Clad in rich red terracotta, 125 Deansgate is a strikingly crafted office building in the heart of Manchester city centre's Deansgate — one of the city's oldest thoroughfares.

The project, designed with a contemporary yet calm approach, echoes the industrial character of Deansgate and the centrepiece Grade I listed John Rylands Library that sits opposite the site. The considered and environmentally responsible design delivers a 128,000 sq ft of Grade A office building that will be a catalyst for the transformation of the surrounding area.

In deference to the industrialist families that built Manchester’s rich architectural legacy, the Worthington Family commissioned the project in 2015. The brief stipulated a modern office building flexible and efficient enough to cater for a range of businesses. Engagement with the family throughout the design process drove the project beyond a typical commission.

Ubiquitous throughout Deansgate, terracotta as a material was at a peak in the Victorian era. The project’s exquisite terracotta façade was the result of a comprehensive design process that included close collaboration with Manchester City Council and Historic England. The prefabricated unitised system pushed the technical parameters of the material and construction process.

125 Deansgate was immediately a commercial success, with Spaces, one of the UK’s largest co-work lettings agents, leasing the entire building before completion in 2020.