▁It ▁was ▁extended , ▁with ▁a ▁striking ▁ ▁tower , ▁along ▁Oxford ▁Street ▁by ▁his ▁son ▁Paul ▁Water house ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 0 – 1 9 1 2 . ▁It ▁was ▁further ▁extended ▁along ▁Whit worth ▁Street ▁by ▁Stanley ▁B irk ett ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 2 . ▁ ▁Con version ▁to ▁hotel ▁After ▁occup ying ▁the ▁building ▁as ▁offices ▁for ▁nearly ▁a ▁century , ▁the ▁Ref uge ▁Ass urance ▁Company ▁depart ed ▁the ▁building ▁for ▁a ▁new ▁purpose ▁site ▁in ▁the ▁grounds ▁of ▁Ful sh aw ▁Hall , ▁Ch esh ire ▁on ▁Friday ▁ 6 ▁November ▁ 1 9 8 7 . ▁The ▁Ref uge ▁Ass urance ▁company ▁had ▁discussed ▁converting ▁the ▁building ▁into ▁a ▁new ▁home ▁for ▁the ▁Hall é ▁Orchestra ▁with ▁one ▁of ▁Manchester ' s ▁cultural ▁pat rons ▁Sir ▁Bob ▁Scott ▁for ▁over ▁a ▁year . ▁The ▁£ 3 ▁million ▁fund ing ▁required ▁for ▁the ▁project ▁did ▁not ▁material ise ▁and ▁the ▁Halle ▁subsequently ▁moved ▁from ▁the ▁Free ▁Trade ▁Hall ▁to ▁the ▁new ▁Bridge water ▁Hall ▁upon ▁opening ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 6 . ▁ ▁Local ▁architecture ▁critic ▁John ▁Park inson - B a iley ▁noted ▁that ▁" one ▁of ▁the ▁most ▁pr estig ious ▁and ▁expensive ▁buildings ▁in ▁Manchester ▁lay ▁for l orn ▁and ▁empty ▁except ▁for ▁a ▁care t aker ▁and ▁the ▁g host ▁on ▁its ▁st air case ". ▁It ▁was ▁converted ▁to ▁a ▁hotel ▁by ▁Richard ▁New man ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁at ▁a ▁cost ▁of ▁£ 7 ▁million