Virgin Media O2’s Manchester HQ
SpaceInvader has been shortlisted for Design Practice of the Year at the Mix Awards North 2026, alongside three project nominations recognising the studio’s workplace and hotel interior design in Manchester and London.
Virgin Media O2’s Manchester headquarters is a finalist in Workplace Interiors, 30,000–70,000 sq ft, while Hilton London Bankside is shortlisted for Hotel Interiors. Completing the four nominations is 5 New York Street in Manchester, delivered with Ultimate, which is a finalist in Workplace Interiors, 15,000–30,000 sq ft.
The projects reflect three different briefs, each with its own approach to identity, experience and the people using the space.
At Virgin Media O2’s Manchester headquarters, the design process began with colleagues. Through co-creation, the team helped shape a workplace that reflects their organisation and its connection to Manchester. Spaces for collaboration, concentration and social connection respond to different needs throughout the working day, bringing the practical requirements of a headquarters together with the culture of its people.
For Hilton London Bankside, the surrounding neighbourhood provided a different starting point. Bankside’s cultural and creative character informed the hotel interiors, connecting the guest experience with the area’s identity. The project demonstrates the role interior design can play in giving a hotel a distinctive sense of place.
At 5 New York Street, SpaceInvader worked alongside Ultimate over an 18-week programme to transform 20,000 sq ft of workspace. Drawing on influences from 1900s New York and contemporary Manchester, the interiors bring the building’s name and location into a shared design story.
Across workplace and hospitality, these projects share an emphasis on understanding what makes each brief individual, then translating that understanding into spaces with a clear purpose and character.
The Design Practice of the Year shortlisting extends that recognition to the wider studio, celebrating the collective expertise behind our work. To see the practice and three projects recognised together makes this a special moment for the SpaceInvader team and an opportunity to thank the clients and collaborators who have worked with us.
Congratulations to our fellow finalists. We look forward to joining the industry in Manchester for the Mix Awards North ceremony on 2 December 2026.