Russell WBHO has completed installation of a new façade and internal refurbishment at St James’s Tower in Manchester’s Charlotte Street. Asset manager OBI Properties appointed Russells to the £3million scheme following their successful completion of The Core in Brown Street in 2018.
Following demolition of the original façade, Russells stripped out the ground and first floors of the 14-storey building to create a new two-storey extension along the length of the Charlotte Street elevation. This increased the first floor accommodation to 14,941 sq ft of Category A office space and provide approximately 11,000 sq ft of retail amenity on the ground floor, which has the ability to be subdivided up to four separate units.
Designed by architect AHR, with structural engineering support from Clancy, and M&E by REDS – the same team which delivered The Core – the glazed extension provides an eye-catching addition to the street scene.
St James’s Tower, which is home to Slater Gordon, Watts Group, Aldermore Bank and JLT, remained occupied throughout the works and the project team put in place a series of measures to minimise disruption. This included limiting the nosiest works to short, set periods in the early morning and around lunchtime, and the installation of a temporary entrance and covered access to the existing reception area.
Andrew Russell, joint managing director of Russell WBHO, said: “Client satisfaction is our most important measure, so it says everything when we’re invited back to work on a subsequent project. This scheme has significantly improved both the building and the street scene and it was great working with OBI once again.”
Situated in the heart of the city’s main business district, St James’s Tower has undergone significant investment over the last decade to create Grade A office space. OBI is managing the project on behalf of the investor, The British Airways Pension Trust Ltd.
OBI director Dominic Horridge added: “St James’s Tower has been steadily upgraded over the last 10 years and this final piece has given the building the street presence it deserves and revitalised the Charlotte Street thoroughfare. The Russells team has once again delivered and we’re very happy with how the project has gone.”
