Island is our brand-new Net Zero Carbon building, developed in partnership with Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF) and offering ten floors of brilliantly designed workspace. This week, we were thrilled to welcome Sylvia, our new Building Manager, who will be the first point of contact for everyone visiting the building.
With an impressive background at CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, and other leading property firms, Sylvia brings a wealth of experience that will help make Island a truly people-focused, feel-good workplace. Here, she shares a few thoughts as she steps into her new role…
Each morning, walking down John Dalton Street and seeing Island’s striking brick façade, I have a moment where I think – wow, I get to work here. The building is almost ready; the exterior’s complete, and we’re just adding the final touches inside before our first occupiers move in.
My job is to help people feel like this isn’t just a place to work; it’s somewhere they belong. We all know that encouraging people back into the office has been a challenge over the past few years, but Island is different. From day one, HBD and GMPF set out a clear vision: to put people first, with human-centric design that sets a new benchmark for contemporary workspaces.
I’ll be here every day, making sure the people in the building, our ‘happy humans’, are well looked after. It’s a refreshing change from my previous roles, where I spent most of my time behind a screen, removed from the day-to-day operations. My background in catering and hospitality means I naturally gravitate towards people; I love connecting with them, helping them, and creating great experiences.
What sets Island apart is the quality and thoughtfulness of the spaces. This is no soulless office block. We have a stunning roof terrace, a welcoming bar, and inviting ground-floor areas designed to encourage interaction and collaboration. The smart tech built into the building is also a huge asset and I’m excited to help occupiers make the most of these tools and champion their benefits. The goal has always been to give Island a hospitality-led feel, and that’s exactly the approach I’ll be taking, not just managing the building, but acting as a host, bringing a sense of warmth and energy, and helping all these spaces come to life.
There’s also a practical side to the role, managing day-to-day operations and ensuring health and safety standards are met so that our happy humans are safe humans too! I’ll also be working closely with Caz Dyer, a friend of HBD who helped evolve the Island vision and will be laying the plans to bring the space to life by connecting with local businesses and showcasing their products in the building through pop-up shops to art exhibitions and fitness events. We want Island to be as much about community as it is about work.
Our first occupiers from Virgin Media O2 arrive later this year, so the coming weeks are all about planning, relationship-building, and laying strong foundations. I’ve already been out meeting our neighbours and spreading the word about what Island has to offer, and how we can collaborate.
Ultimately, my role is about helping build a warm, vibrant community that makes Island an inspiring place to be. I’ve only been here a few weeks, but I already love it. Our reception area, with its lush foliage, might be my favourite spot, though I can’t wait to see the roof terrace buzzing with life this summer! I hope there’ll be lots of happy humans around me here to enjoy it all.