Property developer Argent and Manchester City Council have now officially launched one of the most eco-friendly office buildings in the country.

Located in the Northern Quarter district of Manchester, The Hive (pictured) is a 6 storey office complex offering flexible floor space over a total area of 80,000 sq ft. Described by the developers as being “cutting edge”, it is suggested that the building is one of most energy-efficient, new office developments in the UK.

The developers have incorporated ‘low flow’ fixtures and fittings, self-closing taps and leak detection facilities along with energy-efficient lighting and heating systems. All floors in the building have been designed to be passively ventilated with openable windows for cross ventilation, assisted by louvres on motorised dampers to provide secure night time cooling. The Hive is also designed to help the local ecology with a collection of sedum roof gardens. Floor plates on the fourth floor lead out to large, but private balconies overlooking these gardens. State-of-the-art recycling and environmental waste management facilities have also been incorporated into the development. The building has been graded as BREEAM “Excellent” and has an EPC rating of B.

Oliver Butler, project manager at Argent, said: “We are very pleased to have launched The Hive with such a fantastic opening event. The building is now 40% let, with The Studio and the Arts Council England having already moved in.” Events management company The Studio has agreed to lease 10,000 sq ft and Arts Council England has leased 20,000 sq ft and moved into The Hive in March of this year.

Designed by architects HKR, The Hive is located in Lever Street, Stevenson Square. The multi-million pound, speculative development offers Grade A floor space within a striking building that co-exists with several listed buildings that offer mixed-use space. Traditionally the area was the main textile district and whilst Stevenson Square remains the main centre for the fashion industry office space is typically now leased by companies in the creative, design and media industries. The Manchester City Council Strategic Plan (2008-2012) identified the district as having a crucial role as a destination for new activities, especially in meeting the needs of the media-related sector.

Offices in The Hive are available on a variety of tenures and in a variety of sizes, from 15,000 sq ft floor plates to 750 sq ft suites. A typical open plan layout can accommodate one person per 7 sq metres, whilst more spacious floor plans could accommodate one person per 10 sq metres. The floors and ceilings in the non-communal areas have been left as bare concrete in order for tenants to choose their own finish.

Rental prices are for negotiation and have not been made public.

Colliers CRE and Daniel Harris & Co are the letting agents for The Hive.