CLIENT
WPP
DESIGN
BDG Architecture + Design
LOCATION
Manchester, UK
COMPLETED
2023
WPP’s Manchester Campus represents a strategic consolidation, bringing together multiple agencies from across the WPP network under one roof. The ambition was to foster cross-disciplinary working and strengthen cross-agency collaboration while still providing dedicated spaces that reflect each agency’s identity. Working in close partnership with BDG, we developed adaptive furniture systems that balance collective culture with individual expression.
WPP’s global campus strategy creates inspiring environments that bring people and agencies together. Since 2016, we have worked with WPP and BDG across multiple campuses in the UK, Europe and North America, providing comprehensive furniture consultancy, procurement and support. Our role spans furniture audits, product sourcing, budget management and delivery, ensuring every campus delivers exceptional quality and a cohesive experience across co-working, conference, hospitality and agency settings.
Located on the former Granada Studios site in Manchester’s Spinningfields Quarter, the campus is designed as an open, collaborative workspace that connects diverse creative teams. BDG’s concept draws on the city’s history and resilience, using the metaphor of a buzzing beehive to symbolise community and shared energy.
The building features a wide range of work settings, from sit-stand desks and varied meeting rooms to a roof terrace and social hubs, all designed to encourage flexibility and connectivity. Art and brand agency Acrylicize created a layered digital artwork scheme celebrating Manchester’s heritage, referencing cotton looms, iconic album covers and the city’s worker bee emblem.
To support the need for both privacy and flexibility across the working floors, we helped BDG specify products that accommodate a range of work modes, including focus work, collaboration, meetings and creative sessions.
This included developing a system of flexible screens and whiteboards to define space without permanent partitions, an elegant, adaptable solution that enables teams to reconfigure their environments as needs evolve. The result is a workplace that supports the distinct requirements of each agency while nurturing the communal spirit of the campus.
Working with Acrylicize’s overarching placemaking vision, BDG created a unified design language for the building, with each floor aligned to a defined colour palette. Within this framework, we collaborated with individual agencies to personalise their spaces through bespoke furniture finishes and carefully selected materials. This approach ensured that each agency could express its character while remaining connected to the wider campus identity.
