Two St Peters Square Manchester, Development, Civic Quarter Regeneration Framework Building, News
Two St Peters Square in Manchester
Development for Mosley Street Ventures Limited – design by SimpsonHaugh Architects
19 Jan 2018
Two St Peters Square Manchester News
New office development revitalises Manchester’s civic heart
Design: SimpsonHaugh Architects
Architects SimpsonHaugh has completed Two St Peter’s Square, a landmark commercial office development at the heart of Manchester’s newlyregenerated Civic Quarter, which delivers 200,000ft2 of high quality, speculative office space.
Designed for Mosley Street Ventures Limited, three floors of the 12-storey building have already been pre-let to Ernst and Young (EY), one of the largest professional services firms in the world. The building is owned by Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management who acquired the site in 2015.
Two St. Peter’s Square is the final component in the seven year rejuvenation of St Peter’s Square, which SimpsonHaugh masterplanned in 2010 as part of Manchester’s Civic Quarter Regeneration Framework. The practice was also involved in both the renovation of the Town Hall Extension opposite Two St Peter’s Square and the RIBA Award-winning Library Walk link building connecting the Town Hall Extension to the City Library.
The new building anchors the corner of the square with a design that provides a powerful and formal civic presence. Patterned tracery screens, inspired by motifs embedded within the adjacent Town Hall buildings, are formed of 6×4-metre prefabricated reconstituted Portland Stone panels, each weighing approximately eight tonnes. The intricacy of the motifs pushed the material to its limits and has created a unique precast façade.
Simon Critchley, Associate Partner at SimpsonHaugh said: “With every aspect of the design, we sought to lock Two St. Peter’s Square in place, embedding it within its civic surroundings and creating a dialogue with the Town Hall Extension.”
“Inside, open and flexible floorplates offer tenants maximum useable space and benefit from excellent natural daylighting, solar shading and views out to the magnificent buildings nearby.”
“The detailed tracery façades stand as an elegant marker for the square and reflect the area’s strong heritage.”
Internally, just three internal columns punctuate the floorplate and by positioning the core at the back of the building, SimpsonHaugh achieved unusually large clear spans of up to 18metres to aid flexibility of use. Generous 2.9m floor-to-ceiling heights underline the superior quality of the space, which is designed to Grade A specification using high quality natural materials such as stone, hard wood and bronze in the reception and lobby areas.
Two St Peter’s Square achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating and is intended to set a new benchmark for high quality office developments in Manchester. The project was managed by Swithenbank Property Consultants on behalf of Mosley Street Ventures Ltd.
The new office development replaces a group of four-storey buildings and reinforces St Peter’s Square’s status as a major civic space, following the relocation and expansion of the Metrolink Second City Crossing tram stop and the creation of a new landscape.
Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “St. Peter’s Square has been transformed in to a much-loved space, successfully marrying key transport services and public realm.
“The success of the transformation is also to the testament of the world-class architecture surrounding the Square – in particular Number Two – that has complemented new and old alike, creating a space of true significance in Manchester’s civic heart.”
Originally known as St. Peter’s Field, the Square was built on the southern edge of Manchester in the late 18th Century and soon became the focus of the town’s intellectual and cultural activity. In 1907 St. Peter’s Church was demolished and the Central Library and Town Hall Extension built from 1934-1938. The extensive renovations to the Square and its historic buildings combined with the completion of Two St. Peter’s Square will become an important milestone in the Square’s history.
Two St Peters Square Manchester – Building Information
CLIENT: Mosley Street Ventures Ltd
OWNER: Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management
ARCHITECT: SimpsonHaugh QS: Aecom
CONTRACTOR: Laing O’Rourke
INTERIORS: SimpsonHaugh (to Landlord Areas only – Cat A fitout)
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Buro Happold
M&E ENGINEER: McKenna4ME (to Tender) Also retained client side post tender / Arup / Crown House Technologies (Post Tender for LoR)
AGENT: Cushman & Wakefield (DTZ have been renamed)
PROJECT MANAGER: Swithenbank Property Consultants
Photos © Daniel Hopkinson
Two St Peters Square Manchester images / information from SimpsonHaugh Architects 190118
Another recent Manchester building by this architecture office:
19 Jan 2018
Number One Spinningfields Building
Design: SimpsonHaugh architects
photo © Daniel Hopkinson
Number One Spinningfields Building
Previously on e-architect:
20 Mar 2012
St Peter’s Square Designs
Redevelopment Shortlist
These are the final two designs shortlisted for the transformation of St Peter’s Square:
Images of design by Glenn Howells Architects:
image by The Neighbourhood
Location: St Peter’s Square, Manchester, Northwest England, UK
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Comments / photos for the Two St Peters Square, Manchester Architecture page welcome
