Renold Building Meeting Pods, Manchester

When the historic Renold Building was reopened by Sister as the cornerstone of a new innovation district, managing acoustics within its open, brutalist architecture was a key practical consideration. We had the pleasure of being asked to install a targeted acoustic solution on the Upper Ground floor, marking our first project within this Manchester landmark.

Positioned in a high-traffic area, this initial project addressed the immediate need for ground-level quiet zones. We designed and installed three distinct phone booth and meeting pod variations, demonstrating that reliable acoustic privacy could be delivered on a compact, non-permanent footprint.

Meeting Pod Designs

To provide quiet spaces within the open-plan UG floor, we installed three meeting pod styles that introduce functional zoning while fully respecting the heritage fabric of the building:

• Meeting Pod 1: A single-occupancy phone pod designed for quick calls and video meetings, balancing structural rigidity with focused sound absorption.
• Meeting Pod 2: A compact, private work pod featuring an alternative internal layout and an integrated desk for longer working sessions.
• Meeting Pod 3: A larger, expanded modular footprint designed to accommodate small group collaborations, meetings or presentations without allowing sound to bleed into the surrounding floor.

The placement of these pods helped anchor a wider breakout zone on the UG floor. Look closely at the project photography and you will spot a custom chess board sitting right alongside them – a piece crafted by another of our Manchester-based clients, Dekiln, who we fortunately met at the opening night on site, an event which celebrated the building’s new chapter alongside the community.

Material Selection & Finishes

Because these pods sit in a highly visible, high-use zone, we selected a durable, low-carbon material palette that combines hard-working acoustic exteriors with warm, natural interiors.

• External Finishes (Cork & Wood Wool): To dampen ambient noise from the surrounding floor, the pods are clad in natural cork and wood wool panels. These materials provide effective sound insulation while adding a textured finish that sits comfortably alongside the building’s concrete structure.
• Internal Finishes (Spruce, Birch & Ecoboard): Inside, the focus is on a clean, biophilic aesthetic. We paired spruce and birch plywood for a furniture-grade finish, complemented by Ecoboard to maintain healthy indoor air quality.

As our first installation in the building, these self-supporting, fully demountable pods established our low-carbon approach on site, proving we could deliver acoustic performance without anchoring into or damaging the historic structure.

Proud contributors to a winner: The Renold Building takes home the 2026 BCO Northern Regional Innovation Award.

See our modular system at scale: Explore the Sustainable Ventures Manchester hub to see how we expanded on these principles to create a low-carbon, three-floor workspace in the same historic building.