As part of Bruntwood SciTech, 111 Piccadilly is one of Manchester’s smartest workspaces offering coworking and office space. Originally built in 1965,the 18-storey office hub was serviced by two lifts that were now struggling to serve the growing 111 Piccadilly community.

Customer Operations Manager at Bruntwood SciTech, Gillian Hanley said: “Having a lift system that is well engineered and capable of coping with passenger traffic safely and efficiently is vital for any multi-storey office building.

The solution was to fully replace the two current lifts and, ambitiously, install a third scenic glass lift to offer impressive panoramic views across Manchester with each lift car having a capacity for 17 passengers each. However, it wasn’t simple - the ambitious project [the new panoramic lift] had previously been deemed impossible to execute due to the Rochdale Canal running directly underneath the proposed site for the new shaft. This required a unique engineering solution in the form of a suspended load bearing pit along with a bespoke means of access.

This is when  Bruntwood SciTech turned to LECS UK who got to work, putting together a specialist design team. Working closely with Bruntwood SciTech’s Associate Director, Sam Markowicz;  Ric Burgess head of construction; the team also included Chris Corrigan of DW Consulting, as structural engineer designing the lift shaft; Colin O’Gara of GMI Construction who led the shaft build; Bridge Architects; Classic Lifts, and Triple A- all offering invaluable input.

John Bentley, of LECS UK said: “Having been associated with the two original lifts in 111 Piccadilly for over 20 years we were aware of the technical challenges of this project – a project that had originally been mooted in the early 2000’s and was deemed to be insurmountable at the time. Leap to 2023 and the ambitious and highly skilled design team that we formed was able to overcome all the issues and finally progress the project. For the ambitious glass lift the construction of an additional lift shaft required a suspended pit alongside the Rochdale Canal basin and the design team readily met the challenge. The glass, steel and concrete shaft soon emerged from the basement of the building.”

Following the completion of the additional shaft build came the challenge of installing each new lift systematically while also maintaining a two-lift service in the building at all times. LECS UK ensured that the installation went smoothly, communicating with the team at Bruntwood SciTech throughout.

Bruntwood’s Gillian Hanley continued: “Communication was key. We were continually updated on the progress, and what each next step involved. This enabled us to relay to our customers when the lifts were going to be out of service or if there was going to be any disruptive noise prior to the work being carried out. This minimised negative impact for both us and our customers. The installation was completed in a timely and efficient manner. The glass lift is a fantastic asset to the building, offering a beautiful panoramic view of Manchester. The finishing touches of the lift cars were also unique.”

Staff and customers at Bruntwood SciTech are delighted with the new lift system. The two new pristine lifts in the original shafts along with the additional new panoramic glass lift all fit with the building’s aesthetic and match 111 Piccadilly’s state-of-the-art facilities - offering an efficient and safe way for the occupants to access the building.

Hanley added, “The installation programme was exceptional and the on-site team commendable. The result brings a smooth flow of traffic throughout and looks fantastic too.”

The end result: A vastly improved lift service – achieved with minimised disruption.