Manchester Building Society
Manchester Building Society
The project involved the refurbishment and fit-out of a beautiful Grade II listed Flemish Renaissance style building in the heart of Manchester’s St. Ann’s Square Conservation Area. Constructed around 1900, the building is characterised by its richly detailed terracotta and stone façades, bay windows and prominent Flemish gables. Our role was to adapt this heritage asset to accommodate Manchester Building Society’s new flagship branch, while ensuring that the building’s historic fabric was preserved and enhanced.
The design required a sensitive balance between retaining historic character and introducing modern functions. The ground floor has been reconfigured to provide the Society’s main branch, creating a welcoming and transparent customer environment. The basement was fitted out with flexible meeting rooms that can also be made available for community use, while the first floor was adapted to provide new head office accommodation. Each space was carefully planned to reflect contemporary workplace and banking requirements, while maintaining a dialogue with the building’s existing proportions and detailing.
One of the key architectural challenges was the integration of new services within the constraints of the listed structure. The scheme introduced new air-conditioning systems located discretely within the rear lightwell, minimising visual and acoustic impact. In the basement, a cavity drainage system was installed to manage water ingress, designed to be fully reversible to protect the long-term integrity of the historic masonry. These interventions ensured that the building could meet modern performance standards without compromising its heritage significance.
Internally, the design approach emphasised clarity, legibility and a careful layering of old and new. Historic features were respected and retained wherever possible, while new elements were introduced in a restrained manner, using high-quality materials that complement the existing fabric. The result is a series of spaces that feel both contemporary and rooted in their historic setting.
The completed branch represents more than just a functional upgrade. It reaffirms King Street as a location of civic and commercial importance, and provides a rare example of investment in high street banking premises at a time when many branches are closing. For Manchester Building Society, the project has delivered a visible presence in the city centre, a modern workplace for staff, and a community resource embedded within a significant listed building.
Project Team
Project:
Refurbishment of listed building.
Location:
74 King Street, Manchester.
