London Office Summer Trip 2024

21 August 2024

In early July, Eckersley O’Callaghan’s London office made their way to Manchester for the annual UK summer trip. Joined by the Manchester office, the group enjoyed a weekend of architectural talks and tours, followed by a wonderful meal at Firehouse. 

The team experienced a very special programme, curated around the city and its architecture. Our long-term collaborators Ian Simpson and Rachel Haugh of Simpson Haugh, who have been instrumental in the reconstruction and regeneration of Manchester over the past several decades, told us about their work in the city and its architectural history.

Later that day Phil Griffin, a broadcaster, historian, author and cultural critic, led the afternoon’s walking tour. The tour led the group round the city, taking in several of our own projects, mostly in collaboration with Simpson Haugh, along the way. He has a broad, impressive and amusing knowledge of the city which gave an edge to the tour.

The group were able to see the onsite progress of 325 Deansgate, a 22-storey tower with severe site constraints in collaboration with SimpsonHaugh. The team also toured completed projects such as Library Walk, a renovation of the Grade I Listed Manchester Town Hall and Manchester Grade II* Listed Central Library with a new link entrance between the two structures. These structures were also in collaboration with SimpsonHaugh. 

That evening, the group had a truly fabulous team dinner, including family style dining and voguing dancers. We highly recommend an evening at The Firehouse when visiting Manchester.

The next day, the trip concluded with a visit to the Whitworth Art Gallery and its beautiful extension designed by our other long-term collaborators, MUMA. Followed by a short boat trip down the Manchester Ship Canal, a marvel of Victorian Engineering.  This fantastic trip championed EOC’s growth in Manchester and the North, as well as celebrated the year’s successes and the teams involved. We all look forward to next year’s!