Black Cat
case study
The vision
Following the decision to move to One St James’ Square, Black Cat set out to create a ‘wow’ space for their Manchester office that would set them apart from their competitors. Their brief to our team was to deliver a multi-functional space that had an edgy, industrial feel to it and really brought their brand to life. They were also keen to incorporate locality into the design, grounding the space in Manchester and creating a connection between the space and their team.
The design
In line with Black Cat’s mentality of corporate rebellion, the design breaks the rules of convention, blending an industrial aesthetic with luxe finishes. Inspired by Manchester’s industrial heritage, the space adopts a natural colour palette that provides a calm, understated base, allowing brighter brand elements and accent colours to emerge as focal points throughout the interior, as well as a feature light that runs throughout the entire office and acts as a statement piece.
Visitors are greeted on arrival by a brand-led welcome area, where a striking feature wall brings Manchester’s iconography to life in a unique, Black Cat-inspired way. Designed as a flexible hub, the welcome area accommodates guest arrivals, informal meetings and presentations, while also providing a relaxed space for employees to take a break from their desks.
At the heart of the office sits an open‑plan workspace featuring 21 workstations, each equipped with height‑adjustable desks, alongside three private meeting rooms playfully named after infamous cats: Garfield, Sylvester and Cheshire. The breakout and kitchen areas are partially divided from the desk spaces by black mesh screens featuring interwoven Black Cat-branded acoustic elements. A coffee corner also provides an alternative quiet space for the team to step away from their workstations. A furniture audit was carried out to ensure that existing pieces could be reused where possible.
A defining factor in Black Cat’s decision to move into the new office was the opportunity to make the most of the outdoor terrace space. Our design reimagines the terrace as a destination space, where a bespoke bar and island unit, feature lighting and lush greenery come together to create the perfect backdrop for enjoying the sun and the Manchester skyline.
The end result
Completed over a smooth three‑week programme, the finished space is a distinctive workplace that brings the Black Cat brand to life in a bold, Mancunian way. The design captures the essence of the business, aligning seamlessly with their mission and values and giving them the perfect platform to continue their growth in the region.
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