x+why, 100 Embankment, Manchester

John Robertson Architects created an x+why co-working space located at the border of Salford and Manchester. The team worked in collaboration with x+why, Salford City Council and Ask Real Estate.

The fit out is tailored to B-corp businesses, whose values centre on high standards of social performance, wellbeing and sustainability. JRA created a mixture of open and closed workspaces, collaboration areas and amenities, completed by a landscaped roof terrace. The designs champion the local area and reuse, providing an inspiring workspace imbued with a sense of purpose and place.

The project spans 3179m2 over three floors at 100 Embankment, a new build office development forming the final stage of a 22 acre regeneration site. JRA completed the ambitious project in just six months.

Salford and Manchester were brought into focus through the full-height mural in reception by Barney Ibbotson, depicting key moments and monuments from the surrounding area’s past, present and future. The layouts make the most of the full height windows, orienting work settings to take advantage of views of the surrounding Medieval Quarter, and creating a conversation between inside and out by responding to this context.

The site’s prior use as the Exchange Train Station, built in 1884, was a key design influence. For example, the tenant signage board emulates a train platform sign, and structural features, including arches and curves across the fit out echo the original station heritage.

Each floor also follows a bespoke colour palette echoing the locale. The ground floor is dominated by earthy tones accentuated by iron elements, which alludes to the site’s Victorian heritage and the dark metal framework of British rail infrastructure. Within the first floor, deep blues, greens, and turquoises have been used to respond to the nearby George Bradshaw buildings and the local River Irwell. On the second floor, neutral stone colours allude to Salford and Manchester’s medieval built environment, alongside other, more contemporary buildings such as the Chetham Library and Stoller Music Hall.

The x+why fit out is unique because it provides flexible workspaces to support communities of impact-driven companies who believe that business should be a force for good. The team wanted to create a thriving community in Salford for like-minded businesses of all sizes, which would offer inspiring workspace and first-class facilities.

Space planning was key to maximise the existing floorplate and create the variety of spaces needed for B-corps to thrive. As well as rentable office suites of varying sizes, there are a number of large breakout spaces throughout the floors where people from socially conscious businesses can come together to innovate, create, and socialise. For example, the ‘Mission Room’ provides a spacious meeting and events area that can comfortably accommodate up to 40 people. This is thoughtfully designed with a moveable curtain for added privacy, and reconfigurable walls to enable the space to be easily split into two separate areas. There are also private meeting rooms, each with their own unique design incorporating vintage furniture, as well as individual soundproofed pods across the floors.

Amenities include a prayer room, a parent and baby room, kitchenettes, a coffee bar with fair trade produce, and a multi-purpose outdoor terrace that has a pergola and furniture to enable year-round use. Extensive cycle spaces and end-of-trip facilities, plus Wiredscore Platinum levels of technology throughout complete the offering.

Reuse was key to creating a high quality, sustainable project. We commissioned bespoke pieces, such as joinery for the large planters on the office floor, made using reclaimed scaffold boards. Much of the furniture was also pre-loved, including vintage credenzas and sideboards in meeting rooms, pre-owned lounge chairs, sofas, and coffee tables in breakout areas, and 453 refurbished office task chairs. We researched materials and furniture extensively, and undertook visits to review not just the design components, quality, sustainability, and supply chain at manufacture, but to review the longevity and durability of materials in-situ.

The furnished roof terrace provides year-round work and social space, decorated by 4000 plant varieties and a living wall. Across the office floors, planters with more natural foliage act as room dividers, potted plants provide accents in the breakout areas and hanging plants adorn the kitchenettes. These measures increase the biodiversity of 100 Embankment’s inner-city location and contribute to the wellbeing measures and air quality for occupants.

JRA minimised alterations to services, retaining lighting and partitions, using recycled and bio-based carpets, FSC and upcycled timber. From the beginning, the project followed a strict waste management plan, ensuring a 0% waste to landfill fit out. Using bespoke equipment to enable accurate reporting for the building helped in the challenge to identify and monitor all levels of recycling including contamination during fit out and in operation. High quality mechanical and electrical systems were also used, chosen for efficiency and long warranties. The project achieved SKA Gold and BREEAM Excellent.