Recently refurbished, Vodafone’s Manchester office is the first building in the UK to combine two electric moveable walls, delivering an entirely automated system for dividing room space quickly and efficiently.

Working with architects, CMI Workplace and main contractor, Overbury, Style was specified to install a fully automatic Dorma Hüppe Moveo Glazed ComfortDrive moveable wall adjacent to a Skyfold, the fully automatic, vertically rising operable wall which is housed in the ceiling cavity. At the push of a button, the walls open and close with ease, offering a phenomenal lab tested 50dB Rw acoustic integrity for the Moveo glass system, and 51dB Rw for the Skyfold.

The former Cable & Wireless building near Manchester Airport has been completely re-fitted to bring it in-line with Vodafone’s Better Ways of Working ethos. Throughout the building there has been significant improvement to space planning efficiency, with the two automatic operable walls helping create an environment that support’s the multi-functional purpose of the building.

Andy Gibson, Style’s director for the North, said: "The future of space division is in automation. The Vodafone project is a first of its kind and certainly raises the bar to a whole new level in terms of what can be achieved.” The Dorma Hüppe fully automated glass acoustic moveable wall forms a corridor within an open plan event space. CMI Workspace then cleverly split the room further with a vertically-rising Skyfold acoustic moveable wall.

Dave Downie, Overbury’s project manager, said: "Having previously worked with Style and the Dorma product, we had confidence in the quality. We also had experience of the Skyfold wall from previous projects and were keen to see it installed in this unique space. We are impressed with the result and the ease of operation and wow factor proved to be a winner with our client’s expectations too.”