Urbis

Urbis is a six-story building with sloping exterior walls covered by thousands of glass panes arranged in horizontal strips. The interior features open floor plans designed to accommodate flexible exhibition and display areas.

The building opened in 2002 as part of Manchester's Exchange Square redevelopment project. From its opening until 2010, it featured rotating exhibitions about urban culture before transitioning to football history.

The building once hosted exhibitions exploring urban culture, art, music, and fashion before shifting its focus to football history. This transformation reflects how the space has adapted to connect with different communities over time.

The building is easily accessible from the street with clearly marked entrances. Visitors can move between floors using elevators or stairs to explore the different exhibition areas throughout the space.

The original visitor route ran from top to bottom, with entry on the top floor and descending through cascading intermediate levels. This unusual approach created a flowing experience where each level formed part of a single narrative.

Location: Manchester

Architects: Ian Simpson

Official opening: 2002

Floors above the ground: 6

Address: Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester M4 3BG

GPS coordinates: 53.48556,-2.24194

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:28