Whitworth Locke
Designed around the spectacular main feature, a central glass atrium, Whitworth Locke also includes a CrossFit gym, pop-up cocktail bar and restaurant and an immersive co-working space for both guests and city residents. Like a lot of the buildings considered to have the best design in Manchester, Whitworth Locke is also situated in a former cotton mill complete with the necessary exposed brick walls. The working space is towards the back, quiet but seriously sexy.
Whitworth Locke, 74 Princess St, Manchester M1 6JD
www.lockeliving.com
Origin
Brand spanking new office space in the centre is Origin. Spread across 6 floors, the offices have a design inspired by the 1930s complete with chic parquet flooring and a deep luxurious colour theme throughout. It’s decadent, opulent and even comes with its very own ‘Business Lounge’ and ‘Gallery’. Of course, that’s not enough, the designers here know exactly how important wellbeing is for workers, adding The Deck, a rooftop terrace with stunning views of the skyline. There’s also a gym on-site so not only can you work in a cool place, you can get fit doing it.
Origin, 70 Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 2BQ, UK
www.thisisorigin.com
Colony in Jactin House
Situated in the heart of Ancoats, Jactin House overlooks the bustling Cutting Room Square. Formerly a place to stay for local mill workers during the industrial revolution, this building was restored to former glory in 2016. The large open spaces give a nod to the cottonopolis past with timber beams, steel frameworks and exposed brick. Whilst large windows let in plenty of natural light helping to boost creativity and collaboration which remain at the core of the design. Large desks and plenty of choice in workspaces from private focus zones to a screening room and an industrial kitchen ensures functionality and flexibility for a modern way of working.
Colony Coworking, Jactin House, 24 Hood Street, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6WX
www.colonyco.work
Use.Space
A co-working hub located in Ardwick, Use.Space has dedicated work zones, a world food cafe and a light-filled botanical atrium standing tall in the centre. A strong green colour theme allows the botanical theme to continue throughout the office space with floral wallpaper and brightly printed armchairs. The biophilic design incorporates nature, plants and the outdoors throughout pushing sustainability and wellbeing. Sustainability continues into the shared kitchen with 100% compostable and plant-based cutlery, plates, straws and even coffee cups.
Use.Space, 31 Ardwick Green, Thirsk Street, Manchester M12 6PN
usespace.co.uk
Express Building
Under renovation for a few years now, the Express Building has had life breathed back into it leaving a completely unique space. From the outside, an Art Deco curvaceous, shiny building, in the inside the reinvention begins with an elegant and tall entrance and plenty of internal concrete columns with large bold arms spanning across the ceiling. There’s a big nod to the ghost of newspaper past including a giant wall of letters, spelling out Express. Chic, open and large, the brand new Express Building is big bold and airy.
The Express Building, Great Ancoats St, Manchester M4 5DE
expressbuildingmcr.uk
No.60
60 Spring Gardens was originally designed back in 1882 by renowned architecture Alfred Waterhouse, who also was the man behind the design of the Manchester Town Hall. Moving inside and things get sexier. It’s dark, sensual and a hell of a lot of mood lighting. There’s plenty of marble, a cherry blossom tree and even a WATERFALL for that added sensual feel. You really could mistake yourself for being in a very swanky hotel, not going into your 9-5 job.
No.60 – 60 Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 2BQ
No60.co.uk
No 8 First Street
Visually striking and perfectly located for easy after work drinks any day of the week, No 8 is an impressive glass workspace spread across 26,000 sq ft. Keeping floors without large bulky columns has allowed for flexible layouts that are easily changed to perfectly suit each office space. Throughout, the outside has been brought in with 6 generous winter gardens to provide a beautiful place to work from. In the evening these areas are illuminated to frame the view looking outside in and provide a calming place to work at in the evenings.
Number 8, First Street, Manchester, M15 4GU
firststreetmanchester.com/work/
Social Chain
It goes without saying that Social Chain is definitely going to have a few Instagrammable spots in their offices. Including an indoor jungle, complete with jungle soundtrack and floating boardroom taking centre stage to give an ‘out of this world’ effect. The building has expanded office spaces to ensure teams aren’t split and creativity can continue throughout departments.
Social Chain, 127 Portland St, Manchester M1 4PZ
https://www.socialchain.com/
rentalcars.com
A few years back arguments were put forward for this being the coolest office space in not just Manchester but the UK. Things have gotten a little crazy then and people have added jungles, cars, bars and god knows what else to their offices up and down the country. But rentalcars.com was still (I think) the first place to incorporate a 50s Diner in their offices. Complete with a checkered black and white flooring and red high stools. The car theme sticks throughout with road printed carpets directing through office desks, Route 66 Board Rooms and loads more where that comes from. There’s even James Bond and Back to the Future themed rooms, a Ritz Hotel and a City Park.
rentalcars.com, 35 Fountain St, Manchester M2 2AN
https://www.rentalcars.com/
Manchester’s Finest
How could we create a list of the coolest office spaces in town and not include our humble abode?! There are a few things that put us on this list, the simplicity, chic and clean office space with plenty of light wood, plant life and minimalistic vibes. We even have our very own Office Dog, Stella and it doesn’t get better than that. But most of all, you just don’t get a cooler team anywhere else in the city than this one now do you?!
Manchester’s Finest, 22 Lever Street, Manchester, M1 1EA
