"The building was designed by Harry S. Fairhurst,
"the leading expert in the design of these advanced warehouses".
It was constructed for Lloyd’s Packing Warehouses Limited and like many warehouses was built to a common design with steps to a raised ground floor with showroom and offices and the first floor contained more offices and waiting rooms for clients and sample and pattern rooms all decorated to impress customers. The working areas above were plain with large windows to allow in natural light. Orders were packed there and sent to the basement on hoists powered by Manchester's hydraulic power system and packed into bales using hydraulic presses before dispatch. The warehouse was lighted by gas.
Fairhurst was also responsible for Bridgewater House opposite, the neighbouring Lancaster House. Fairhurst's huge buildings are "steel-framed and built to high-quality fireproof specifications".
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