Edinburgh
5 Forres Street
Edinburgh, EH3 6DE
Glasgow
83a Candleriggs
Glasgow, G1 1LF
Manchester
11 York Street
Manchester, M2 2AW

Freetrade Exchange

A Victorian beauty modernised

A reception area with black text on the wall saying 'Freetrade', a desk wrapped by navy blue cladding, a bench area which has an oak base with blue decor, and a set of black stairs behind the desk. A reception area with black text on the wall saying 'Freetrade', a desk wrapped by navy blue cladding, a bench area which has an oak base with blue decor, and a set of black stairs behind the desk.

The sensitive restoration of this old dame in Manchester brings Freetrade Exchange up to date with a multitude of sensitive changes that revitalise the building.

  • Location Manchester
  • Client Clearbell
  • Status Complete
  • Services Architecture, Interior Design
  • Photography Scott Kershaw - Tile Persona

A Survivor.

Since the Victorian era, Freetrade Exchange has stood proudly on the corner of Peter Street in Manchester.

A traditional stone building from the perspective from the corner of the building.

The building before work was started.

A red brick building with 4 columns of separate, spaced-out windows.

The building has a host of attractive original features.

The entrance to a building with all glass walls and windows, with the address and building name on the glass. The building is a traditional stone building.

The entrance was dated and did not reflect the building's grandeur.

A reception area with the 'Freetrade Exchange' logo on the glass, there are wooden steps at the end which lead up to the rest of the building, along with a small elevator too.

The reception space was cramped and uninviting.

A new approach.

Our CAT A refurbishment of the Grade II listed office building brings a new aesthetic and a raft of updates to the internal layout, giving the building modern facilities with state of the art connectivity, wellbeing and accessibility to ensure its ongoing success in a competitive market.

A planometric plan on the layout of the space and clearly shows the separate parts of the room.

3D Visual of the proposed new reception spaces.

The refurbishment includes the remodelling of the entrance and addition of a modern business lounge to create a better arrival experience.

A calming space with two blue chairs, a rounded kitchen island with three chairs, and an oak flooring with ash grey walls. There are also a variety of plant pots in the space.

The business lounge

A cobalt blue chair in front of a window, with a round table with two books stacked on it.
A reception area with black text on the wall saying 'Freetrade', a desk wrapped by navy blue cladding, a bench area which has an oak base with blue décor, and a set of stairs behind the desk. The floor also has in gold lettering 'Freetrade'.

New stairs take you from reception to the upper level.

A space with high ceilings and tall, spaced out windows, most walls are white with one contrasting navy blue wall, there are thin pillars situated throughout the area.

Refurbished floorplates make maximum use of daylight.

Floorplates were upgraded, a new commercial unit in the lower ground floor has been added and the basement has been transformed to create modern wellbeing facilities, including showers, gym, yoga studio, infra-red sauna and cycle store.

A kitchen area with a rounded kitchen island, high stool seats, and worktop with a sink. In the background blue tiles are used which harmonize with the oak base. There is also a locker area with a bench on one of the walls.

The central hub to the basement wellbeing area.

An exercise room with a mirror along the wall, a storage area, oak flooring with yoga mats, and one smooth grey wall and one with a grey brick texture wall.

Flexible studio space

A gym area with free weights, a spin bike, a treadmill, with white walls with black frames that create contrast, and a neon LED sign which says 'Looking after your body and your mind'.

Gym

A traditional stone building from the perspective from the corner of the building.

The building before work was started.

1
A red brick building with 4 columns of separate, spaced-out windows.

The building has a host of attractive original features.

2
The entrance to a building with all glass walls and windows, with the address and building name on the glass. The building is a traditional stone building.

The entrance was dated and did not reflect the building's grandeur.

3
A reception area with the 'Freetrade Exchange' logo on the glass, there are wooden steps at the end which lead up to the rest of the building, along with a small elevator too.

The reception space was cramped and uninviting.

4
A planometric plan on the layout of the space and clearly shows the separate parts of the room.

3D Visual of the proposed new reception spaces.

5
A calming space with two blue chairs, a rounded kitchen island with three chairs, and an oak flooring with ash grey walls. There are also a variety of plant pots in the space.

The business lounge

6
A cobalt blue chair in front of a window, with a round table with two books stacked on it. 7
A reception area with black text on the wall saying 'Freetrade', a desk wrapped by navy blue cladding, a bench area which has an oak base with blue décor, and a set of stairs behind the desk. The floor also has in gold lettering 'Freetrade'.

New stairs take you from reception to the upper level.

8
A space with high ceilings and tall, spaced out windows, most walls are white with one contrasting navy blue wall, there are thin pillars situated throughout the area.

Refurbished floorplates make maximum use of daylight.

9
A kitchen area with a rounded kitchen island, high stool seats, and worktop with a sink. In the background blue tiles are used which harmonize with the oak base. There is also a locker area with a bench on one of the walls.

The central hub to the basement wellbeing area.

10
An exercise room with a mirror along the wall, a storage area, oak flooring with yoga mats, and one smooth grey wall and one with a grey brick texture wall.

Flexible studio space

11
A gym area with free weights, a spin bike, a treadmill, with white walls with black frames that create contrast, and a neon LED sign which says 'Looking after your body and your mind'.

Gym

12
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