MEC Business Lounge – Media City

150 150 Daniel Fountain
  • 0

Dawnvale are delighted to have been selected to work on the new 53,500 sq ft ‘enterprise centre’ to support new and existing media talent, within the South Tower of MediaCityUK in Salford Quays.Salford City Council are keen to encourage big new ideas at MediaCityUK, so secured funding to create a place where creativity and innovation can be nurtured and developed.

The Media Enterprise Centre (MEC), will offer a range of services to help stimulate and support the growth of media companies. A number of key areas will be created within the MEC. They include:
Games hub comprising a usability lab for games and interactive technologies, within a wider games research/testing facility
Digital workflow hub comprising key industry requirements: a new broadcast lab (NBL), a media technology support service (MTSS) and a content information bank (CIB)
Production content hub comprising flexible workspace for new content makers, and a post-production environment
Workspace – office space will be available for rent by small and medium sized businesses within the MEC
Business lounge – the convening space or ‘glue’ for the MEC will come from Floor 7 which will be a business lounge and conference/meeting space

Dawnvale had a heavy involvement with the fit out on the Business Lounge, which included a new horseshoe bar, Coffee counter, commercial kitchen, and various loose furniture and banquette seating.

Dawnvale manufactured and installed a new horseshoe bar which included a stainless steel double bull nosed distressed bar top, a back bar display with mirror glass panel media wall, and new laminated illuminated LED lighting shelves.

The coffee counter was a bespoke distressed timber carcass with a solid beach wooden top. The framework included a deli display with a coffee and hot water station.

The new commercial kitchen included a bespoke island canopy with central service spine, a variety of cook line equipment including a 4 ring induction range oven, a walk-in cold room and dishwashing area.

Dawnvale were also given the task to design and manufacture a selection of bespoke contract furniture to compliment the design scheme of the Business Lounge. This included a range of lounge seating, solid timber tables including a 6m long model, high stools, sofa style banquette seating for three separate areas and the main reception counter.

Daniel Fountain / 01.11.2012

Editor, Hotel Designs

Share

  • 0

Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

Workhighlights: Successfully coordinating events from planning through to delivery and seeing everything come together on the day.

Fun fact: I’m a keen cyclist and will happily bore people with copious amounts of cycling chat. My top cycling experience (so far) would have to be riding in the spectacular mountains of Crete.

Work highlights: Charles joined Forum Events in 2022. With a background in publishing, editorial media and events, Charles brings a wealth of experience to his role as Senior Production Manager. Having being involved with SPACE from the outset, he is excited to see the brand grow and develop.

Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

Fun fact: Katy has spent years perfecting all kinds of accents and loves a good impersonation!

Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher at SPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.

Together these platforms offer a comprehensive 360-degree service encompassing digital media, print publishing, and live events – providing unparalleled value to advertisers, partners, and readers alike.