Triangle reaches new heights in ManchesterThe last phase of the £4m reinvigoration programme for Triangle is due to start at the end of January with the construction of the eagerly awaited Sky Bar. This impressive free standing structure will form the centrepiece of the atrium space in Triangle. The Sky Bar will be constructed off site, transported to Triangle and put in place like a giant jigsaw puzzle. This innovative building technique ensures minimum disruption for customers and retailers. The contemporary design links the Sky Bar with the new Exchange Square entrance and the sculptures both in Exchange Square and Fennel Street especially commissioned from local artist, Mel Chantrey.
Milligan is pleased to announce that Caffè Nero will occupy the Sky Bar when it is completed in late Spring which will be called Caffè Nero at Sky Bar. Caffè Nero, already a well-known destination at Triangle, sees the move as an opportunity to establish Caffè Nero at Sky Bar as a popular meeting point in Manchester.
Karen Lewis, Head of Marketing for Caffè Nero says “We are very excited to be part of this innovative venture and believe that the experience of looking down from 40 feet upon the rest of the centre will add a further dimension to the experience of meeting friends, talking to business colleagues or simply relaxing. As well as offering our usual high standard of coffee and food that you would expect to find in other Caffè Nero stores, we are really giving time and thought to the overall interior design so it complements the state of the art structure of the Sky Bar.”
“We are planning a move away from our traditional styled interior finish for this latest store addition to mirror the contemporary styling of the Sky Bar. Current options being explored are special lighting effects and use of different materials and colours” says Lewis. The environment will be non smoking and there will be around 100 seats.
The Sky Bar, designed by Benoy, covers two decks with the upper deck accessible from within the Sky Bar via an internal staircase. The first deck is accessed externally via bridges. The structure towers 14 metres and covers an area of 182.72 sq metres. The Sky Bar shape resembles an opening tulip and the contemporary feel is achieved through the integrated use of stainless steel vertical ribs, glass and perforated stainless steel sheet features with aerofoil wings. The silver grey curved underside is aesthetically illuminated with feature lighting.
John Milligan, Chief Executive of Milligan comments “ We are delighted to have let the Sky Bar to Caffè Nero and very much look forward to seeing the project completed. To minimise any short term disruption to our customers and retailers, the actual build is only expected to take eight weeks. Milligan is in the business of creating places where people want to be and in which they are inspired and the addition of the Sky Bar is the final part of our repositioning of Triangle to create such a place for our customers.”
The planned repositioning of Triangle by owners The Blackstone Group and Milligan has been achieved over the past 2 years through a combination of physical improvements to the building including, the spectacular new entrance onto Exchange Square with video screens and a colour changing light wall and the addition of a over a dozen cutting edge retailers including adidas Originals, JOY, Westworld, Lambretta, Freespirit, Artlounge, The Skin Health Spa and Vicky Martin. The new retailers strengthen the offer from existing retailers such as Calvin Klein, O’Neil, Karen Millen and Jigsaw to provide customers with a choice of over 150 of the most sought after brands in the country. The recent changes to Triangle have proved popular with Manchester customers with the Christmas footfall showing a 50% increase on last year and many retailers exceeding sales targets for the festive period.
In addition, an innovative marketing programme of events and entertainment exposes customers to the latest tenor in Fashion, Music and Art. In addition to these events, Triangle is committed to helping develop new talent in Manchester and local designers showcase their creations in specially designed retail pods positioned around the centre and the Independents’ Fashion Boutique is held at Triangle weekly.
The Sky Bar is the final part of the £4m reinvigoration programme carried out by owners, The Blackstone Group and Milligan and is designed to be the centrepiece of the newly positioned Triangle.
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