The Renold Building is a bit of an iconic one.

For more than 40 years, it was the main teaching hub for the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST).  

A notable example of 20^th century, it was the first purpose-built teaching facility in the UK, consolidating lecture theatres and seminar rooms within a single structure. Its most striking external features are the faceted east façade and the glazed stair tower, designed to encourage students to use the stairs by providing excellent views.

The building has newly reopened, after undergoing refurbishment by Bruntwood Sci-Tech. It’s been transformed into an innovation hub, providing alternative workspaces for entrepreneurs and SMEs to develop new ideas.

Working in collaboration with Bruntwood Sci-Tech and branding agency Pentagram, we translated the visual brand to a signage concept, incorporating additional icons and setting out wayfinding principles to ensure the brand typeface was legible across a range of sign types, viewing heights and distances.

The whole approach to the refurbishment has been to reuse old materials from the building’s interior to minimise the environmental footprint of the project. For example, demolition material has been repurposed, as have the original lecturers’ desks and lab tables. All new materials are either bio-based, made from recycled material or are 100% recyclable, carbon negative or carbon neutral.

To align with the whole approach to the building’s refurbishment, our signage concept also uses 100% recycled and recyclable materials throughout. After testing early concepts on wood, we ultimately landed on the use of 100% recycled acrylic to align with the monochromatic visual brand.

Tom Brookson, Project Manager

With such an iconic building, known for its architecture, it was important that our signage didn’t detract from the building itself. So, we used individual panels to create a “light-touch”, unobtrusive look. This will allow for easy updates in the future and as the campus develops.

The Renold Building’s refurbishment marks the initial phase of regeneration at the University of Manchester’s former North Campus into a welcoming and accessible new innovation district. And it’s fantastic to see sustainability valued implemented in every element of the building’s design, fit out and future activity.