Aviva Studios (Factory International)
Manchester's massive new arts venue. £211 million, designed by OMA, still working out what it wants to be. The ambition is undeniable.
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Aviva Studios – originally Factory International, originally just Factory, originally costing £110M before it hit £211M – opened in 2023. It’s Manchester’s big bet on becoming a arts destination. Designed by OMA, the architecture firm behind the Seattle Public Library. The building is a concrete and steel beast on Water Street, between Deansgate and the river.
The main hall is cavernous and flexible. The entire floor can be reconfigured – flat, raked, standing, seated, or stripped bare for installations. Capacity varies from around 1,600 seated to 5,000 standing. The idea is that no two shows use the space the same way.
Programming has been a mix of big immersive shows, theatre, contemporary dance, electronic music, and visual art. The Danny Boyle opening show set the tone – ambitious, expensive, divisive. Some events have been genuinely brilliant. Others have felt like they’re trying too hard.
The building itself is worth visiting just to look at. The warehouse space is raw and industrial. The upper levels have galleries and smaller performance spaces. There’s a decent bar and restaurant on site.
Getting there is easy – Deansgate station is a five-minute walk, multiple tram stops nearby. It sits in the St John’s development area, which is still half building site.
Give it time. The potential is massive.
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