Skip to content

Arkwright House

With its prime location and historic charm, Arkwright had huge potential – but it needed a fresh purpose. The new owners turned to Claremont to help transform it into a boutique workplace that blends heritage with modern appeal, all with the goal of attracting high-quality tenants.
Sector Landlord
Size 36,400
Location Manchester

The big idea

Arkwright, located in Manchester’s vibrant business district and overlooking the picturesque Parsonage Gardens, has long been a striking example of neo-classical architecture. However, despite its prime location and historic charm, the building had become outdated and underutilised. Under new ownership, the vision was clear: to reposition Arkwright as a boutique workplace destination, offering first-class amenities and a modern office experience while respecting its architectural heritage.

The goal? Attract high-calibre tenants by enhancing the building’s identity, upgrading shared spaces, and creating an environment that blends history with contemporary workplace needs.

Nailing the brief

To breathe new life into Arkwright, the project focused on transforming key areas to elevate the tenant experience and re-establish the building as a premier workspace.

The 26-week refurbishment programme split into two phases at Arkwright introduced a series of high-impact upgrades designed to elevate the tenant experience.

These included a stylish new reception and business lounge, a comprehensive wellness suite featuring a state-of-the-art gym, a dedicated treatment room for massage and physiotherapy, a peaceful wellbeing room for reflection and meditation, and an energising on-site juice bar.

 

Communal areas and staircases were thoughtfully updated to reflect the building’s historic charm, while the second floor was fitted with flexible, fully furnished plug-and-play office suites. All enhancements were carried out in close collaboration with heritage partners to ensure the building’s architectural integrity was preserved.

Market research and competitive analysis played a key role in shaping these upgrades, ensuring Arkwright met the evolving expectations of modern tenants while standing out against Manchester’s premium office offerings.

The Final Result

With the 26-week transformation completed, Arkwright is now becoming one of Manchester’s most sought-after boutique workspaces. The combination of high-end amenities, a prime location, and a design that seamlessly blends heritage with modern functionality is already generating strong market interest.

Now complete, Arkwright has been transformed into a Grade A workplace designed for ambitious businesses seeking more than just an office. Overlooking Parsonage Gardens and surrounded by Manchester’s finest cafés, restaurants, and transport links, Arkwright is redefining the city’s office experience. Leasing agents are actively showcasing the refreshed space, positioning it as a premier destination for forward-thinking companies.

Destination Office

Explore our ‘Future Flexible’ concept

Download our essential guide to the Destination office, for a full understanding of how the Destination Office came to be, why we need one and who it’s for

Download guide
Brochure

Get in touch

We love nothing better than talking all things workplace and design – got a question, potential project or just need some guidance?

Drop us a note…

GDPR consent