Stockport Pyramid | |
---|---|
General information | |
Status | Completed |
Type | Commercial offices |
Location | Yew Street, Stockport, SK4 2JZ |
Coordinates | 53°24′29″N 2°10′31″W / 53.4080°N 2.1754°W |
Construction started | 1987 |
Completed | 1992 |
Owner | Eamar Developments |
Height | |
Roof | 36.6 m (120 ft) |
Technical details | |
Floor count | 6 |
Floor area | 86,000 sq ft (8,000 m2) |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | Michael Hyde and Associates |
Website | |
pyramidstockport | |
References | |
[1] [2] |
The Stockport Pyramid, otherwise known as the Co-operative Bank Pyramid or simply The Pyramid, is a commercial office building in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England.
The Pyramid was intended to be the "signature building" within a larger development scheme that originally included multiple pyramid-shaped buildings. [3] Sources vary on the number of pyramids that were originally planned, some state two further pyramids would be built, [4] whilst others state four more pyramids were planned. [5]
Construction was completed in 1992. [1] During construction, the developers went into administration and the building was repossessed by The Co-operative Banking Group, who had financed the development. [6] Between the completion of the building in 1992 and the occupancy by the Co-operative in 1995, the building was empty. [7] The building was occupied by The Co-operative Bank from 1995 until they relocated to One Angel Square in NOMA in Manchester city centre in 2018. [8]
Several failed development projects near the site, including the pyramid's own unoccupancy immediately after construction and The Co-operative Bank's near-collapse in 2013, [9] led to a superstitious consideration that the site was 'cursed'. The curse was announced as 'lifted' when nearby developments resumed in 2005 with the sale of office blocks in the surrounding business park. [10]
The surrounding business park has been referred to as "The Stopfordian Valley of the Kings", [5] "Kings Reach", [3] or "Kings Valley". [11]
In 2019, the building was bought by the Saudi Arabian investment company Eamar Developments after being advertised for sale in the summer of 2018 for around £4.5 million. [12] The buyer planned to let the site as office space after refurbishment. [13]
In July 2023, plans by restaurant business Royal Nawaab were announced to convert the entire building into a restaurant and banqueting hall. [14] In September 2023, it was confirmed by Royal Nawaab that the conversion will go ahead and the restaurant is due to open in the summer of 2024. [15]
The pyramid has been described as " avant-garde", "aspirational" and an "incongruous structure" compared to the industrial era buildings commonly found in Stockport. [5] Contrary to it commonly being referred to as a pyramid, the Manchester Evening News claims that the building's shape is "more accurately described as a ziggurat". [5]