4th March 2020

An afternoon visit to two Co-op buildings in Manchester city centre, representative of two peaks of architecture by the Co-op movement. The Hall is part of the podium of New Century House, an outstanding example of an early US-influenced office building and has distinctive original fittings. The Old Bank Building’s principal floor combines neo-classical and Art Deco-inspired detailing, as well as featuring a poignant World War 1 memorial to employees across the country. The tour was guided by Stephen McCusker who has researched these buildings with the support of the RIBA Research Trust and the Manchester School of Architecture.