ID Manchester – Renold building set to transform into cutting-edge innovation centre
ID Manchester, a collaboration between The University of Manchester and Bruntwood SciTech, has revealed plans to revive the Renold Building as a hub for innovative entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to generate new ideas and solutions to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges.
This announcement signals the first phase of ID Manchester’s ambitious project to transform the University’s former North Campus into a welcoming and accessible £1.7bn innovation district. The revitalised Renold Building will honour its past as an educational centre by welcoming the next generation of science and technology innovators and creating an inclusive, purpose-driven community.
The building will offer a range of coworking spaces, offices, and meeting facilities to facilitate collaboration between researchers, entrepreneurs, businesses, and partner organisations. Additionally, new event and exhibition spaces, including lecture theatres and a community café, will be available for local businesses, community groups, and arts and culture organisations to host events and activities.
An application to convert the building from educational to commercial use has been submitted to the Manchester City Council by joint venture partners The University of Manchester and Bruntwood SciTech. Pending approval, the building is expected to open in late 2024.
Built in 1962, the Renold Building was the first of its kind in the UK to be entirely composed of lecture theatres and seminar rooms. It is renowned for its distinctive features, such as the faceted facade, stair tower, and impressive internal mural on the lower ground floor. The redevelopment plans aim to preserve and protect these elements while ensuring the building’s exterior facades remain sympathetic to its original design. Design interventions in the interior will be minimal to maintain the current condition, allowing for future conservation and restoration efforts.
Bradley Topps, Chief Commercial Officer for Bruntwood SciTech and Project Director for ID Manchester, expressed excitement about the transformation of the Renold Building into an innovation hub. He highlighted the importance of preserving the building’s heritage and architecture while creating a space for Manchester’s next generation of innovators.
John Holden, Associate Vice-President at The University of Manchester and Executive Committee Member for ID Manchester, emphasised the Renold Building’s role as a place for like-minded organisations to collaborate, develop new ideas, and test innovations. He underscored the building’s potential to accelerate the growth of Manchester’s entrepreneurs, SMEs, and university spin-outs, while also providing opportunities for local communities to engage with and benefit from innovation.
The expertise and experience of ID Manchester’s partners, Bruntwood SciTech and The University of Manchester, will be crucial in creating a thriving innovation ecosystem. Bruntwood SciTech, a collaboration between Bruntwood, Legal & General, and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund, brings its expertise in developing partnerships across academia, local authorities, cities, and the NHS. The University of Manchester, celebrating its bicentenary this year, has a rich history of discoveries, world-firsts, and research that will inform the development of ID Manchester as a hub for learning, innovation, and collaboration.
