic7.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/48121NewYorkStreet_pic8.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/48121NewYorkStreet_pic9.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/48121NewYorkStreet_pic10.jpg

and a couple of fuzzy ones of the core through the windows in the hoardings
http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/22_05_2008/1%20new%20york%20street%20construction/IMG_4381.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/22_05_2008/1%20new%20york%20street%20construction/IMG_4384.jpg

Core seems to be upto level 6 now, unfortunately didn't get a chance to take a pic.

Comdot, love that picture showing the suits watching people carry out some real work. Well done!

today.

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/48121NewYorkStreet_pic11.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg270/SteKnight/1NewYorkStreet160608.jpg?t=1213689558

Nice pics guys. going for 7 now and rising fast.

How is this doing guys? What floor are they on now?

Up to the 2nd floor , but the core is on the 9th .

You can see the core from the axis plot, its rather impressive.

Cheers. What about other builds? CP, 3HS, Axis etc? How are they going?

Hey everyone, I'm Mike, been trying to log onto this site for months! The core is now up to level 11 and have got a pic of it at level 10, but is it not possible to post images without having a website with the images already on? Can anyone help me out? Cheers.

hey toetallix, welcome to the SSC..

I personally use photobucket to add pics to this site, you just add the file to the site, right click the image, go to properties, where it has the address, select all and copy that into the reply box on this thread with and either side of whatever you paste.. hope that helps, and get the image on quick :| i need to see some height on this baby, lol

Cheers for that Ferge! I'll see what I can do asap.

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/DSCF4283.jpg

Taken on Sunday, yesterday it was at level 11 but couldn't get a pic.

wahey, looking good.. good work

Yeah good work Toetallix- welcome aboard.

Apartments are deda. Long live hotels and offices!

.....okay slightly dramatic, but we've got some top-drawer new builds going up right now and this will be up there with the best.

Spinningfields has had it's critics for being soulless, but remember the masterplan is still 5 yrs from being complete. I think it's looking great and will only get better. The retail element will really Spinningfileds a life of it's own.

The nearly (externally) completed Chancery Place is a stunner and the neighbouring Belvedere is looking great too. Grand Island has taken huge steps in the last few weeks, with quite a bit of terracotta tiling on the city facing elevation.

As for West's Origin, I cannot wait. This I predict will do wonders for this part of the city and the 'Save Our Village' will be eating their words.

I know that's unsubstantiated vitriolic sentiment, so I guess we'll have to wait and see, but in these testing economic times, when lets face it the apartment market is self-correcting and probably for the long term better, these office schemes offer huge comfort and prospects for the Manchester such as this will be the City's bastion.

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/DSCF4385.jpg?t=1216240660

Thought I'd update again since I was in Manchester again today.

Chuffin' eck...they aren't messing about.

Luvverly Jubberly and taaaaa.

:applause:

No probs, looks like they worked on a whole level on the actual building itself in the two days I was at home, shame all the other other buildings can't just go up like this.

With any luck when this one has done and assuming they find occupiers, Bruntwood will start on the Fountain St proposal.......

Saw someone taking a pic of this on my way home from work and wondered if it was someone from here. Can't remember what day it was though!

If only the builders would get carried away with the core and go another 5 or so floors up with it :| then we'd just have to settle for a bigger version.. well, until the council noticed and had it knocked down..

Well I think the height is going to to be taller than it looks on the vision, cause at the far end of Piccadilly Gardens, the core already sticks up well above the buildings in front and it's got another two levels to go, on the vision, that also only just sticks up above.

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/23072008152.jpg?t=1216940641

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/23072008153.jpg?t=1216940731

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/23072008154.jpg?t=1216940766

Apologies for the lack of quality, had to take these off phone, cam outa power, no good :ohno:.

Anyway, Core now up to level 12 here so today probably reached the top. Looks like work has already begun on the actual buildings 3rd floor already. Should look pretty smart when done :).

Does anybody know whether the top of the core will be the VERY top of the building? Or would the roof height all over be the same height? I'll check the renders also.

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/23072008152.jpg?t=1216940641

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/23072008153.jpg?t=1216940731

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/23072008154.jpg?t=1216940766

Apologies for the lack of quality, had to take these off phone, cam outa power, no good :ohno:.

Anyway, Core now up to level 12 here so today probably reached the top. Looks like work has already begun on the actual buildings 3rd floor already. Should look pretty smart when done :).

Does anybody know whether the top of the core will be the VERY top of the building? Or would the roof height all over be the same height? I'll check the renders also.
Nice, not seen it popping over other buildings before. On your questions if we found the plans for the top floors it will likely tell us. In other office builds I've been in the core goes all the way up but that was a partly steel building. This is taller and its concrete. One I think I know is Core has alot to do with wind resistance and the main structure of a building. I'll see if I can find the plans.

I've looked at the plans Level 12 is the last office floor, Level 13 is the plant floor which covers around half the floor plan below and the core goes right upto the top.
Heres a pic....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v404/andysimo123/newyork.jpg

Thanks alot for that, helps alot, cause I was always wondering what the top would look like so that I knew the approx height of the top floor, obviously a fair bit lower than the roof height.
I'll be down there again in the next couple of days, you can bet its changed a fair bit since these photos.

I was pleased to see this core has popped up on the skyline from Stockport Road, Ardwick. This morning it looked like there were two vertical steel beams protruding from the top of the core...so I don't know if that means the top of the core isn't the top of the building. I guess only time will tell.

The height of the crane was being increased this afternoon

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/2703412159_ccb20e16d1_b.jpg

Maybe they've decided to just slip on the extra floors after all :lol:

We can hope but that crane on your pics did look a little close to the top of the core.

Maybe they've decided to just slip on the extra floors after all :lol:

What the?!

how did he quote you before you'd posted, :|

He must be able to tell the future, I didn't copy :lol:
Will try and get down there soon, bet theres already another floor started on actual structure.

They were working on this at 8pm Sunday (yes, I got the right day this time!)
The white crane was on the road. Will try to get a photo today.

Never really got that close to this, there is too much of everything else to photograph....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v404/andysimo123/Manchester%2030th%20July%202008/IMG_4675.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v404/andysimo123/Manchester%2030th%20July%202008/IMG_4628.jpg?t=1217638510

Taken this afternoon,

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/DSCF4905.jpg?t=1218665535

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/DSCF4906.jpg?t=1218665572

Looks like alot of progress has been made while away in Cornwall :)
I'll try to keep this updated.

some cladding brackets are now on

was only wondering before how this was gettin on.. cheers!

I was going to get some pics of this but I couldn't be bothered to take my camera from my bag. It was also stupidly busy with chavs.

3 pics from today.

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/48121NewYorkStreet_pic12.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/48121NewYorkStreet_pic13.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/48121NewYorkStreet_pic14.jpg

Cheers for that, looks like alot of work has been done in just a couple of days, if you compare how it was with my latest above.

So do we have two floors slightly projecting out there for the start of the buildings profile or is it just my eyes playin up after too many hour on this ruddy thing

yeah, those are pretruding

Its because its going to look like this...
http://www.bruntwood.co.uk/assets/61/2477-heroshotday.jpg
... stepping in and out all over the show while being the best building Bruntwood have built.

stepping in and out all over the show while being the best building Bruntwood have built.Not hard when its the only building they have ever built, hopefully its not a one off glory project.

Their refurb of 1 Portland St was a good un!

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/DSCF5069.jpg?t=1219506082

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/DSCF5070.jpg?t=1219506178

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/DSCF5071.jpg?t=1219506514

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/DSCF5072.jpg?t=1219506362

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/DSCF5073.jpg?t=1219506401

Going up fast :)

Nice one fella!

I walkd past this the other day and was amazed to see how quickly the floors are catching up with the core! This thing is flying up

The smallest tower crane in town? Two sections high.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k103/samorost/UE1NY/1NYStreet5S.jpg

More phone pics I'm afraid, but didn't see the point in taking my cam out on just pass by :).
Anyway, looks like they have started the next floor already.

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/1NewYorkStreetProject28082008266.jpg?t=1219964479

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/1NewYorkStreetProject280820082661.jpg?t=1219964635

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/1NewYorkStreetProject280820082662.jpg?t=1219964686

Wish it was taller. I seem to be saying that a lot these days.

Short man syndrome?

Wish it was taller. I seem to be saying that a lot these days.

Thats all you have ever said since joining SSC ;)

Great updates, Toetallix. I just wish I had more time to get down town myself with my camera.

Well don't you worry, I will be back there soon with more updates, because you can guarantee in the next few days a new floor will be in the process of being..dropped on top. Wonder when they will start cladding? Probably a long way off that yet, but would guess they would start that before it reaches final height?