Wittington Investments, the Weston family vehicle that owns Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason, has submitted a planning application to refurbish the Express Building in Manchester.
The family office acquired the 81,000 sq ft Grade II* listed building from A&A Investments in March for £10.5m.
Originally designed by Sir Owen Williams and built specifically for the Express newspaper in 1939, the planned refurbishment is being led by OBI Property and designed by Ben Adams Architects.
The internal floors will be stripped out and the original architecture maintained throughout the building. The reception will be redesigned and a “cut-out” will be introduced at ground floor with a new spiral staircase linking the ground and first floors. The existing atrium will be remodelled to include “floating meeting pods” and a new mezzanine floor will be installed on the sixth floor.
James Bostock, building consultant at OBI Property, said: “Express Building is a Manchester landmark and it is incredibly exciting to be involved in breathing a new lease of life into the well-know and much loved building. Our intention is to raise the bar in Manchester; combining efficient, super-connected workspace with unrivalled occupier amenities in one of the most dynamic areas of the city centre.”
Richard Lace, transactions and asset management at OBI Property, added: “When completed, Express Building will provide forward-thinking, contemporary workspace that respects the character of this iconic property. It will be aimed at occupiers from a wide range of sectors, including those who are part of the thriving digital and tech scene.”
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