Research 1 - Unit X Launch - Property Client

For the launch of this project, the group visited City Tower to see Lee Treanor (Head of Development) and Sally Hill (Head of Branding) for the client - Bruntwood. Bruntwood was established in 1976 and is a family-run company that purchases buildings that are a bit run down, and they convert them into office spaces to rent to businesses that require them. They own 25% of all office space within Manchester City Centre and currently have 35 live projects worth around £15million in total across Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham.

We were shown round a couple of their properties - 57 Spring Gardens (the focus of the project) and Manchester One - the latter which they have newly renovated. Bruntwood want us to re-design the reception area and lift lobbies of 57 Spring Gardens (current images below) along with a proposal for the exterior of the building to make it more noticeable from street level.

One of the main problems we need to consider when creating a proposal for the exterior of the building is the head clearance from the tramlines which run directly outside the doorway. For example, we could not propose a canopy that would come close to the tramway, or overhanging the public walkway. The group suggested possibly removing the stone corner of the building and replacing it with glass panels to add light to the interior of the building and to modernise the exterior.

Upon entering the building, we were greeted by 8 pink steps leading up to a reception desk. There is also a partitioning wall with disabled access on the other side. We discussed the possibility of removing the partition as it was not necessary within the space, and makes the space appear more compact. We need to consider how we could incorporate disabled access as well as opening up the space to appear larger than it actually is. One thing that was discussed was to create a ramp, which all people entering the building would use, however, one member of the group mentioned the need to consider regulations when proposing this - standing 1m at its tallest, the ramp would need to be 3m long so it isn't too steep. This could restrict the doorway as a result, so we would need to find a way around this. We also discussed a staircase that has a hidden disabled platform within it, as to not segregate people who are disabled - access incorporated into mainstream design.

Lee mentioned that the company would like to keep the stone walls, but not the black granite which the customer information board is mounted on. The group discussed the possibility of adding brushed copper piping as a feature on the stone, to add a new and interesting texture to the surface. We think we will keep the colours fairly neutral initially, and focus more on the materials for the finishes.

The next issue we faced was that the reception desk backs onto the stairs leading to the first floor which adds to the room feeling a little cramped. The reception desk would need to be relocated, preferably nearer to the entrance. The group discussed installing a corner desk next to the entrance window, so the receptionist is the first point of contact when entering the building. However, if we were to go ahead with the ramp idea, this could also affect the location of the desk.

The lift lobbies are a little outdated - they have white cladding on the walls and suspended lighting built into wood, which makes the room appear slightly claustrophobic. We need to think of a different way to create a contemporary atmosphere and modify the lighting to extend the head room in the building and conserve as much space as possible. 

The group has a good combination of skills - with myself and Jenny on the Textiles course which could concentrate on the colour scheme and artwork, Steph and Alice mentioned they were good with CAD and Photoshop to work with floor plans, and Ellie, Emily, Michael and Holly are good with manipulating the space in order to get the best from it. I feel this is an advantage for the group because it splits the workload up and allows different people to concentrate on what their strengths are.