just realised we didn't have a thread for this and it's well underway.

rail house is being redeveloped into "piccadilly gate".

ssn link http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=5508

render
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/5508RailHouse_pic1.jpg


the building last year
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/5508RailHouse_pic2.jpg


and some pics from sunday
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/5508RailHouse_pic13.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/5508RailHouse_pic9.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/5508RailHouse_pic15.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/5508RailHouse_pic10.jpg



:cheers:

sunday.

cladding appears.

http://skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/5508RailHouse_pic18.jpg

http://skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/5508RailHouse_pic16.jpg

http://skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/5508RailHouse_pic17.jpg

http://i47.tinypic.com/2li7lvr.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/11caw0k.jpg

URGH I suddenly feel sick.

Very, urm Leeds United colours...

Did you not see what it was before.... something from out of Croydon or somewhere. Much better.

Someone must be clearly taking the micky? Looks awful.

Did you not see what it was before.... something from out of Croydon or somewhere. Much better.

Better? Really? Sorry but I have to disagree, I cant see how sticking 'Leeds Utd' colours to an (at worst) anonymous grey block is better... I dont think it'll age well but if they make another series of ''Life on Mars'' in a few years it will be a great backdrop... :)

A tidy job IMO:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/Picture334.jpg

The architects HQ looks good too in the background:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/Picture331.jpg

A bit "Mondrian" don't yo think ?

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn185/SOMtastic/mondrain.jpg

Im sorry but the multi coloured pannels just look awfull. Why does the council keep on approving this kind of crap? Manchester deserves better.

I Think it looks quite funky.

A bit of colour goes a long way in that part of town - which for some reason seems permanently grey .. even when the sun is shining.

A bit of colour goes a long way in that part of town - which for some reason seems permanently grey .. even when the sun is shining.

uoi have a point but is dirty yellow realy the type of colour to aspire to?

Is it some allusion to old BR colours? Blue, white and yellow?

Should have made them all black, could have looked quite dignified.

Not the first re-clad to make it look worse than it did before :ohno:

Not the first re-clad to make it look worse than it did before :ohno:

I would not go that far, though the first comparable project that came to mind was that blue tower in Leicester... I just think they should change the blue and yellow panels. If they must have them coloured go for a dark indigo or something.

Not the first re-clad to make it look worse than it did before :ohno:
Yep that's rank.

I think they thought by using colour alone they were being bold, well it's not very is it? They played it safe really and it looks boring and repetitive. Something like this would have been a better use of colour imo.

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

Is this complete now? also, any news on this move?

Estates

We are helping departments move into a smaller number of better quality and environmentally-friendly buildings across the region. In particular, we are looking at opportunities for departments to share buildings and facilities.

Our work will help departments save money and meet sustainability targets. By pooling our resources, it also gives us the chance to provide facilities such as restaurants and gyms which might not have been possible if departments were sole occupants of smaller buildings.

An example is Piccadilly Gate in Manchester, which will bring together the Highways Agency, Government Office for the North West, the Training Development Agency and other smaller departments into a completely modernized building with a coffee shop and a gym.

Last updated - 22nd June 2010
http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/my-civil-service/networks/regional/north-west/estates.aspx

Well GONW is gone now.

does anyone know if you can use the escalators to go from Store St to Picc station within this building?

does anyone know if you can use the escalators to go from Store St to Picc station within this building?

Not sure about that, but there is going to be a pedestrian entrance to the Metrolink platforms & escalators, at the junction of Boad Street/Sheffield Street just around the corner.

Manchester’s Piccadilly Gate under offer

20 August 2010 | By Kat Baker

Manchester’s 124,000 sq ft Piccadilly Gate office scheme has been put under offer by overseas investors for more than £48m, reflecting a yield of 5.75%.

The property is being sold by BRBR, the company owned by the government which has responsibility for discharging the functions of British Rail.

The site was redeveloped and completed in June 2010 and is now occupied by various government departments on a 15-year lease.

GVA Grimley acted as selling agents but refused to comment.
http://www.propertyweek.com/news/region/north-west/manchester%E2%80%99s-piccadilly-gate-under-offer/5004405.article

Now occupied :dunno:

Ocon completes Piccadilly Gate

Ocon Construction has announced the £27m Piccadilly Gate office refurbishment has been delivered on time and to budget, following a 21-month programme.
Located on a prime site adjacent to Manchester's Piccadilly railway station, the former Rail House office block was redeveloped by BRB Residuary to create an office building for several Government offices including The Highways Agency and the Training and Development Agency for Schools.
As well as an entrance directly onto the station, Ocon claims the ten-storey office features Manchester's largest escalator.
The construction firm said it overcame numerous challenges, including asbestos removal, electrified railway lines adjacent to the site and a sitting tenant occupying the building throughout the project to complete on time and without disruption to rail passengers.
Andrew Barker, managing director of Ocon, said: "This is a landmark scheme for Manchester and we are proud to have completed such a showpiece commercial development in our home city. Our success in delivering this scheme to such a high standard in such a short time frame demonstrates Ocon's ability to tackle large scale projects beyond the student accommodation sector where we are traditionally very strong and Piccadilly Gate marks a strategic turning point for the firm as we expand into new sectors and new geographical areas."

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/archive/8536-ocon-completes-piccadilly-gate.html