Bruntwood SciTech’s £87m No3 Circle Square on track for 2025 finish

The developer has provided a progress update on the Manchester office building as it passes a key milestone on the way to its scheduled opening in the spring of next year.

A joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General, and Greater Manchester Pension Fund, the development will provide 267,000 sq ft of workspace within the city’s Oxford Road corridor.

GMI Construction Group is leading on the £87m 15-floor building which has just topped out, a milestone marked with the burying of a time capsule within the site.

No3 Circle Square will offer flexible office space designed for a range of different businesses, from global names to emerging tech scale-ups.

Customers will also benefit from a large shared roof terrace with expansive views across the city.

Other features include a breakout space and lounge, a ‘grab and go’ food and drink offer, 24/7 access with superfast connectivity, dedicated onsite security, and bookable private meeting rooms.

Well-being and active travel have also been prioritised, with secure bike storage, high-quality showers, and changing facilities also included.

The building will open onto Symphony Gardens, a landscaped space complementing neighbouring Symphony Park, and aiming to promote biodiversity and access to shared green space at Circle Square.

Sustainability is a key element of the building under Bruntwood SciTech’s net zero carbon commitments, according to the developer.

It will be net zero carbon in construction and on completion is expected to achieve BREEAM Excellent status and an EPC A rating.

Features to maximise energy efficiency and improve fresh air and climate control include an all-electric heating and cooling system with air source heat pumps, smart metering, and roof-mounted solar panels,

John Marland, chief development officer, of Bruntwood SciTech, said: “It’s fantastic to see No3 Circle Square coming to life, with construction having moved at pace over the past 12 months.

“With No.1 and No.2 fully let, we know there is a real appetite from innovative businesses of all sizes to be based in a fast-growing, like-minded ecosystem which has beautiful, state-of-the-art workspaces, where they can gain access to opportunities to collaborate, build their networks, and succeed. No3 Circle Square will be the next addition to scale this ecosystem even more.

“We’ve had lots of interest already and are looking forward to sharing updates on this as we near completion.”

Lee Powell, chief executive, of GMI Construction Group, added: “This collaboration with Bruntwood SciTech showcases GMI’s commitment to excellence and our shared vision in delivering dynamic business ecosystems.”

The project team for No3 Circle Square includes Bridge Architects, Richard Boothroyd Associates, Curtins, CWC, and Planit-IE.

It is just one of several developments the developer currently has underway in Manchester.

Others include Citylabs 4.0, Pall Mall, King’s House, and Greenheys at Manchester Science Park as well as approval of plans recently gained for 117-119 Portland Street.