A multi level workplace space featuring tiered seating with purple cushions, surrounded by planting and framed by black steel beams. Curved wooden platforms with low lounge chairs and small white tables create informal seating on the lower level. Several people sit and walk through the space. Large planters and full height windows bring in greenery and natural light. A bright workspace with a long white desk and red task chairs separated by low dividers topped with plants. To the left, built in seating sits below open shelving with arched frames displaying books and objects. A gridded ceiling feature runs across the space. At the back, a corridor with curved glass doors leads to an area filled with more planting. A vibrant open lounge area with mixed seating including curved sofas, round chairs and modular orange seating around circular tables. A large circular LED light feature hangs from an exposed ceiling above a red floor accent. To the left, a glazed meeting space with yellow framing sits behind a curved bench. Planting is placed throughout the space and large windows bring in natural light. An open plan workspace with rows of white desks and ergonomic chairs arranged in clusters. Above the desks, a large suspended feature filled with dense greenery runs across the ceiling, with slatted acoustic panels surrounding it. The space is lined with tall plants and has full height windows along the far wall. Soft seating and additional work areas sit toward the back of the room, creating a calm, biophilic environment. A meeting space with a long wooden table and simple upholstered chairs arranged in front of a large wall mounted screen. The curved timber wall behind the screen includes open shelving on each side displaying books and objects. The room has a cork style floor and an exposed dark ceiling. Tall windows sit to the right, bringing in natural light. A social workspace with a large wooden table and simple chairs in the foreground where several people sit and talk. To the left, round café tables sit near tiered seating with colourful cushions. A red curtain spans the back wall and the ceiling features exposed services with linear lighting. Planting and soft seating are arranged throughout the space, creating a relaxed, open environment. A workplace tea point and social area featuring a central island with a white countertop and soft seating in front. Three upholstered stools with blue bases sit along the island. Above, a suspended planter filled with dense greenery hangs over the counter. The back wall includes timber cabinets, open shelving and a tiled splashback with integrated lighting. To the right, lounge chairs and a small round table create a relaxed seating spot among more planting. A workplace dining area with a central food counter and glass display filled with dishes on the left. The space includes long wooden tables with dark chairs arranged across a floor that mixes wood and light vinyl. Large pendant lights hang from an exposed ceiling. Tall plants are placed throughout, and full height windows bring daylight into the room. A glass fronted meeting room with rounded blue framing, showing a long table with upholstered chairs arranged around it. Two large screens are mounted on the far wall. The ceiling features exposed services and linear lighting. A room booking panel is mounted on the wall outside, and the glass panels reveal parts of the surrounding workspace.
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Home Case studies Virgin Media O2

Delivering a flagship for Virgin Media O2

Virgin Media O2’s move into Manchester’s Island Building marks a step change in how the organisation supports its teams. The new workspace pairs a modern, well connected location with ambitious environmental targets, creating a flexible setting for collaboration, wellbeing and long term growth.

Project partners

  • Space Invader Design
  • CBRE

Key features

  • Workplace transformation in a new build setting
  • Sustainable fit out achieving BREEAM Excellent and SKA Gold
  • People focused, inclusive design with strong staff engagement
  • Engineered timber staircase

Virgin Media O2, one of the UK’s largest telecommunications companies, set out to transform its Manchester workplace to better support an evolving workforce, attract new talent and create a space that reflects modern expectations around sustainability and inclusion. Previously based in an outdated building in Wythenshawe, the business wanted a vibrant city centre location with improved public transport links, alongside a workplace that matched its environmental commitments.

The newly constructed, NABERS accredited Island Building provided the right platform for a flagship space that supports productivity, wellbeing and future growth. The brief was clear: deliver strong environmental performance through BREEAM Excellent and SKA Gold, create a workplace that supports diversity and inclusion and introduce flexible work settings with purpose built collaboration and breakout areas.

Design that works for everyone

Working alongside Space Invader Design, we developed the technical design and delivered a scheme that brought Virgin Media O2’s vision to life. A ‘ribbon of oxygen’ concept runs through the workplace via biophilic wayfinding hung from the ceiling, guiding people to a range of work settings that support different workstyles.

To meet the BREEAM Excellent and SKA Gold sustainability targets, we carried out a carbon engineering review with the client and consultant team so products and finishes met ambitious objectives. We used Carbonica, our in house carbon measurement tool, to support decision making across materials and specification. Sustainable finishes were selected throughout, including cork flooring and pressed flower wall coverings.

Inclusion and experience were a priority for Virgin Media O2. A structured programme of staff engagement helped teams name and theme floors, meeting rooms and shared spaces, creating a stronger sense of ownership. Fresh, filtered water stations were positioned within 15 metres of every person, supporting wellbeing as part of everyday use. The new space also includes a modern cafeteria serving hot and cold food, plus a variety of breakout and collaboration zones, from large multipurpose town hall spaces through to single user focus booths with domestic style seating.

The centrepiece of the project was the installation of a new glue laminated timber staircase linking levels eight and nine. Chosen for its structural performance, environmental benefits and build efficiency, the staircase required a complex engineering sequence. We managed the cutting of the slab between levels, then coordinated a modular build approach on site to maintain programme certainty.

A flagship space for future growth

Virgin Media O2’s new Manchester workplace is now a high performing, sustainable environment that supports wellbeing, inclusion and a wide range of workstyles. With spaces designed for focused work, teamwork, social connection and larger events, the office gives teams the flexibility they need while reinforcing the organisation’s commitment to a lower impact fit out.

  • Manchester
  • 45,000 sq ft
  • 25 weeks
  • BREEAM Excellent
  • SKA Gold

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