Located in the heart of Manchester’s core business district, Island is a new generation of workspace.
In partnership with Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF), HBD is creating 100,000sq ft of net zero carbon workspace, available from 2024. This cutting edge scheme is being speculatively developed at a time when ESG and amenities are high on occupiers’ agendas.
Island has been designed to encourage a new hybrid model of working; where seamless technology combines with a scheme design which will enable people to work fluidly…
Aligned values
Following a successful competitive tender, HBD was appointed by the site’s owner, GMPF, to deliver a new kind of office space to the Manchester market.
GMPF sought a joint venture partner who had similar values and who shared the same vision to bring a highly sustainable product to the market with health and wellbeing at its core.
Investing in a sustainable future
In a show of commitment to the vision, both GMPF and HBD have financially invested in Island, something that has been warmly received by prospective occupiers.
The whole building is being developed to raise the bar for sustainability and will be HBD’s first net zero carbon building.
♻️ Is EPC A rated, Nabers 5.5 stars, and BREEAM Excellent
♻️ Aligns with UK Green Buildings Council net zero carbon buildings framework.
♻️ Uses resilient technology infrastructure to support occupiers ESG objectives
♻️ Energy consumption will be 46% lower than the 2020 Real Estate Environmental Benchmark
Hospitality feel
Island will push boundaries for workspace in the city; it will create a home from home, a place with amenities which gives occupiers a hospitality experience. It will create an authentic, dynamic, creative environment where people can come in to meet, collaborate and be part of their company’s culture.
Features including breakout rooms, meeting spaces, a roof terrace, natural materials like brick, stone and timber – and biophilic natural materials to bring the outdoors inside, will all help embed the home from home feel. Occupiers will have control of air quality to create a more natural environment and allow each to be able to monitor and be in charge of their own energy consumption.
Island Life
Testament to HBD and GMPF’s desire to do things differently is its approach to marketing pre-build. Shunning the computer-generated image more commonly found on developments like these, HBD has instead collaborated with artist Klaus Kremmerz whose hand drawn illustrations are helping prospective occupiers visualise their future here. These images have shaped Island’s identity, separated it from the mainstream workspace offer in the city and helped to humanised Island.
People, place and planet – that’s what Island is all about.
