Bruntwood SciTech, a joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General and Greater Manchester Pension Fund, is commencing construction on its £25m project to redevelop Manchester city centre’s iconic Pall Mall building.

The Grade II listed building, which is located on the prestigious King Street, will be transformed into a new city centre innovation-hub, offering 90,000 sq ft of quality workspace designed for innovation-led businesses of all sizes to co-locate together.

Bruntwood SciTech will protect and preserve the cultural and historical significance of the building as a high-quality post war site that is reflective of its time, whilst delivering a best in class reinvention of an energy inefficient asset into an operationally net zero carbon development in all of its communal spaces.

The redeveloped workspace, set across three interconnected towers and reaching 12 floors, will include leased, serviced and co-working space, providing opportunities for high-growth businesses to adapt as they grow, and offer a variety of flexible workspaces for large businesses dependent on their needs - either longer term leases, or more flexible, all inclusive serviced spaces. Principal Contractor Dragonfly has been appointed to build the Sheppard Robson-designed development and local teams also working on the development include Ramboll as sustainability consultants, Deloitte as planning consultants, heritage consultant Stephen Levrant Heritage Architecture and structural engineers DWLLP.

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Core to Pall Mall will be its wellbeing-focused facilities such as a free state-of-the-art gym and changing facilities, independent cafe, contemplation room, lounge and library space, as well as a roof terrace with panoramic views across Manchester’s skyline, secure EV charging points and a large cycle hub to encourage active travel. Biophilia will feature prominently in the development, including in a large outdoor piazza and revitalised entrance space set to complement and add to the rich heritage of King Street.

Ideal for socially conscious businesses to innovate and grow, Bruntwood SciTech’s commitment to achieving its ambitious environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals, also means that businesses moving into Pall Mall will be part of a culture that prioritises sustainable growth. In addition to being net zero in communal spaces it will also be net zero in construction, supported by the retention of the building’s original structure, which will avoid the need for significant rebuilding works and save 7,900 tonnes of additional carbon emitted – the equivalent of one passenger making 26,000 flights from London to New York*.

The new Pall Mall will include an all-electric heating and cooling system - with air source heat pumps and smart metering, a smart building management system (BMS), and new mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) units to maximise energy efficiency and provide fresh air control to businesses. Once complete, Pall Mall is targeting a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating and EPC A rating - a significant achievement for a Grade II listed, 1960s building.