The Co-operative Group Headquarters, Manchester, United Kingdom

3DReid design iconic headquarters for UK's largest mutual retailer
3DReid's design for The Co-operative Group’s new 320,000 sq ft headquarter building in Manchester has been revealed.

To be built on land on Miller Street, opposite the Co-operative Insurance tower, the new building will serve the UK’s largest mutual retailer which now has a turnover of over £13 billion. 16 storeys of open plan offices will provide a modern working environment and facilities which will allow greater freedom for flexible working by staff.

Mike Hitchmough, Project Leader at 3DReid said, “This is such an important and exciting development for both us and our client the Co-operative Group. Central to the project is realising an architectural statement on this key site that also meets our client’s extremely high sustainability aspirations and achieves the highest possible BREEAM standard.”

The new headquarters will represent the first phase in the redevelopment and regeneration of the Group’s 20-acre site, located at the city’s Northern Gateway and bounded by Miller Street and Corporation Street. The Group will be encouraging staff to make full use of the excellent public transport facilities close to the site and car parking provision will be reduced.

The Co-operative Group Chief Executive Peter Marks said: “The new building will be good for our business, good for our staff, good for the communities which surround it and good for Manchester.”

A planning application to Manchester City Council is expected in July. If planning permission is granted, work will start on the building at the beginning of next year with occupation scheduled for mid-2012.
source: www.worldarchitecturenews.com
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