Workman’s Building Consultancy team oversaw the construction and project planning phases of the redevelopment of Dantzic, a Grade II listed building on the 20-acre mixed-use NOMA neighbourhood in central Manchester.
Finishing two months ahead of build schedule, Dantzic has been transformed into 45,000 sq. ft. of Grade A office space.
Project managed by Workman’s Building Consultancy team, the development will help to meet soaring demand for workspace in Manchester, as the city’s booming economy continues to attract occupiers not just from the UK but across the world too.
On the corner of Dantzic Street and Hanover Street, the 1930s property is a short walk away from Manchester’s Victoria Station and overlooks Sadler’s Yard, Manchester’s newest public square and home to The Pilcrow, a hand-built community pub.
The revamp of the Grade II listed building – built in 1937 – is the third of four NOMA projects managed by Workman. Nearby Hanover, which completed in October 2018, will house the first Amazon UK HQ outside of London, while work started on-site at Redfern earlier this year.
Inside the Dantzic project process
Construction work at Dantzic consisted of removing the outer facade, taking the building back to brick. This revealed the original plasterwork and parquet flooring which had been covered by carpet for decades. Such heritage features like these are proving to be popular with occupiers, particularly those in the creative and tech sphere.
Works included adding a new staircase to link the two basement levels with each of the seven floors above ground, along with new bathroom facilities on each floor. Suspended ceilings were removed, allowing the full height of each window to be revealed, enabling plenty of natural light to enter.
Practical completion at Dantzic comes soon after NOMA unveiled plans for 4 Angel Square, a new Grade A office building for the development. The 200,000 sq. ft. commercial scheme will be speculatively developed by NOMA, representing a vote of confidence in the Manchester market.
In total, NOMA will provide 2.5 million sq. ft. of both new-build and renovated office space at various price points, situated alongside housing, public realm as well as retail and leisure opportunities.
Hermes Investment Management, the £33.5 billion manager, is the investment manager of NOMA, with MEPC acting as development manager.
Quotes about the Dantzic project
Richard Cooper, Partner at Workman LLP, said: “The completion of the beautifully restored Dantzic building marks another successful milestone in the NOMA neighborhood and the building was completed to exceptional standard and within budget. This is a great result and testament to the whole team who have worked on the project. Original features such as the art deco parquet flooring were retained throughout and the building now offers Grade A contemporary office space. We are excited to be working on this prestigious scheme. The Redfern project is now well underway on site and the Old Bank refurbishment will be submitted for planning this summer.”
Stephen Bradley, senior asset manager at Hermes Investment Management, said: “We have invested significantly in the listed estate at NOMA, helping preserve Manchester’s built heritage for future generations while ensuring the buildings are suitable for the workforce of today and tomorrow. With loft-style office space that has proven popular in cities worldwide, we anticipate strong interest in Dantzic.”
Paul Pavia, head of development at MEPC, said: “Practical completion at Dantzic marks another chapter in the progress we have made at NOMA, and we look forward to taking the rest of the listed estate forward while also delivering the new-build element, helping meet soaring demand for high quality office space in Manchester.”
