The Printworks
Printworks Manchester
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The Printworks in Manchester stands as a testament to the city’s rich industrial heritage and its vibrant modern-day culture. Originally established in 1873 as the Withy Grove Printing House, it evolved into Europe’s largest newspaper printing facility by the early 20th century . After a period of decline, the building was revitalized and reopened in 2000 as a dynamic entertainment complex, housing cinemas, restaurants, and leisure venues . In 2024, as part of a significant refurbishment, our company was entrusted with the task of enhancing the exterior signage, blending historical significance with contemporary design.

Objective

Illuminate all exterior tenant and venue signage to enhance visibility and aesthetic appeal.

 

Our Approach

To achieve a cohesive and striking visual impact, we employed a combination of advanced lighting solutions:

  • VL Plus Modules: These were utilized to uniformly illuminate all tenant signage, ensuring consistency and brightness across the facade.
  • Yellow FlexiBRITE: Specifically chosen for the iconic 8-meter-wide Hard Rock Café guitar sign, this flexible lighting was applied to the guitar’s perimeter and strings, bringing the emblematic feature to life.

Additionally, we negotiated an unprecedented 5-year parts and labor warranty on all SloanLED products used, underscoring our commitment to quality and client satisfaction.

 

Outcome

The enhanced illumination not only elevated the building’s nighttime presence but also played a pivotal role in garnering industry recognition. The Hard Rock Café signage, in particular, was honored with the “Illuminated Sign of the Year Award” by the British Sign & Graphics Association (BSGA), a testament to the project’s excellence and impact .

Through meticulous planning and innovative lighting solutions, we successfully merged The Printworks’ historical essence with modern design, contributing to Manchester’s ever-evolving urban landscape.