North Made Studio was commissioned to produce a series of interior workspace CGI visuals for the refurbishment of 3 Hardman Street, a landmark Grade A office building in Spinningfields, Manchester.
Working alongside the design team at AXI, we created photorealistic architectural visualisation and 3D interior rendering to showcase the redesigned reception, business lounge and communal workspace areas. These CGI images were developed to support marketing, leasing and presentation material, helping communicate the building’s new identity as a contemporary, flexible and design-led workplace environment.
THE DEVELOPMENT
3 Hardman Street is a prominent 16-storey office building located in the heart of Spinningfields, Manchester’s primary commercial district, originally completed in 2009 as one of the largest speculative office developments outside London. The recent refurbishment reimagines the building’s arrival experience and shared spaces, transforming the receptions, lounges and communal areas into a more contemporary, hospitality-inspired workplace environment.
Designed by AXI, the project introduces two distinct reception zones — East and West — each defined by double-height volumes, mezzanine features and flexible social spaces that encourage collaboration, informal meetings and community use. Warm materials, layered lighting and adaptable furniture layouts create a more human-centred atmosphere, moving away from traditional corporate interiors towards a modern, lifestyle-led workspace.
The refurbishment also enhances the building’s appeal to new occupiers by providing business lounges, breakout areas, meeting rooms and event spaces, positioning 3 Hardman Street as a premium Grade A office destination in Manchester city centre. The updated interiors were supported by a full suite of architectural CGI and interior visualisation to help communicate the design intent before completion.
OUR VISUALISATION APPROACH
For this project, our role as an architectural visualisation studio was to produce high-quality interior CGI renders that accurately represented the new reception, lounge and workspace environments designed by AXI. The imagery needed to balance technical accuracy with an inviting, lifestyle-led aesthetic, ensuring the visuals could be used across marketing brochures, leasing presentations and digital campaigns.
Working from architectural drawings, material specifications and interior design references, we created a set of photorealistic 3D architectural renderings that highlight the key spatial qualities of the scheme — including the double-height atriums, mezzanine features, reception desks and flexible seating zones. Particular attention was given to lighting, as the design relies heavily on warm indirect illumination, feature pendants and soft ambient tones to create a hospitality-style atmosphere rather than a traditional office feel.
Material accuracy was also critical. Timber finishes, stone flooring, textured wall panels and upholstered seating were carefully developed to match the design specification, ensuring the final interior visualisation reflected the intended quality of the completed space. Camera angles were chosen to emphasise openness, flow and connectivity between reception, lounge and workspace areas, helping potential tenants understand how the building would feel in use.
The final CGI package provided AXI and the client with a consistent set of commercial interior rendering visuals that clearly communicate the design concept, enhance marketing material and support leasing activity for the refurbished building.
