GMI Construction Group has been confirmed as main contractor for 35 Fountain Street, a new office development in central Manchester that is being positioned as one of the city’s most sustainable commercial buildings. The scheme is being brought forward by developer Bywater and designed by Bennetts Associates. At its core is a strong retrofit and low-carbon strategy, with the existing steel frame to be retained and integrated into a hybrid structural solution incorporating cross laminated timber. The use of CLT is intended to significantly reduce embodied carbon while maintaining structural performance and design flexibility. The completed building will provide 87,000 sq ft of workspace arranged over a basement, ground floor and eight upper levels. Two newly consented additional storeys will deliver a further 16,000 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation, supporting demand for high-quality, energy-efficient workspace in the city centre. The project reflects a growing trend in Manchester towards adaptive reuse and material retention as part of wider decarbonisation objectives. By combining the existing structure with modern timber technology, the development aims to demonstrate how new commercial space can be delivered with a substantially lower environmental impact. Chris Riley, development manager at Bywater, said the appointment of GMI marks an important step as the scheme moves into its next phase. He added that close collaboration with Manchester City Council, the contractor and the wider consultant team will ensure the project sets a new benchmark for sustainability, design quality and environmental performance in the city. Construction is expected to progress through 2026 and 2027, with the completed building offering flexible, future-focused workspace designed to meet evolving occupier expectations around energy efficiency, wellbeing and environmental responsibility. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Bovis has secured a major contract to refurbish, extend and fit out 10 Paternoster Square in the City of London, in a £200m transformation of the London Stock Exchange’s headquarters. Developers Oxford Properties and Hines have appointed Bovis Construction (Europe) under a pre-construction services agreement to deliver the comprehensive reconfiguration of the landmark building. The scheme marks a notable return for Bovis, which originally completed the property in 2003 as part of the wider Paternoster Square development. The project will reshape the building to provide best-in-class office accommodation alongside a new public-facing attraction in the heart of the Square Mile. Central to the redevelopment is the reimagining of the London Stock Exchange’s ceremonial core. For the first time, the daily market opening and closing ceremonies will be made visible to the public through the introduction of a new glass atrium, bringing traditionally private moments into view. The works will also include new roof extensions, the creation of an events pavilion and the addition of terraces and balconies offering panoramic views towards St Paul’s Cathedral. The aim is to deliver a more open, engaging and experience-led workspace that reflects the evolving demands of occupiers in prime central London. Sustainability sits at the core of the proposals. The scheme is targeting BREEAM Excellent and NABERS 5-star accreditation, with more than 95 per cent of the existing structural frame and façade to be retained in line with circular economy principles. This retention-led approach is expected to significantly reduce embodied carbon while extending the life of the building. Bovis chief executive David Cadiot said it was a privilege to return to a building the company had originally delivered more than two decades ago, adding that the transformation would create both high-quality workspace and a new visitor destination for the City. Pre-construction services are due to commence next month, with completion anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2028. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The Birmingham capital markets team at leading commercial real estate services firm, CBRE, has been appointed to sell the investment for 3 Chamberlain Square, a landmark office building that has been labelled “the best outside of London.” Managed by Federated Hermes, the 191,000 sq ft building is considered best-in-class with purposeful design features that exemplify a modern workplace. Located in Birmingham’s central business district, 3 Chamberlain Square is part of the £1.2 billion Paradise development, expanding the area’s business, residential and leisure offering. Completed in May 2025, the building’s innovative design has achieved a host of certifications. This list includes EPC A, BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and NABERS UK 5*, acknowledging its exemplary sustainability credentials, as well as ActiveScore ‘Platinum’ and WiredScore ‘Platinum’, recognising how its design supports active travel and its advanced use of technology respectively.   All nine office floors were placed under offer ahead of practical completion, with the final letting achieving a rent of £52 per square foot, the highest of the UK’s big six cities. Tenants include global law firm, Eversheds, international accounting and advisory firm, Forvis Mazars and ‘big four’ accounting firm, EY. The building has also become home to CBRE’s Birmingham office. The asset boasts a Weighted Average Unexpired Lease Term (WAULT) of over 10 years to breaks and 14 years to expiries. Nick Woodward, Head of CBRE’s Birmingham Investment team, said: “3 Chamberlain Square is a unique investment opportunity. The building itself achieves excellence in every category, from sustainability credentials to design, making it arguably the best office building outside of London. This is further demonstrated through the extremely high calibre of occupiers that the building has attracted, offering a stable and already reversionary rental income. “Birmingham as a city is brimming with opportunity, which is only going to get more attractive as HS2 continues to progress and the level of inward investment increases. 3 Chamberlain Square entering the market is the perfect opportunity for those looking to benefit early from Birmingham’s inevitable growth.” CBRE is quoting a price of £123.2m, which reflects a Net Initial Yield of 6.5% for the asset. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Developers behind the proposed 1 Silk Street office scheme have reduced the height of the project in a renewed effort to secure planning approval from the City of London Corporation and address concerns raised by Barbican residents. Lipton Rogers and LaSalle Investment Management have submitted revised plans for the Skidmore, Owings & Merrill-designed building, trimming more than 10 metres from the western side of the block. Three storeys have been removed from the section facing Cromwell Tower, following criticism over daylight loss, massing and the impact on the neighbouring Barbican Estate. Under the updated proposals, the western portion of the building will now rise only three storeys above the existing Linklaters headquarters it is set to replace, rather than six as previously planned. The eastern side of the scheme will retain its original height, maintaining alignment with the taller commercial buildings nearby. The design team says the revisions significantly reduce visual and daylight impacts. External terraces have been removed to prevent overlooking, while measures including obscured glazing, façade fins and automated blinds have been incorporated to address privacy concerns. Despite the reduction in scale, the scheme will still provide 91,142 sq m of Grade A office accommodation, approximately five per cent less than initially proposed. The development is aimed at large trading-floor occupiers, with market forecasts suggesting a potential shortfall of prime office space in the City by 2028. Public realm and cultural elements have also been strengthened. Plans include a new plaza on Silk Street to create a clearer gateway to the Barbican Centre, alongside a redesigned 2,282 sq m public realm and a pedestrian arcade linking Moorgate and Liverpool Street directly to the Barbican. In addition, nearly 1,300 sq m of retail and restaurant space is proposed, together with a new performance venue, Silk Street Hall, and a community-focused Creative Community Lab, reinforcing the scheme’s ambition to blend commercial development with cultural and civic benefit. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Bank lets additional 15,500 sq ft in office building The Co-operative Bank has completed a major expansion at its official base at One Balloon Street in Manchester, taking an additional 15,500 sq ft of space on the fourth floor of the building.    This latest letting increases the bank’s total occupancy to 45,000 sq ft within the building.  Real estate advisors CBRE advised landlord Wittington Investments on the transaction. The deal further strengthens the occupier line-up at the centrally located office building, which is now almost fully let, with only the 3rd floor now available. The remainder of the property is occupied by Orega, which operates 26,000 sq ft of serviced office and co-working space within the building. Following the latest letting, Wittington Investments is pressing ahead with the refurbishment of the vacant third floor. The works will deliver 15,000 sq ft of fully fitted and furnished workspace, ready for immediate occupation, with completion earmarked for March 2026. One Balloon Street provides contemporary office accommodation, complemented by a range of shared amenities including a second-floor business lounge, access to communal meeting rooms and breakout areas, and communal external space for occupiers. The building has been designed to support flexible working, collaboration and rapid occupation, reducing both cost and time for incoming tenants. The property occupies a highly accessible city centre location, just a one-minute walk from Manchester Victoria station and close to the Northern Quarter, NOMA and the city’s core retail and leisure destinations. Matt Shufflebottom, Director, CBRE’s Office team in Manchester commented: “This deal underlines the continued demand for high-quality, fully fitted workspace in Manchester city centre. One Balloon Street offers a compelling mix of cost-effective workspace, shared amenities and transport connectivity. The Co-operative Bank’s expansion is a strong endorsement of the building and its long-term appeal. We’re looking forward to bringing the fitted and furnished 3rd floor to market, which at 15,000 sq ft, will be a unique offering to the market” OBI are joint leasing agents and Cushman & Wakefield acted for The Co-operative Bank in the deal. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Bruntwood SciTech has submitted planning proposals for a £17 million transformation and expansion of Manchester One, the landmark office tower at the heart of Manchester’s innovation quarter. The project, being delivered by Bruntwood SciTech – a joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General and Greater Manchester Pension Fund – will combine a comprehensive refurbishment of the existing 21-storey building with the addition of a new four-storey extension. Once complete, Manchester One will offer around 160,000 sq ft of workspace, alongside a range of new amenities aimed at supporting the health, wellbeing and productivity of its business community. Manchester One is currently home to around 30 businesses across 131,000 sq ft. The proposals will see the building reimagined as a modern, sustainable workplace while retaining and celebrating its distinctive 1960s architectural character. The four-storey extension will create a prominent new frontage on Portland Street and Sackville Street, including a double-height reception designed to encourage collaboration and interaction. The ground floor will feature a new food and beverage offering with independent street access and an outdoor terrace, while social lounges and open staircases will connect the new space vertically, blending work and hospitality environments. A landscaped rooftop terrace at fourth-floor level will be available to all customers, providing space for breakout and relaxation. More than half of the roof area will be accessible, including a dedicated wellness zone linked to a new internal wellness suite. The existing tower will undergo extensive modernisation, with new windows installed across all 21 floors and a refreshed facade. Office floors and building cores, including lifts, staircases and washrooms, will be refurbished on a rolling basis. New facilities will also support active travel, including secure cycle storage for 60 bikes, six showers and changing rooms, a heated drying room and locker provision. Sustainability forms a central part of the proposals, supporting Bruntwood SciTech’s net-zero ambitions. Plans include replacing gas-fired boilers with efficient heat pump systems, installing a new electrical substation to enable increased use of renewable energy, and introducing smart building technologies throughout. Biodiversity and green infrastructure will be enhanced through soft landscaping, rooftop planting and improvements to the surrounding public realm, better integrating the building with nearby streets and green spaces. The interior design will take cues from Manchester’s urban character, combining the building’s mid-20th-century origins with contemporary elements. The approach will feature exposed finishes, handmade details, locally sourced art and photography, and a mix of vintage and modern furniture. Located within a five-minute walk of Oxford Road station and within easy reach of Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester One occupies a highly connected position within the city. The transformation will be delivered in partnership with Bridge Architects and Cubicworks, with works scheduled for completion in early 2028. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Skanska has officially started work on a £273m transformation of One Appold Street, marking a major step in the evolution of the Broadgate estate in the heart of the City of London. The project will see the refurbishment and extension of the existing 1980s office building, with Skanska retaining the original concrete and steel structure while adding six new storeys and expanding the floorplate. Once complete, the redeveloped scheme will rise to 14 storeys, delivering around 360,000 sq ft of high-quality office accommodation alongside 48,000 sq ft of leisure and hospitality space. A new façade will be introduced, designed to sit comfortably alongside neighbouring Broadgate buildings while giving the structure a modern and refined appearance. Skanska’s in-house mechanical, electrical and public health specialists will also deliver the full MEP package, supporting tighter integration between design and construction. The contract has been awarded by Broadgate, the joint venture between British Land and GIC, further strengthening Skanska’s long-standing relationship with one of the City’s most prominent commercial landlords. Sustainability is central to the redevelopment, with circularity a key driver of the design strategy. By refurbishing rather than demolishing the building, the project will significantly reduce embodied carbon, avoiding the environmental cost associated with new steel fabrication. The scheme is targeting demanding sustainability standards, including NABERS ratings of 5 to 5.5 stars and BREEAM Outstanding. Construction is now under way, with completion scheduled for the first quarter of 2029. The finished building is expected to play a key role in Broadgate’s continued repositioning as a leading destination for modern, sustainable workplaces in the City. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Deals totalling 14,000 sq ft bring office scheme to full occupancy Leading real estate advisor CBRE has secured a number of high-profile lettings at Trinity building in Manchester for client Swiss Life Asset Managers, with the latest signings taking the office scheme to full occupancy for the first time since its comprehensive redevelopment. British Engineering Group has regeared its lease and expanded by a further 3,500 sq ft, increasing its total occupation within the building to 11,000 sq ft.  The company now occupies space across the mezzanine and 1st floor level within the centrally located John Dalton Street building. The recent activity also includes a new letting in December to leading law firm Lewis Silkin, which has taken 7,900 sq ft of fully fitted and furnished workspace, advised by JLL.  The plug-and-play second floor workspace provides a ready-to-occupy environment, complete with meeting rooms, client lounge, kitchen breakout space and extensive desk provision.  Sally Hulston, Partner and Head of Manchester Office, Lewis Silkin said: “It’s just over three years since Lewis Silkin opened in Manchester, and I’m proud to say that we’ve outgrown our office space for the third time. We’ve taken a 10-year lease on our space at Trinity, demonstrating our long-term commitment to the city. The facilities and location are excellent, and we’ve got plenty of room to grow into, which is exactly what we need as we continue to add to the team.” In addition, leading chartered accountants and business advisers Saffery has expanded its presence within the building, taking an additional 2,600 sq ft of space on the sixth floor as part of its continued growth in Manchester, taking total space occupied to 6,800 sq ft. These latest deals underline Trinity’s continued appeal to professional services occupiers seeking high-quality, centrally located workspace in Manchester.  Trinity provides fully fitted and furnished Grade A workspace, centred around a prominent double-height reception with concierge service and the on-site 92 Degrees café.  The all-electric building benefits from VRF air conditioning, LED lighting, showers, basement parking and cycle hub. Matt Shufflebottom, Director, CBRE’s Office agency team in Manchester commented: “These lettings represent a major milestone for Trinity. We were delighted to be appointed as sole agents by Swiss Life Asset Managers, and to reach full occupancy for the first time since the building was redeveloped is a fantastic result for all involved, and testament to the investment made by the Landlord.  The commitment made by all 3 occupiers reflects the continued demand for well-located, high quality workspace, particularly fitted and furnished.”  CBRE acted as sole advisor to Swiss Life Asset Managers on the lettings at Trinity Building, while JLL advised Lewis Silkin and Savills advised Saffery. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals