Rylands has reached its highest structural point, marking a major step forward in the transformation of one of Manchester’s most iconic Grade II listed buildings.
Domis Construction has celebrated a major milestone at Rylands, with the landmark Manchester development officially topping out, representing significant progress in the redevelopment of the former Debenhams building on Market Street, as it continues its transformation into a vibrant mixed-use destination for the city.
The milestone marks the completion of the building’s highest structural point, a 4-storey atrium extension that will house unrivalled Grade A office space in central Manchester.
To mark the occasion, client AM ALPHA and Domis welcomed the wider project team to site, including Jeffrey Bell Architects, Levrant, JLL and Barker Proudlove, before hosting a drinks reception at The Edwardian Manchester.
While last week’s topping out was the headline moment, it followed a series of important construction milestones achieved in the weeks leading up to the event.
Rylands’ restored heritage rooflights were unveiled for the first time on the day, giving attendees a first look at one of the building’s most striking restored features. The façade scaffold strip has also progressed significantly, with both iconic cupolas now visible once again to onlookers on Market Street and High Street.
Alongside these key heritage milestones, progress continues at street level, with ground floor glazing now underway. This is giving passers-by their first glimpse of the spaces that will soon become Rylands’ food market, reception area and premium office space, further signalling the building’s transformation back into an active part of Manchester city centre.
Since works began, Domis has been supporting AM ALPHA’s ambition to bring Rylands back to life through an extensive and technically complex refurbishment. The scheme includes the restoration of the original Grade II listed structure, the creation of premium Grade A office space across the upper floors, new retail units at ground level and a contemporary four-storey extension.
Once complete, Rylands will provide a blend of office, retail, leisure, food and beverage space in the heart of Manchester city centre. Market Place Food Hall has already committed to a 15-year lease on the ground floor, demonstrating early confidence in the building’s next chapter.
Transforming a listed building of this scale has required a detailed and collaborative approach from the outset. Working within the fabric of an existing landmark, while delivering a modern commercial destination, has brought together heritage sensitivity, construction expertise and close coordination across the full project team.
Rory O’Donoghue, Construction Director at Domis Construction, begins:
“The topping out of Rylands is a significant milestone and reflects the monumental effort, collaboration, and shared commitment of everyone involved in the project.
“We’ve shared AM ALPHA’s ambition from the outset to deliver this iconic building back to the city, and it’s been a privilege for Domis to help bring that vision to life. Transforming a landmark building of this scale and significance has only been possible through the close collaboration of the entire project team.
“While there’s still plenty of work ahead, reaching this stage is a fantastic achievement and one that everyone involved should be incredibly proud of.”
Martin Lemke, CEO of AM ALPHA, finishes:
“Reaching this construction milestone is an important achievement for everyone involved in the transformation of Rylands. Working with a listed building of this scale inevitably brings complexity and unexpected challenges. The progress made demonstrates what can be achieved through close cooperation, technical expertise, and a shared commitment to the project.
“Rylands is an important part of Manchester’s architectural and commercial heritage. Our ambition is to preserve that character while creating a modern, sustainable destination that meets the needs of future occupiers and visitors. We would like to thank Domis and the entire project team for their dedication and the significant progress they have made.”
With completion expected in 2027, the topping out of Rylands brings the project another step closer to welcoming businesses, retailers and visitors back into one of Manchester’s most important city-centre buildings.
