Works at a £400 million mixed use scheme in Manchester have reached a major milestone after it was named Square Gardens and the construction of the façade was started.
Its name draws inspiration from Garden Street which previously lay in the middle of the site.
The neighbourhood features three tower blocks comprising 1,772 apartments and has one of the largest outdoor spaces in the city connected to residential, including 17,000 sq ft of commercial, leisure and retail.
Square Gardens will complete the regeneration of First Street and provide a new community with a mix of accommodation types and price-points, ranging from private studios to five-bedroom apartments, as well as conventional one and two-bedroom apartments, mindfully curated for the modern renter.
George Tyson, projects director of Downing, said: “We are delighted the façade works have started as planned, which we felt was an opportune point to unveil the name of our development, Square Gardens. The façade will see the buildings start to take shape as a landmark project right in the heart of Manchester, accentuating the important regeneration of the area.
“We are creating more than just a place to live for our residents with a focus on delivering a neighbourhood with unrivalled outdoor and shared community spaces which will make this development one of the most desirable places to live in the city. Ultimately, our goal is to provide the best place to live in central Manchester where residents simply move in and have everything they need to make the most of city living.”
The towers, designed by architects Simpson Haugh Partnership, are now in the next stage of construction with the installation of a façade by Focchi Group.
The entire façade is prefabricated off site to limit waste and improve both quality and installation time. A key element of the design is the glass unitised curtain walling which will give a light reflective quality that responds to different weather conditions and times of the day whilst providing views of the city for residents.
Landscaping works will commence later this year with the scheme incorporating 9,900m2 of new landscape, of which 5,800m2 is accessible to the public along with the addition of over 140 new trees. It is hoped this will boost biodiversity, improve air quality and aid in the mental health of not only the residents, but the wider First Street community.
