Thread Works, a community of buildings in Manchester, is the latest heritage project to be reimagined by Bruntwood, with 117-119 Portland Street standing as the crown jewel.
Originally built in 1886 as a Victorian warehouse, the Grade II listed building has undergone a £6m transformation to create 35,000 sq ft of premium workspace for the city’s creative, tech and innovation sectors. With exposed brickwork and original timber beams coexisting alongside a gas-free, fully electrical building system, the project bridges the gap between Manchester’s industrial past and its sustainable future.
From the communal lounges and 40-seat auditorium to the boutique-style showers and changing facilities, every element of this impressive redevelopment has been designed to attract modern businesses seeking more from their workplace. It is within the washrooms and shower areas that Woodio® makes a distinctive contribution, helping to deliver a cohesive monochrome aesthetic while reinforcing the project’s environmental credentials.
A refined monochrome palette
In the main washrooms, Woodio® Soft40 table top basins in Char form a striking focal point. Their smooth, rounded profiles sit atop crisp white granite vanity units, set against black tiles for a dramatic contrast. The result is a black and white palette that feels elegant, mature and professional.
The theme continues through into the private shower rooms, where the Cube40 wall-hung basin in Char has been specified. Its geometric form complements the bold black tiles and matt black taps, creating a monochromatic scheme that is both visually cohesive and highly functional. Together, the two basin styles ensure consistency across amenities while offering distinct moments of character within the wider design.
Sustainability in material choice
For Thread Works, Woodio® supplied 17 Cube40 basins and 9 Soft40 basins, specified by Atlas Bathrooms. Beyond their visual impact, these basins contribute to the building’s strong environmental performance. Made from Woodio’s unique solid wood composite, a blend of wood chips and resin, they are lightweight, waterproof and significantly less carbon-intensive to produce than traditional ceramic or stone alternatives.
This is particularly important in a project like Thread Works, where sustainability has been central to the refurbishment. With fully electric heating and cooling, secondary glazing, and LED lighting throughout, the Portland Street building has achieved an EPC A rating - a rare achievement for a listed property. As subtle as they may seem, choosing interior finishes such as energy-efficient lighting and sustainable sanitaryware is a significant reminder that design and sustainability can and should co-exist.
Workplaces with purpose
The Thread Works project is yet another example towards a wider shift in commercial spaces - the recognition that design, wellbeing and sustainability are inseparable. Today’s tenants expect their offices to align with their own values of supporting the health and well-being of their teams, and to create environments that feel both aspirational and responsible.
Woodio®, with its award-winning material, combines design appeal with environmentally thoughtful manufacturing, demonstrating how eco-conscious material choices can be more than just a box-ticking exercise. In Thread Works, the basins play a confident role in the refurbishment's design language, uniting heritage and sustainability with the demands of the contemporary workplace.
To discover how Woodio® UK could bring sustainability credentials to your next washroom refurbishment, please get in touch.
