One Spinningfields Square

Refurbishing a vacant office building in the vibrant Spinningfields area, NatWest planned to create an exciting and unique Manchester hub. Part of an initiative to establish a strong presence in the city, the emphasis was on workplace experience, well-being, inclusivity and sustainability.

Following the group’s ‘Ways of Working’ strategy their intention was to provide their workforce with high-quality workplace experience to support hybrid working and ensure the office was a great place to be. The goal, to re-energise the workplace, support strong collaboration between colleagues whilst also ensuring clients received a brilliant visitor experience.

Winning the BCO Northern Award 2024 for Corporate Workplace is recognition of the project’s successful outcome.

Emphasis was placed on inclusivity and accessibility to create a workspace that works for everyone! Promoting wellbeing, the space includes wellness facilities; a multi-faith room; quiet tech-free zones and a roof terrace with increased biodiversity. Planting and greenery populate the working floors.

Three floors of basement carparking provided space for the new wellbeing facility. It includes secure bicycle storage, EV pushbike chargers and shower facilities to encourage sustainable travel.

The roof terrace, which was not previously accessible, was developed to support local wildlife with flowering plants and a bug ‘hotel’. Colleagues can socialise or work on the terrace which is Wi-Fi enabled.

In creating an inclusive environment, NatWest wanted to ensure that accessibility was not an ‘add-on’ but an integral part of the design.

Supporting colleagues with visual impairments or limited dexterity, and wheelchair users, motion sensor hot and chilled drinking water taps were installed. Fully wheelchair accessible pantries were designed with low-profile sink and lever taps to support those with reduced mobility. Doors have been automated to office floors and WC lobbies and 10% of desks are height adjustable as standard throughout the office. There are also hearing loops in all lift carts and lobbies. Rather than add a ramp over the previous stepped entrance to the roof terrace, the door threshold was lowered.

Incorporating a diverse range of work settings was key to the project’s success. A wide variety of collaborative and social spaces include booths, soft seating, bleachers, outdoor furniture and more playful furniture elements.
Tech free, quiet zones and focus spaces provide low stimulation options. Traditional meeting and conference rooms make up the more formal client suite. And the previously cavernous reception has been updated with an attractive staircase, gallery and landing.

The space celebrates Manchester’s rich industrial heritage, featuring subtle references to the iconic worker bee. A local graffiti artist was commissioned to create a mural reflecting Manchester’s urban street culture, adding a unique touch. Manchester Street maps provided a great backdrop for decorative surfaces.

The client’s long-term sustainability commitments informed design decisions. M&E services, material and FF&E selection followed SKA rating guidelines.

Furniture, in particular, was reused refurbished or repurposed where possible. Over 2,200 pieces of furniture, including all workstations and 1,140 task chairs were sourced from other offices.

This ‘re-use’ strategy saved 45 tonnes of CO2e, equivalent to 365 petrol car trips between NatWest’s HQ in Edinburgh and Spinningfields.

Additionally, some furniture was repaired and refurbished with reupholstering and powder coating. Other items were creatively repurposed e.g. transforming an old desktop into a whiteboard with acoustic properties. The remanufacture approach resulted in savings of 17 tonnes of CO2e.

Furniture and equipment that could not be re-used was donated to local charities and schools.
The project achieved a SKA gold rating, the highest measure on the SKA environmental assessment methodology and benchmarking tool.

One measure of success is how much time colleagues, who enjoy the flexibility of hybrid working, spend in the workspace. The most recent utilisation study reported 70% peak occupancy and average 60% +, compared to peaks of 30% and an average of 25% in their former Manchester office space.