Selfridges: Manchester Central

Status: 2002
Location: Manchester

Client: Selfridges & Co
Value: £15.0m

 

The new Selfridges store has been designed within half of an existing 31,000 sq m Marks and Spencer building to create a self-contained new outlet with a customer restaurant, staff facilities, back of house and goods handling areas. Stanton Williams were asked to lead the design team and co-ordinate the project with Marks and Spencer and Selfridges. We also designed the interior for the women’s department on the second floor and managed the work of leading international interior designers on the other four floors.

The central spine of the building was transformed into a dynamic double height internal street shared between Marks and Spencer and Selfridges. A new north entrance, facade and suite of staff accommodation was also designed. The floor slabs were altered and a secondary internal facade introduced to create an additional atrium at the entrance to generate impact when customers arrive.

A cantilevered restaurant, penetrating the north facade, was created to open up the space to daylight and give views over Exchange Square. Customer movement and flow was encouraged, giving clear circulation routes and avoiding disorientation and ‘retail fatigue’. Our exhibition and retail design expertise was used to design the second floor. The texture and colour of the merchandise provided the focal point, against a simple but dramatic palette of materials.

The project created a brand-enhancing retail destination for a store renowned for cutting-edge chic and contemporary design. We successfully co-ordinated teams and managed complex retail requirements to achieve Retail Magazine’s Department Store Interior of the Year Award.

 

Awards
2003 Department Store Interior of the Year Award

 

Credits
Project Manager: Faithful & Gould
Structural Engineers: Arup
Services Engineers: Arup
Photography: Martine Hamilton-Knight