Bruntwood SciTech Unveils Reimagined Hub for Manchester’s Innovation & Creative Sectors, Including £6m Transformation of 117-119 Portland Street

Bruntwood SciTech, the UK’s largest property platform dedicated to growing the nation’s innovation, tech and science sectors, has completed its £6 million transformation of the historic 117-119 Portland Street building, situated at the gateway to the city’s Oxford Road Corridor knowledge quarter.

The reimagined building joins three others – 113-115 Portland Street, 127 Portland Street and 61 Oxford Street – as part of the new Thread Works gateway cluster between the knowledge quarter and city centre. Inspired by both the buildings’ heritage and future, the name Thread Works draws on the buildings’ first ever user Schill Seebohm & Co – 19th century shipping merchants trading Manchester’s famous locally made textiles from these buildings in the 1880s, and the concept of a ‘thread’ in technology typically being the smallest set or sequence of instructions that a computer handles. Together, the inspirations shape a name and cluster which reflects the entrepreneurial spirit that weaves together the four buildings, the new business community that will be based there of creative, tech and innovation-led businesses, and its creative legacy.

The completed investment sees 117 Portland Street offer 35,000 sq ft of contemporary workspace across six floors, with purposeful design to support ambitious businesses of all sizes in the creative, tech, and innovation sectors to scale, with nine new flexible suites ranging from 1,200 to 6,200 sq ft now available.

As part of the refurbishment, Bruntwood SciTech – a joint venture between Bruntwood, L&G, and Greater Manchester Pension Fund – has delivered a future-ready, sustainable and fully fitted and furnished workspace that addresses the changing demands of today’s market whilst preserving the building’s historic character.

Reflecting the business’ continued commitment to sustainability, the building is now fully electric, operationally is net zero carbon in all of its shared spaces, is powered by 100% renewable energy, and has achieved an EPC ‘A’ rating – a significant milestone for a Grade II listed building, originally built in 1886.

As the heart of the cluster, the building will act as the focal events and social hub to support connection and collaboration across the four buildings, with a 40-seat auditorium, communal breakout lounges on both the ground and lower ground floors, an onsite gym, and boutique gym-quality showers and changing facilities, helping to foster community, work-life balance, and active travel.

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