Following the success of Sustainable Workspaces at London’s County Hall, we were delighted to be appointed to help create s new home in Manchester for a dynamic community of material and climate tech innovators.

Set within the iconic Renold Building, a modernist landmark in the city, the project brings new life to an underused part of the structure as a dynamic workspace. The reimagined space hosts a range of collaboration zones, flexible work areas, event spaces, and a vibrant social hub with a café and bar.

Building on lessons learned in London, the design embraces a low-intervention, resource-conscious approach. The existing character of the building is celebrated, with minimal, strategic changes made to preserve material integrity and reduce waste. Where interventions are necessary, they are modular—designed for easy disassembly and reuse—and crafted from regenerative materials such as timber and hemp.

Many pioneering sustainable materials have been used for the first time in the space and it was great to work with leading innovators including:

• Carbon-negative bricks by earth4earth

• Rigid sheep wool insulation by Wul Technologies

• Low-carbon tiles by Dekiln

• Modular partition systems by U-Build — with upgraded acoustics and a textured hemp finish

• Reclaimed jute coffee sacks transformed into cushions by Rain City Redesign.

This is a space designed not just to house climate innovation—but to embody it.