Microsoft opts for Bruntwood’s ‘Neo’ way of working
By Bruntwood
Bruntwood, the North’s leading commercial property company, has agreed a deal to bring Microsoft to Neo, its newly-launched £8m flagship redevelopment in central Manchester.
The global company is taking workspace on the seventh floor of the 12-storey building, which offers a vibrant and distinctive collaborative environment for forward-thinking businesses.
The Microsoft base at Neo will provide workspace and agile meeting space for around 100 staff, expected to take residency from July 2017.
Phil Kemp, Chief Commercial Officer, of Bruntwood said: “We are thrilled to welcome Microsoft to Neo - an organisation perfectly suited to a place, purposely-designed to inspire creative thinking and collaborative working.
“Manchester was of course the birthplace of modern computing in the late 1940s and 1950s so to welcome a true world leader in 21st century technology to our city is not only a perfect fit, but it's a proud moment for us too.”
Microsoft joins a growing community of digital innovation and communication specialists such as Manchester Digital, the independent industry organisation which supports and champions the sector, as well as creative marketing agency Notch Communications which specialises in working with science and tech companies.
Neo was redesigned and relaunched in March 2017 after a complete transformation of the former ‘Bank House’ building on the corner of Portland Street and Charlotte Street in the city centre. Bank House historically served as the office function for the adjoining ‘Bank Chambers’, built in the 1970’s as the Bank of England’s Northern bullion store.
Neo houses a number of bold and innovative features, including Bluetooth-enabled mobile door access, a customer steering group, an on-site community and engagement manager curating a year-round programme of social and business support events and a £250,000 interactive digital art space, launched with an inaugural installation by internationally-renowned artist Brendan Dawes.
A large open-air roof terrace on the first floor includes all-weather meeting pods, while the building houses tech-enabled, high-quality workspace environments including co-working spaces, communal lounges and kitchens, presentation spaces, screening rooms and studios, in addition to larger open-plan office layouts.
In addition, Neo also focuses on the health and wellbeing of its customers, offering a wealth of benefits, including a free Fitbit, discounted gym membership at the on-site gym and secure bicycle parking, in addition to changing rooms and showers on every floor.