The Deansgate site in Manchester, which comprises The Renaissance and Premier House (a vacant brutalist structure) – has been targeted for redevelopment for years, with Manchester City Council looking for a new proposal since initial plans were declined in 2017.

A JV between Property Alliance Group and Starwood Capital Group will invest £210 million to restore and upcycle the site. This plan avoids demolition, transforming the precinct into a community landmark with market leading residential, commercial, and hotel space.

Project scope – The Renaissance

The Renaissance site, formerly a 1970s hotel, will be refurbished into a 200 room Treehouse Hotel operated by SH Hotels & Resorts. Following the success of the flagship London hotel, this will be the second Treehouse Hotel in the UK, bringing a fresh and vibrant appeal to the Deansgate area.

Project scope – Premier House site

Premier House will be transformed as a 27 storey mixed-use residential, commercial, and retail tower with refreshed facades and an improved entrance to ensure active and attractive street frontage.  

• Residential – One Cathedral Square, designed by Jon Matthews Architects, will feature 300 apartments with stepped-in height to create rooftop terraces. The ground floor will include retail units, a cinema room, a gym, and a lounge.
• Commercial – the office element will include 40,000 square feet of A Grade commercial facilities.

Services provided

BG&E provided structural engineering, facades consultancy, and materials advice for the adaptive reuse of The Renaissance and Premier House.

The structural transformation will be supported using high-quality materials for new cladding of the existing frame, ensuring optimal performance and durability.

Sustainability outcomes

Our technical solutions were designed to significantly reduce the development’s embodied carbon emissions, supporting the achievement of BREEAM Certification and Manchester City Council’s ambitious ‘zero carbon’ target for 2038.

The projected environmental benefits are substantial, with a forecasted 40% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to constructing a new hotel of the same size.