Harrison Fraser

Creating brands,
creating places

Printworks Manchester, DTZ Investors

Revitalising a living legend

  • Strategy
  • Engagement
  • Identity

Printworks has been the epicentre of Manchester nightlife for 20 years.

Located in the old Printworks and across the road from the Arndale, the city centre’s largest shopping centre, it’s been the place to meet friends and family for a generation. But that generation is changing. Attitudes to health and wellbeing are transforming the leisure industry with consumers increasingly invested in healthy eating, competitive socialising and a breadth of food and drink choices.

As asset managers for Printworks, DTZ Investors invited H:F to navigate the changing landscape, help conceive a Printworks for a new generation, and modify its identity to fit the new proposition.

Research showed that Printworks is held in great affection by the people of Manchester and 8 million of them visit every year. Our brand proposition, built around Printworks as a Living Legend, has informed adjustments in the tenant mix and the built environment, from inside to out.

The interior and exterior remodelling will see the listed façade both cleaned and relit with new digital signage. But the real showstopper is reserved for the interior with the introduction of Europe’s largest LED ceiling over the entire scheme. This state-of-the-art centrepiece will deliver ambient moods by day and extraordinary commissioned light shows by night – firmly ensuring that Printworks maintains its place as Manchester’s No.1 entertainment destination.

Our brand proposition, built around Printworks as a Living Legend, has informed adjustments in the tenant mix and the built environment, from inside to out.