75 Canal Street

City Past / City Future: Threads of History woven for community engagement and a new home.

Arrowstreet has designed the interior and exterior amenity spaces of 75 Canal Street, bringing 250 residences and new amenity spaces to Manchester, NH. Manchester has long been a city driven by commerce and creativity. Powered by the Moskeag Falls on the Merrimack River, Manchester was home to the world’s largest cotton mill and world-renowned textile industry. 75 Canal Street revitalizes the historic downtown of Manchester by drawing inspiration from the area’s rich textile mill heritage, blending industrial character with modern social connectivity.

The design preserves the raw authenticity of the past while seamlessly integrating contemporary elements and lifestyles. Expansive lounge spaces and bar areas invite social interaction, while thoughtfully designed work pods provide quiet, functional spaces for productivity, allowing tenants to utilize these highly sought-after amenities. A dedicated fitness and yoga studio promotes wellness, offering a balance between movement and mindfulness. The vibrant outdoor space creates an urban retreat with beautiful views of the Merrimack River to enjoy throughout the New England seasons.

The landscape fosters social engagement through the integrated grill spaces, seating, and cornhole court. Throughout the space, murals by local artists celebrate the area’s creative spirit, transforming the walls into a visual narrative of its history. The result is a thoughtfully curated environment that honors the past while breathing new life into the city.

The interior design concept seamlessly blends industrial heritage with artistic expression, creating a space that feels both raw and refined. Exposed steel and concrete, and salvaged wood beams turned into focal furniture pieces serve as the foundation of the interior design, paying homage to the mills’ utilitarian past, while the use of rich jewel tones weave throughout the design, echoing the vibrant dyes once used in textile production. Organic, sculptural elements soften the industrial aesthetic, with sculptural lighting fixtures, textured fabrics, and artful installations that celebrate the craftsmanship of the mill workers and artists who once filled these spaces. Four large metal doors were salvaged and repurposed as an art installation featuring different muralists, and the masonry ties and fire bells from the original mill building were salvaged to use as accents within the staging. Every detail, from handwoven textiles a hand-painted focal mural at the main stair, tells a story of creativity and transformation, forging a connection between past and present in a setting that is both inspiring and inviting to new tenants.