Our design draws on the rich industrial heritage of the area, particularly the engineered aesthetic of the nearby Irwell Street Bridge, with its steel cross-bracing. The diagrid facade design not only references this local vernacular but also provides structural support, bracing the building around the perimeter and thereby reducing the amount of concrete needed in the core. This strategy supports long-term flexibility for extensions and materials re-use, as steel is more easily recycled than concrete. The facade also features ceramic spandrels which soften the appearance of the facade while referencing Salford’s history as a world leader in ceramic-making.
The central core and open floorplates enhance daylight to the office floors and enable flexibility for future tenancy splits if needed, while the floor heights allow for a potential residential conversion down the line. By omitting a basement and providing ground level end-of-trip facilities, we also drastically reduced the embodied carbon while supporting the masterplan vision for a car-free development.
Project lead Stuart Fraser says: “The New Bailey Masterplan in Salford aims to create a new commercial, retail and leisure destination along the River Irwell, and Four New Bailey delivers on all fronts. With its unique visual identity and diagrid facade, the building provides new workspace and retail, with a rooftop terrace overlooking the city. It stands out as a new local landmark that is distinctly ‘Salford’.”
Project architect Jack Sargent says: “When looking at Four New Bailey with the Irwell Street bridge in the foreground, you can see the layers of architectural heritage in Salford and how the industrial roots have informed our contemporary interpretation. It’s wonderful to see Four New Bailey taking shape just as we envisioned.”
