Daily Express Building, Modernist office building in Ancoats, England.
The Daily Express Building is an office structure in Ancoats made of steel and glass, featuring distinctive black glass bands and rounded corners. A seven-story tower marks the left end facing Great Ancoats Street, while upper floors step back from the main facade.
This structure was built in 1939 based on engineer Sir Owen Williams's design to house the Daily Express at the height of its global circulation. It embodied the modern engineering techniques and material innovations that defined pre-war architecture.
The building represents a turning point in British commercial design, merging industrial purpose with the Streamline Moderne style of the 1930s. It demonstrates how steel and glass became central to shaping office structures during this era.
The building is accessible from the surrounding streets and its distinctive features are clearly visible from outside. The location is easily walkable and offers good viewing angles from various points along Great Ancoats Street.
The original transparent ground floor facade allowed passersby to watch the newspaper printing operations from the street. Later, the glass was altered for privacy reasons, removing this intriguing window into the daily workings of the press.
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