Schroder Real Estate Investment Management has submitted plans to Manchester City Council to create a bespoke event space at the podium level of City Tower, overlooking Piccadilly Gardens and designed by architects and tenants of the building, Sheppard Robson.
The 2,645 sq ft space will be transformed into a new multi-functional co-working offering and external terrace for existing tenants. The pavilion will provide indoor and outdoor event space plus a sheltered terrace area with panoramic views of Piccadilly Gardens.
Schroders has also considered the changing behaviour, working and travel patterns of tenants, this has been incorporated with additional shower facilities also planned for the podium level.
Working with planning consultants CBRE, the project aims to create a contemporary architectural addition to the Manchester landmark.
Rob Cosslett, Investment Manager at Schroders, said:
“We are continually looking for ways in which we can enhance the offering at City Tower for both tenants within the building and prospective occupiers.
“Creating the additional amenity opens up a further part of the building, expanding floor space. It will enable us to offer distinct space and will also allow us to facilitate a wider events programme with extra creative initiatives for tenants to participate in.
“It is important that we are responding to the needs of tenants, the building operates a Cycle Hub which is actively used, we are also pushing forward a health and wellbeing programme which will incorporate further exercise classes so the additional shower facilities will hopefully be very beneficial.”
Schroders also continue to work with local businesses to facilitate an exclusive benefits scheme for occupiers of the building, providing access to a host of discounts, events and wider initiatives across the city. This also includes a dedicated Health and Wellbeing programme accessible to all within the building.”
Jasmin Eastwood, Project Architect at Sheppard Robson, said:
“The proposed addition supports Schroders’ continued investment in City Tower and their aspirations to improve and increase the range of facilities on offer to tenants.
“The design reflects its surroundings using the physical structure of the building to define the architecture.
“The building is home to Sheppard Robson’s Manchester office – our interior design group, ID:SR, has previously worked on remodelling the tower’s front-of-house spaces and several office floor levels. The project sees our commitment to this iconic building and to the wider city continue.”
City Tower is owned in a joint venture held between Schroder Real Estate Investment Trust, the actively managed UK REIT, Schroder UK Real Estate Fund and Immobilien Europa Direkt.
