Tower Crane Goes Up As New Student Accommodation Building Progresses
The arrival of a 99-metre tower crane marks the latest milestone in the construction of one of Manchester’s tallest buildings.
The crane was being erected this week on the Marlborough Street site where building work is being carried out by main contractor Shepherd Construction to provide 37-storeys of student accommodation on behalf of developer Student Castle.
The £45 million building will eventually be 112 metres high when it completes in 2012, second only in height to Manchester’s Beetham Tower.
The 520-bed development, designed by Hodder + Partners, will accommodate undergraduates, postgraduates and international students with a mix of self-contained studio apartments and cluster-style communal accommodation.
The crane will initially only operate at a height of 54 metres but as construction progresses, the height will increase to 99 metres.
Peter Millett, managing director for Shepherd Construction’s West Division commented:
“Having completed the preparation of the ground we are now starting to build skywards and people will notice a real transformation in the site.”