Daily Express Building

The Daily Express Building in Manchester is a Grade II* listed structure, built in 1939 by Sir Owen Williams. This building serves as newspaper offices and print works and features a steel frame with glazed curtain walling, although the roof is not visible. It has an approximately rectangular plan that runs parallel to Great Ancoats Street, with a loading bay located at the rear. The design reflects a functional style and consists of six storeys, with the top two storeys set back. The building has five structural bays and includes a narrow seven-storey tower at the left end. The façade is characterized by black glass in continuous bands and strips, interspersed with clear glazing, all of which is flush with rounded corners. The high ground floor press shop is distinguished by full-height clear glazing, and there is a recessed entrance next to the tower on the left. A cantilevered rail extends over the third floor and wraps around to another over the set-back top floor. The tower features seven tiered rectangular windows and a cantilevered roof deck with railings. There is also a later addition at the rear of the loading bay that matches the original style. This building is noted for its early use of glazed curtain walling and is very similar to its counterpart in Fleet Street, London.