Huge revamp for CIS Tower skyscraper in bid to create Manchester's 'best working environment'

A huge revamp of Manchester's CIS Tower skyscraper has been completed in a move hoped to create the city's "best working environment".

Castlebrooke Investments has completed a "comprehensive repositioning strategy" of the building, one of Manchester's tallest - and launched 'Society'.

Castlebrooke said the launch marks a "new era" for the building, and represents a "re-imagining" of Manchester’s first ever skyscraper.

Society has been repurposed in a bid to deliver the "best working environment in the city" to meet the expectations of Manchester’s diverse and growing business community - and the demands of an international city.

A spokesperson said: "The tower has been at the forefront of innovation in Manchester city centre since it was first erected in the 1960s.

“Our redevelopment strategy continues this forward-thinking tradition, re-imagining the building to form a vertical district that will attract distinct user types to its three component parts – tower, podium, and street – as the way we work and live in the city evolves.

“Together these components facilitate the coming together of a new society, offering all the facilities of a HQ environment with flexible workspaces, meeting rooms, conference suites and the convenience of on-site amenities, which are ideal for Manchester’s international business community.”

The 425,000sq ft building has been split into three sections: tower - a total of 143,527 sq ft across 26 floors; podium, a 207,379sq ft of flexible office floorplates in Manchester designed to accommodate multiple layout options with break out zones and privacy booths throughout; and street - where a mix of F&B, retail and leisure amenities will combine to create a desirable meeting place for a new working community in the heart of the city.

Michael Hawkins, director and head of National Offices Agency, Colliers said: “Society is a celebration of all Manchester was, is and can be.

"Castlebrooke’s redevelopment and rebranding of this important building respects its rich heritage, with a subtle nod to its origins as the home of the Co-operative Insurance Society since the 1960s, while also positioning the building to cater for current and future occupier requirements, creating an environment that meets the diverse needs of Manchester’s ever-evolving business community.”

Strategically located in one of Manchester’s most lively districts, with NOMA, the Northern Quarter, and the central business district neighbouring this island site, Society also benefits from being adjacent to the city’s only multi-nodal transport hub.

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, added: “This is a landmark site with a proud history which has been honoured through Castlebrooke’s sympathetic redevelopment programme.

"Society complements the established neighbourhood of vibrant communities in this part of the city and marks an exciting new era for the building and a creative re-imagining of an established working environment, which Manchester’s business community will no doubt embrace.”