Multinational Legal Workplace
No.1 St Michael’s, Manchester
Location
Manchester
Status
Completed 2025
Sector
Commercial
Client
Multinational Law Firm
The new Manchester office for a multinational law firm represents a confident step forward in legal workplace design. Located within the landmark No.1 St Michael’s development, the 2,510 sqm fit-out spans the seventh and part of the eighth floor, delivering a refined and functionally elegant environment shaped around hybrid working, acoustic privacy and staff wellbeing.
Following 15 years at their previous Spinningfields location, the brief called for more than just a relocation. The client sought a workplace that would support a shift in working culture, combining advanced technology, improved acoustic performance, and spatial flexibility, while embedding inclusivity and sustainability throughout.
“We are absolutely delighted with our new Manchester office and the flexibility and functionality it offers everyone.
From our initial discussions with SpaceInvader, it was clear that they understood our vision and concept for the space and their modern design and clear focus on quality of finish really reflected this.
The space has a relaxed corporate feel, it is calming yet at the same time vibrant, and it has felt like home since day one.”
SpaceInvader’s design process began with extensive engagement across teams to understand evolving working patterns. The resulting layout includes open-plan neighbourhoods with unassigned desking, integrated amenity points and a high ratio of enclosed rooms to support both collaborative work and quiet concentration.
Focus rooms are provided at a ratio of 1:9 desks, and small group rooms at 1:20, far exceeding standard best practice guidance. These were a direct response to post-Covid ways of working, where sensitivity to noise and demand for video-call privacy have significantly increased.
The scheme also prioritises inclusivity and wellness. Facilities include a contemplation room, multi-faith space and a returning parent room, alongside a 50% provision of sit-stand desks.
Materiality is deliberately calm, warm and timeless, moving away from overt branding to reference Manchester’s civic architecture through soft stone, timber veneers and tactile surfaces.
Lighting is zoned and circadian to support wellbeing and visual consistency throughout the day, even in spaces set away from natural light.
The reception area introduces the tone for the space, a bespoke desk in brushed bronze and ash veneer sits beneath a sculptural suspended ceiling formed of timber dowels in gentle tonal variation. The desk is permanently staffed and incorporates a barista-style coffee counter, bringing hospitality into the heart of the workplace.
Amenity and connection are central to the design, with two social hubs and a glazed outdoor terrace offering space for informal meetings, reflection and pause.
Adaptability and sustainability were embedded into every layer of the scheme. A retrofit-first approach informed the design strategy, while furniture was specified for long-term performance, ease of repair and low embodied carbon. The project recorded 122.2 kgCO₂e/m² in its post-completion carbon assessment, a strong figure for a commercial Cat B fit-out. The design team also worked closely with contractor Overbury to ensure the delivery of over £3.1 million in independently verified social value, including local employment, SME spend and skills partnerships.
With its calm confidence, people-focused planning and future-ready design, this workplace offers a meaningful reset for a global law firm and sets a new benchmark for the legal sector.
Project Team: Overbury I Gleeds I WSP I Zerum Consult Limited I SOCOTEC Building Control
Photography: Andrew Smith at SG Photography
Browse our portfolio of workplace projects and discover design ideas for hybrid, inclusive and human‑centred environments. View workplace projects here.