Beehive Mill
31 Blackfriars Road Mezzanine
The Stables
Lloyd’s House
10a Little Peter Street
A character building is often viewed as charming, but impractical for modern business needs. We’re so used to seeing the traditional glass-box office that it can be hard to imagine an office looking any different. But that’s changing, as demand for characterful office space rises, it’s a shift we’re seeing first-hand across our own portfolio of Manchester properties.
Why is Demand for Character Office Space Rising?
Hybrid working has raised the bar. The office now needs to give people a reason to come in, and a space with more character could provide that extra motivation. Your office also reflects your business; where you’re based says something about who you are.
Sustainability matters more than ever to staff and clients alike and retrofitting existing buildings can have a smaller environmental footprint than building new. Manchester’s building stock includes mills, warehouses and listed buildings, giving this trend somewhere genuine to grow, rather than being an expensive niche.
Does Character Mean Compromising on Modern Facilities?
The Thread Works
A character office doesn’t mean compromising on modern facilities. Think of it as heritage outside, modern inside. Original features are retained such as ironwork, brick, stone and arches, but paired with a fully modern specification, including air conditioning, fitted kitchens, security and lift access.
Beehive Mill, for example, has kept its original blasted brickwork, pitched roof with exposed beams, cast iron columns, wooden floorboards, impressive ceiling heights and feature glazing dating back to 1824, alongside the addition of bike storage, showers, on-site meeting rooms and a coffee shop.
Another property perfectly blending character with modernity is 31 Blackfriars Road, where a mezzanine has been added due to its high ceilings, creating the perfect spot for a break or a private office.
At Thread Works, the building’s industrial heritage was creatively preserved by converting its historic, decommissioned goods lift into a private Zoom booth/phone pod. It has been fully retrofitted with high-spec acoustic insulation, professional integrated lighting, power connections, and dedicated connectivity to create a quiet, distraction-free environment for video calls.
The Stables in the Northern Quarter were previously a horse stables, but has since been cleverly reconstructed, turning the original stall partitions into private office cubicles, creating a unique working space.
Lloyd’s House has plenty of exposed architectural and historical gems. All offices enjoy stunning floor to ceiling height, sash windows, feature lighting, wooden floors, exposed brickwork and cast-iron columns.
10a Little Peter Street boasts an original sandstone wall that now divides the meeting rooms from the main office with small windows between, creating a distinctive working environment with a modern industrial aesthetic.
What Should Businesses Look for in a Character Building?
When viewing a character building, it’s important to know the right questions to ask. We advise both tenants and landlords on character space, so all your queries can be answered with ease. It’s important to balance character style with modern requirements, such as a good EPC rating, electrics and accessibility. These are the things that make a property fit for the next 10 years of its lifecycle.
Character and practicality aren’t at odds, when done well, they reinforce each other. Our team can help you find a building that gets both right. If a character building sounds right for your business, we have plenty available, such as Manchester Club, Thread Works and 31 Blackfriars Road. Get in touch with the Canning O’Neill team to find your next office in Manchester.
