Open plan workplace lounge and collaboration space with polished wood flooring, tiered timber seating, tables and chairs arranged for informal meetings, and a café counter at the rear. The interior features a teal-painted exposed ceiling with visible ductwork, suspended lighting and hanging power outlets. Large windows along one side bring in natural light, while plants are placed throughout the space. Modern workplace lounge area with polished wood flooring, green upholstered seating and coffee tables arranged for informal meetings. Two people are seated on a sofa working on a laptop, while two others sit at a table in the background. Large indoor plants, circular pendant lights and exposed services contribute to a contemporary industrial-style interior. The space includes breakout seating, collaborative work areas and light-coloured feature walls. Open-plan office workspace with long shared desks, ergonomic task chairs and several people working or meeting throughout the space. The interior features a blue and white ceiling with suspended linear lighting, exposed services and acoustic wall panels. Planting is integrated along shelving and perimeter planters, while a concrete-effect feature wall adds texture. The space combines collaborative seating, individual workstations and biophilic design elements in a bright, contemporary setting. Tiered lecture theatre with rows of purple upholstered seating and light wood writing desks arranged in a stepped layout facing a presentation screen and lectern. The room features a dark ceiling with integrated linear lighting, acoustic wall panels and grey flooring. A large display screen at the front shows the Sister Manchster logo, while the overall design creates a modern teaching and presentation environment. Contemporary meeting room with a large rectangular wood-finish conference table surrounded by green upholstered task chairs. Integrated power and connectivity modules are built into the tabletop, while a wall-mounted display screen and video conferencing equipment support hybrid meetings. The space features a patterned acoustic wall, glazed partition, grey carpet flooring and sculptural zigzag pendant lighting, creating a bright and modern collaborative environment. Large multi-purpose collaboration space with a presentation stage, tiered timber seating and polished wood flooring. The interior features a blue-painted exposed ceiling with visible ductwork, suspended lighting and hanging power outlets. Built-in bench seating with colourful cushions provides informal gathering areas, while large plants are positioned throughout the space. A display screen and lectern on the stage support presentations and events, creating a flexible environment for meetings, workshops and social activities. Open-plan office with long shared desks, ergonomic task chairs and employees working throughout the space. The interior features a blue and white ceiling with suspended linear lighting, acoustic wall panels and large windows providing natural daylight. Storage units and shelving with integrated planting help define different work zones, while the neutral colour palette and biophilic elements create a bright, contemporary working environment. Open-plan office with a mix of workstations, collaborative areas and private focus booths. Employees are working at desks arranged throughout the space, which features grey carpet flooring, suspended linear lighting and large windows providing natural daylight. Integrated planting, storage units and timber finishes create distinct zones, while a wood-lined enclosed booth offers a quiet space for focused work or private calls. The interior combines contemporary workplace design with biophilic elements to create a bright and flexible working environment. Busy workplace café and collaboration space with polished wood flooring, communal tables and a café counter serving drinks and refreshments. Several people are seated at tables working or talking, while others stand near the counter. The interior features a blue-painted exposed ceiling with visible ductwork, suspended lighting and hanging power outlets, alongside large windows that bring in natural light. Plants are positioned throughout the space, creating an informal environment for work, meetings and social interaction. Row of timber-clad focus booths and meeting rooms within a contemporary office environment. One person is seated inside a booth working at a desk, while another person walks past in the foreground. The space features light wood finishes, acoustic wall panels, polished wood flooring and circular pendant lighting. Glazed vision panels in the doors provide visibility into the enclosed rooms, creating a mix of private and collaborative work settings within an open workplace. Informal workplace collaboration area set beside floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking trees and neighbouring buildings. Three people are seated on lounge chairs and a sofa around small tables, working on laptops and holding a discussion. The space features green upholstered seating, a colourful geometric rug, polished wood flooring and large indoor plants positioned throughout. Natural daylight fills the area, creating a bright and comfortable setting for meetings, focused work and informal collaboration.
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Home Case studies Bruntwood

Breathing new life into a Manchester landmark

The Renold Building is the first step in the creation of Sister, a vibrant new city centre neighbourhood set to transform the University of Manchester’s former North Campus into a thriving innovation hub.

Project partners

  • Bruntwood SciTech
  • SpaceInvader Design

"Your team have been absolutely fantastic and this has been a genuinely great journey. You always had your eye on the ball and nothing was ever too much trouble."

Sam Darby, Bruntwood SciTech

Key features

  • BCO Northern Innovation Award winner
  • 95% of furniture and fittings reused
  • £1.8m social value creation
  • Repurposing a Grade II listed building

Bruntwood appointed us to deliver the CAT A and B refurbishment of The Renold Building, converting the former lecture theatre building into a modern, commercially viable community asset.

Working in collaboration with SpaceInvader Design, we transformed the landmark Grade II listed building into a new destination for Manchester's emerging talent. We retained as much of the existing structure as possible, while introducing a community café and flexible coworking lounges alongside repurposed lecture theatres, while generating £1.8m in social value for the local community.

The start of a new district

As the first phase of activation for the wider Sister district, the Renold Building needed to open quickly and build momentum for the regeneration journey ahead. Agile decision making, close coordination and efficient sequencing helped the project move at pace, enabling the team to adapt the building’s structures, floorplates and service routes for modern workplace use without delay.

Reuse in action

Rather than stripping the building back to the structure, we made the most of the existing fabric, services, finishes and furniture to reduce waste and retain key architectural features. 

Over 95% of existing furniture, fixtures and equipment were retained or repurposed. Demolition materials, salvaged joinery, scaffolding, fluorescent tubes and original furniture have been reworked into new lighting, counters, work settings and bespoke interior features. Quality control at every step ensured that reclaimed, reused and newly specified materials achieved the required durability, finish and performance. 

Alongside this, mechanical, electrical and plumbing enhancements have significantly improved the building’s operational performance, providing a more efficient and future ready workplace. 

Setting the tone for Sister

As the first completed project within Manchester's new innovation district, The Renold Building establishes the direction for the wider development. Winner of the BCO Northern Innovation Award, the project opens up new opportunities for the city and demonstrates the value of rethinking existing buildings.

  • Sister, Manchester
  • 43,000 sq ft
  • 35 weeks
  • BCO Northern Innovation Award winner

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