3 Hardman Square, Spinningfields, Manchester - Foster + Partners designed building

ID:SR TRANSFORM LAW FIRM’S FLAGSHIP NEW HEADQUARTERS

2008

ID:SR, Sheppard Robson’s interior design department, has completed the office design and fit-out for law firm Halliwells in Manchester’s Spinningfields district; the city’s latest expression of architectural and cultural excellence.



Halliwells, the fastest growing law firm in the UK, moved from several offices to a flagship headquarters at 3 Hardman square. ID:SR advised Halliwells on choosing the most suitable building and ensured the project reflected the right brand vision, image, office culture and future working practices of the law firm.



ID:SR established a design brief to create an open, efficient, sleek and unrestricted workspace; communication barriers caused by cellular office units were removed by situating lawyers behind transparent full height glazing linked directly to legal support staff. Where partitioning was unavoidable, meeting rooms were housed behind glowing opaque glazed boxes to enliven the interior space.



The most outstanding element of the building’s design is the top floor, offering panoramic views across Manchester’s evolving cityscape. Clients are taken directly to this level from reception and the floor includes seminar space, a restaurant, boardroom and entertainment space for 200 people.



Helen Beresford, design director at ID:SR comments: “ID:SR was brought into this project from its inception; we analysed developer proposals for a new premises and influenced the design of the floorplates. Halliwells is young in its outlook and they considered every option we put forward to them with an open mind. The key aspect was the buildings efficiency, which was 24% higher than the other buildings considered. However it was essential the new offices also reflected the company’s dynamic ethos, so design innovation was key to this project.”



Spinningfields was a brownfield site due for redevelopment when Halliwells agreed to occupy 3 Hardman Square in 2004. This decision paid dividends for the law firm - Allied London Properties has since transformed the area to become the latest hub of commercial and social activity in Manchester. The largest law firm in the North now has an office specification to rival any of London’s legal elite.

Ian Austin, managing partner of Halliwells reflected on his company’s move: “Our starting point was that we’d done really well as a business and reached a size where we needed to invest in a flagship office. The key to the success of this project was in the creative understanding we established with ID:SR. The office design fits strongly with our working culture and company philosophy.”

Halliwells Offices Spinningfields - photos / text from Sheppard Robson 040708



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ID:SR, led by Helen Berresford, is the interior design group within Sheppard Robson providing the full complement of services from due diligence and building acquisition through brief taking fit out and post occupancy studies. Sheppard Robson is an international practice providing architectural, urban design, town planning, masterplanning and interior design services. With more than 65 years experience, it is one of the largest practices in the UK with over 300 people in established offices in both London and Manchester and Glasgow. The practice enjoys a reputation for excellence in design and professional service, with extensive expertise in every development area: Sheppard Robson

Halliwells, is one of the UK’s leading multi-disciplinary law firms with over 1000 people and offices in Manchester, Liverpool, London and Sheffield. For more see www.halliwells.co.uk

Spinningfields, is in the process of re-development by Allied London Properties, in partnership with Manchester City Council, with the aim to leverage and endorse Manchester’s status as an international commercial and economic capital, and make the area the city’s new commercial and social hub

Spinningfields Office : HKR Architects



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Spinningfields Manchester Office Building - page : adrian welch / isabelle lomholt