With 2025 coming to an end, we’re taking a moment to reflect on what the Arcas Building Solutions team has accomplished over the year. From advanced university facilities to complex heritage renovations, we’ve had a meaningful and fulfilling year while also actively participating in the communities we serve.
A Landmark Start
We kicked off 2025 with one of our most high-profile projects to date: the Newcastle Building Society flagship branch at Monument.
This wasn’t your typical fit-out. We redesigned the area over five floors in a 200-year-old, Grade II-listed building to create a contemporary, hospitable city centre hub. To make the space more welcoming for customers and community activities, the design focused on improving circulation with reconfigured staircases, opening floorplates, and creating flexible areas that can serve multiple purposes. The team was extremely proud to see the “Super Branch” open its doors early in the year.
Innovation at Northumbria University
By mid-year, our focus shifted from heritage to high-tech as we moved on-site at Northumbria University to deliver their new Nano Labs.
A different degree of accuracy and coordination is required when delivering specialised facilities in a live university setting. Working closely with stakeholders, we helped create a fully regulated, state-of-the-art laboratory capable of supporting a wide range of advanced scientific research.It’s incredibly rewarding to know these rooms will now be home to the next generation of breakthroughs and late-night discoveries, and Arcas was a part of that.
Teeing Off for a Cause
In June, we stepped away from site work for the Northern Bear 10th Annual Golf Day. It was a fantastic opportunity to catch up with industry peers, share a few laughs, and enjoy some friendly competition, but the real highlight of the day was coming together to support St Oswald’s Hospice.
Restoring a Landmark in Stockton
As the year progressed, our teams were hard at work on Boaz House in Stockton.
This £3 million refurbishment saw the transformation of a 55,000 sq. ft vacant landmark into high-quality CAT A office accommodation. The project included a new external atrium, two upgraded reception areas, and a strong focus on sustainability. Solar panels and energy-efficient LED lighting were also installed to help the building meet modern workplace needs while being ready for the future.
Taking Manchester by Storm
One of our final milestones of the year took us across the Pennines to deliver the Manchester Building Society flagship branch on King Street. Building on our work at Monument, we were back in a Grade II-listed setting—this time in Manchester. We focused on keeping the soul of the building intact, preserving the beautiful ceiling work while kitting the space out with a full modern tech suite. It opened this November, and it’s a great example of how a historic space can still feel completely current.
Looking Ahead to 2026
It’s been a big year for Arcas, and we owe a huge thanks to our clients and our incredible site teams for their trust and hard work. From labs to landmarks, we’ve focused on creating spaces that work for the people who use them, and we can’t wait to see how they settle in.
The 2026 calendar is already filling up with some great new projects. We look forward to bringing you along for the journey as they start to come to life!
