This project is a new build development at the southern end of Deansgate in Manchester City Centre. The building will be a 310 room, 22-storey aparthotel on a site bound by the Deansgate Tavern and the listed Deansgate Viaduct. The development includes commercial and retail space at ground floor and mezzanine levels, including the restoration of the existing railway arches under the viaduct and creating new active retail frontage on Deansgate and Whitworth Street West.

The small and extremely confined nature of the site has created significant challenges in terms of buildability, site logistics and structural interface with adjacent buildings. Most significant of all, the proposed tower will cantilever four metres over the Deansgate Viaduct which carries a major arterial route for the Metrolink light rail network that will remain operational throughout construction. Our approach has been to identify and incorporate solutions to these challenges into the design at an early stage, engaging with contractors and construction specialists to develop reinforced concrete structural frame solution which is efficient and well considered.

The structural design is an insitu RC frame with blade columns along the perimeter to maximise the internal accommodation space. The cantilever is achieved through RC shear walls that act as deep beams within the first three storeys above the overhang, resulting in no downstanding elements.

Planning consent was granted in February 2020.