Virgin Media O2
Located in Manchester’s Central Business District is Island, a new 100,000 sq ft net zero carbon workspace, spanning across 10 storeys. Floors five to nine are occupied by major British telecommunications company, Virgin Media O2, with a majority of the floorspace housing the operator’s customer care team.
Photos: Andrew Smith | SG Photography Limited
At a glance
| Main Contractor | Overbury |
| Project Manager | CBRE Turner & Townsend Ltd |
| Interior Design | SpaceInvader |
| Lighting | Light Forms |
Virgin Media O2 wanted the workspace to provide employees with an environment that embraces high performance work, whilst enabling the modern-day hybrid work approach. Sustainability, wellness and accessibility were also at the core of the design brief.
Working alongside interior designers SpaceInvader and main contractors Overbury, lighting manufacturer Light Forms were appointed to create a vibrant, brand-led lighting scheme that brings the energy of the network directly into the workplace. From the first step inside, light is used as a graphic language – colour, form and rhythm come together to echo the playful, connected character of Virgin Media O2 while still supporting the practical needs of a busy, multi-use office environment.
In the 8th floor client facing meeting rooms, red and blue Neon 360 LED Flex creates a striking effect. Continuous waves of light sweep across walls and ceilings, immediately recalling the Virgin Media O2 colour palette and giving each room a distinctive signature of their own. The lines feel dynamic and animated, yet the light itself remains soft and comfortable, ensuring the spaces work just as well for video calls and presentations as they do for informal team catch-ups. Seen from main routes within the building, these glowing waves also act as a subtle wayfinding cue, drawing people into the collaborative heart of the office.
Across the building, more than 200 Leo99 downlights provide a clean, consistent backdrop of general illumination. Their discreet form factor and carefully controlled output keep glare low and visual comfort high, allowing staff to work effectively whilst also maintaining a calm, uncluttered ceiling. This quiet layer of light sets the stage for the unique design qualities of the building, without compromising on performance or flexibility.
Tin Can 157 pendants introduce a more intimate character to selected zones. Suspended at lower levels, they create focused pools of light that help define smaller pockets within the open plan, encouraging informal conversations and short breaks away from core working areas.
A sculptural Moonring 1 Curves feature acts as a unifying gesture through the interior, reinforcing the idea of movement and flow that sits at the heart of the sports floor design theme. This is also echoed in a striking family of large Square, Circle, X and Triangle pendants, all fabricated from the Moonring profile suspended as illuminated geometric icons to coincide with the fun pop-culture gaming concept. These products act as a bold focal point within the scheme – instantly memorable, on-brand, and ready-made as a backdrop for events, photography and content creation.
“We wanted the lighting to feel unmistakably Virgin Media O2 from the moment you walk in – not just functional, but expressive, with colour, geometry and movement all working together to bring the brand to life,” says Paul Shoosmith, Director at Light Forms. The result of this thoughtful and cohesive lighting scheme is a space that feels both purposeful and relaxed, supporting different working styles throughout the day for Virgin Media 02 employees.
