Island Manchester
| Project Client: | HBD |
| Steelwork Contractor: | B&K Hybrid Solutions |
| Structural Engineer: | Curtins |
| Main Contractor: | Bowmer and Kirkland |
| Architect: | Cartwright Pickard |
| Westok Beam Tonnage: | 250T Westok Cellular Beams |
Right in the heart of Manchester’s core business district, Island isn’t just another office building – it’s a bold step into the future of work. Spanning across 100,000 sq. ft of net zero carbon workspace, this next-generation development has set a new benchmark for sustainability and people-centred design in the city. The building features a sticking façade of orange brickwork pointed with dark mortar and black/brown patinated steel base.
Images courtesy of B&K
Westok Design Solution
The open plan floor plate has a central core of lifts shafts and stair cores, with 12m clear-span cellular beams framing from the cores to the perimeter. Above and below the core, a pair of internals columns facilitate the 12m clear-spans, with a shorter internal primary beam span in between.
Originally specified as plate beams, ASD Westok engineers worked with both Curtins Consulting and B&K Hybrid Solutions to optimise the design. As part of this process, the plated cellular beams were replaced with more cost and carbon efficient Westok ribbon-cut beams.
By changing the floor beam specification to cost-effective Westoks, the engineering team maximised efficiency, reduced environmental impact and helped cement Island’s position as a benchmark in sustainable development.
Westok beams have been recognised as the lightest weight, lowest embodied carbon cellular beams on the market and they offer significant reductions in both material use and carbon footprint compared with alternative systems
Images courtesy of B&K
A Building with Purpose
From the ground up, Island has been designed to make a positive impact – on its occupiers, the environment and the wider community. Every detail has been carefully considered, from its structural choices to its smart, efficient operations.
With an EPC A rating, a NABERS 5.5 star rating and BREEAM Excellent certification, Island aligns with the UK Green Buildings Council net zero carbon buildings framework. The scheme doesn’t just tick the sustainability boxes – it raises the bar, offering a workplace that is as resilient as it is inspiring.
Award Nominations
Considering the sustainability and aesthetic credentials of the structure, it comes as no surprise that Island has already been nominated for a number of prestigious awards:
- Insider’s North West Property Awards 2025
- Structural Steel Design Awards 2025
- Brick Awards 2025
Images courtesy of B&K
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