Positive reception for Cotton Exchange plans

Bruntwood has unveiled plans to transform the reception area at its Cotton Exchange building in Liverpool.

The new-look space on Bixteth Street will feature a refreshments area, meeting rooms, a series of collaboration and breakout spaces and a relocated welcome point.

The historic building, once the nerve centre of the global cotton trading industry, has undergone an extensive refurbishment over the past five years and is now home to a wide range of digital and creative businesses.

Bruntwood says the newly adapted reception space will reflect the working methods of those businesses and complement the contemporary interior of the building, which includes a roof garden and The Old Hall events space.

The plans, designed by architects MGMA Studio, have already been shared with customers in the building and Bruntwood is currently collecting their feedback before beginning work at the end of this year.

Colin Forshaw, regional director at Bruntwood in Liverpool, said: “We have invested significantly to revitalise the Cotton Exchange and create a building of choice for young, innovative businesses that want to collaborate and share ideas.

“This latest work will deliver a reception space befitting the modern Cotton Exchange and the businesses that now call it home. We want it to become an extension of our customers’ offices and somewhere they use on a day-to-day basis, just like our other shared spaces. The response has been very positive and work should get underway within months.”

Matthew Ashton, director at MGMA Studio, said: “The Cotton Exchange is a superb example of Edwardian commercial architecture, characterised by contrasts such as dressed Portland stone elevations offset by cast iron and glass curtain walls.

“The refurbishment of the reception is designed to help develop a unique identity for the building and accord with Bruntwood's ethos of creating spaces to support communities in their buildings. Rich colour contrasts with lightweight fittings to provide visual structure, while flexible furniture and facilities are provided to assist the diverse businesses which occupy this iconic building.”