Buttress Architects | Hilton House

Designed by Richard Seifert for Manchester Polytechnic’s lighting and drama department, Hilton House had been left to fade and deteriorate as the city’s thriving Northern Quarter had developed around it. A tired façade, outdated and poorly maintained interiors demanded a redevelopment of the largely derelict building, allowing it to feel at home in the 21st century.

Key to achieving this, was a complete overhaul of the interior to increase the amount if useable space, allowing the building to cater for today’s commercial marketplace.

An extension has been added to the rear of the fourth and fifth floor elevation to match the extent of the third floor. Dividing walls have been removed to create flexible, open plan floorplates.
The approach to the interiors retains subtle references to the building’s origin in time while allowing scope for the occupiers to make it their own. Parquet floors discovered under old carpet have been restored and terracotta ceilings hidden under plasterboard have been uncovered. In the reception, the building’s striking blue spiral staircase has been cleaned and repainted.

The building's facade has also been updated. A full height window system has been introduced, transforming the building’s exterior and bringing more natural light deep into the repurposed floorplates. The generous use of glazing also exposes the building’s spiral staircase from the exterior, making it recognisable from along Hilton Street.
To improve the building's street presence full height glazing across along the Hilton Street elevation has also been introduced. This creates a frontage that supports use of the space as a bar or restaurant, allowing the building to become part of the area’s vibrant leisure economy.