1 Spinningfields

No.1 Spinningfields
No.1 Spinningfields, 18 August 2017
Location within Greater Manchester
General information
Status	Completed
Type	Office
Location	Quay Street Spinningfields Manchester England
Coordinates	53.4789°N 2.2546°W / 53.4789; -2.2546
Height
Antenna spire	92 m (302 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	20
Floor area	34,000 m^2 (370,000 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect(s)	SimpsonHaugh and Partners
Developer	Allied London
Structural engineer	RoC Consulting
References
[1]

No.1 Spinningfields (formerly 1 Hardman Square) is a 92 m (302 ft) tall office tower in the Spinningfields district of Manchester city centre, England.

The development was previously known as 1 Hardman Square which was a proposed 140 m (460 ft) tall high-rise but was cancelled in 2009. The development was revived in 2014 with a 92 m (302 ft) high-rise and the revised design gained planning approval in May 2014. Demolition of the former building on the site, Quay House, began in early 2015 and construction of its replacement began shortly afterwards.^[2]

Background

1 Hardman Square (2004–2013)

The high-rise was first proposed in 2004, linking in with the new developments in Spinningfields and the growth in proposals for tall buildings in the city at the time. The financial crisis of 2007–2008 paralysed the development market, particularly in the expensive sector of constructing skyscrapers.^{[citation needed]}

In 2011, it was reported that developers of the tower, Allied London, were on the verge of sealing a £165 million deal with German fund manager, Union Investment.^[3] As part of the deal, Union Investments forward-purchased 1 Hardman Square, which gave Allied London the capital to construct the building.^[4] Construction of the building was dependent on whether Allied London could sign up tenants for half the building, which reportedly could have taken up to two years as the economy recovered.^[5][6]

No.1 Spinningfields (2014–2017)

Following the news in 2011 that a deal to build a 350,000 sq ft (33,000 m²) Grade A office tower of 20-storeys was possible, plans for such a scheme were finally released in January 2014 and submitted for planning permission.^[7] As of 2023, the building is Manchester's tallest office building built since City Tower was constructed in 1965.^[8]

WeWork exit floors 1 and 2 (May 2024)

In May 2024, WeWork vacated their No1 Spinningfields site amid significant financial troubles and lease reneogitations. Derby based flexible co-working space company Cubo, took over the floors on a 12.5 year lease^[9]

References

1. "1 Hardman Square". skyscrapernews.com. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
2. "Quay House Coming Down in October". Manchester Confidential. 14 August 2014. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
3. "£200m boost to city centre property sector". Manchester Evening News. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
4. "Allied Close To Funding Deal For New Spinningfields Block". Manchester Confidential. 21 July 2011. Archived from the original on 28 December 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
5. "Investment streams run in Manchester's direction". Manchester Evening News. 26 July 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
6. "Manchester set for office building boom". constructionenquirer.com. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
7. "No.1 Spinningfields - plans for new city centre skyscraper with 19th floor restaurant". Manchester Evening News. 21 January 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
8. "Demand for office space soars as Manchester finds its civic heart". Financial Times. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
9. Ratcliffe, Jonathan (16 June 2024). "WeWork No.1 Spinningfields now Cubo - No Deposit Serviced Offices". Offices.co.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2024.