Exchange Square

Gently sloping ramps, an abstracted stream and railway wagon seating make Manchester's Exchange Square a dynamic and engaging place to be. Designed by Martha Swartz.

The £4m transformation of Exchange Square, funded by the Millennium Commission, has provided Manchester with a new informal, yet civic, space within an area devastated by an IRA bomb in 1996. It is located at the south-eastern corner of Manchester's vibrant new Millennium Quarter. More of a triangle than a square, the site is bounded by Corporation Street, the Triangle shopping centre (formerly the Corn Exchange) and the city's new flagship Selfridges department store. Though none of these elements date back further than the 19th century, it is interesting to note that the shape of the site is related to medieval property lines.

The proximity of the Cathedral, accessed from the Square is a further reminder that this is the old heart of the city. The square also provides the setting for two relocated timber-framed pubs, Sinclair's Oyster Bar and The Wellington, reinforcing the impression of its historic importance.

Begun in 1997 and completed in 1999 the Square was a key component of a new public realm strategy, developed by EDAW. The site provides a hard counterpoint to the soft green space of nearby Cathedral Gardens.