A key asset within Bruntwood SciTech’s £1.7bn Sister masterplan has officially received Grade II-listed status, marking a significant heritage milestone in the redevelopment of Manchester’s former UMIST campus.
The 110,000 sq ft Renold Building, located just off Altrincham Street, has been granted protected status by Historic England following a 20-year campaign led by the 20th Century Society. The organisation welcomed the listing as long-overdue recognition of the building’s architectural and educational significance.
Originally built in the early 1960s for the Manchester College of Technology, the Renold Building was designed by W. A. Gibbon in collaboration with Gordon Hodkinson of Cruickshank and Seward. It was praised for being the first purpose-built lecture block in an English higher education institution and for showcasing early examples of slab-and-podium architecture.
Historic England highlighted its “strikingly Modernist and sculptural design,” which continues to be a defining visual marker in the area’s architectural landscape.
Now reimagined as a modern workspace by Bruntwood SciTech, the Renold Building plays a pivotal role in the wider Sister redevelopment project, which aims to transform the former university campus into a thriving hub for science, technology, and innovation aligned with Manchester’s growing knowledge economy.
A spokesperson for Sister commented:
“We respect the decision to list the Renold Building and, as responsible custodians of this important site, will ensure full compliance with its heritage status. From the start of the Sister masterplan, we’ve worked collaboratively with heritage groups to retain culturally and architecturally significant features, ensuring they are integrated respectfully into the future of the neighbourhood.”
The listing comes amid ongoing dialogue between developers and conservation groups. While the preservation of the Renold Building has been welcomed, some aspects of the wider redevelopment, such as the proposed demolitions of the Barnes Wallis and Wright Robinson buildings, as well as the partial encapsulation of the Grade II-listed Hollaway Wall, have drawn criticism from heritage bodies, including the 20th Century Society.
Despite these concerns, the Sister masterplan remains a transformative opportunity for the city. When complete, it will deliver over 585,000 sq ft of new office space, aiming to attract leading businesses and drive economic growth in central Manchester.