Platform Four, Manchester
BuyGiveWork co-working in Manchester
Situated above the MEN Arena in Manchester BuyGiveWork @ Platform Four was a design-led coworking space which repeated our successful BuyGiveWork initiative used in Bermondsey, London. This project aimed to bring tech start-ups, small businesses and corporate teams closer to local non-profits and experimental projects in a central Manchester location.
The approach brings a greater sense of purpose to the typical work environment. The benefits for the non-profits are obvious but 3Space believe that it is the businesses purchasing space who will benefit the most. Businesses will have the opportunity to support the local community and causes every day, but also gain insight and innovate from the diversity this unique relationship brings.
We don’t like to use the term CSR because so often it means something unconnected such as painting a fence, whereas we believe the coming-together of work environments provides a real opportunity for shared value exchanges between for-profits and non-profits. We believe there are plenty of resources available helping start-ups and SMEs with funding and business advice but not so much showing them how to embed themselves locally within the social fabric and benefit society more widely. Founders of modern start-ups and small businesses are also often conscious consumers themselves and we believe the informal approach of BuyGiveWork can help to integrate new approaches into the growth and development of their company from the beginning.
Platform Four was been fitted-out by local craftsman we met from our previous Manchester project in London Scottish House, and has been designed by architect Jennifer Chen, who was a long-time project leader at Thomas Heatherwick studio and whose work includes the Kings Cross redevelopment in London. She brought into this project a design that is rich in materiality and atmosphere. The views from the space and the private office pods are some of the best in the city, and with Manchester’s largest communal table at the centre of the floor, the space perfectly encapsulated our vision to promote an innovative and a sharing environment.
Client: Mansford LLP
Location: Arena Point, Manchester
Status: Closed.