Just for H. :)

076648/FO/2005/C2

Land Bounded By Berry Street Buxton Street And Baring Street To The South Of Piccadilly Station
Manchester
M1 2LB

New mixed use development to include 2 floors of commercial space (Use Classes A1 (Shop), A2 (Financial & Professional Services), A3 (Restaurant/Cafe), A4 (Drinking Establishment), A5 (Take-Away), B1 (Offices), B8 (Storage & Distribution), D1 (Non-residential Institutions) and D2 (Assembly & Leisure)) with student and key worker accommodation (Sui Generis) on the upper floors

Images and further information below.

http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/associateddocs/MCCList1.aspx?076648/FO/2005/C2

Nice pic H.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_0823.jpg

Aww cheers jerb , i did'nt know you cared so much :)

Yeah this is quite a big development ,, and could kick start more , down Fairfield St.
It make's a big impact when walking out of the London Rd entrance of Piccadilly station.

Aww cheers jerb , i did'nt know you cared so much :)

Yeah this is quite a big development ,, and could kick start more , down Fairfield St.
It make's a big impact when walking out of the London Rd entrance of Piccadilly station.

Of course I care H. Are you going on the AL open day? See you there?

Is this by Stephenson bell?

Not sure Lord Longy.

annother red brick monstrosity i expect

Is this by Stephenson bell?

Yep!

Stephenson Bell havent updated their webiste for 8 months so there is nothing on there about this one.

Originally posted by Sleepyone

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d144/legin3/03_p37_Buxton_St.jpg

Manchester tower

Student accommodation specialist Unite is set to develop a 17-storey tower in Manchester's Eastern Gateway following a recommendation for approval from the city council's planning department.


20.01.2006

Unite submitted an application for the £19m scheme in August 2005.

A final planning decision is expected in February.

The developer plans for the completion of the project to coincide with the beginning of the 2007-2008 academic year.

The tower, which would be built on a 0.7 acre (0.3 ha) site to the rear of Piccadilly railway station, was found to be consistent with the city's unitary development plan and in context with the surrounding area.

The first two floors would house commercial uses, and the remainder would contain 468 student bedrooms and 55 studio flats.

Key to the planning department's decision to recommend approval was the expected frequency of student traffic, which would bring life to an area in need of regeneration.

The Eastern Gateway is undergoing a redevelopment programme spearheaded by plans to turn a former BT building, to the west of the Unite tower, into a 120,000 sq ft (11,150 sq m) four-star hotel and 60,000 sq ft (5,575 sq m) of offices.

Of course I care H. Are you going on the AL open day? See you there?
When is it again?

Uhm...... seeing as its such an obscure render.. I do worry, the cladding will save this from being a 60's block I reckon, it looks quite neat and original.. could date veeeery quickly mind, and brick with horizontal white panels per floor is a very dated look so.. God knows whether we get an okay building or a monster..

Having said that, it could be actually a good thing if we get an old lookin building at that height, because it will blend in well with the new towers of Eastgate etc and diversify the cluster as to not make it look like it all sprung up over night.. Don't you reckon? Make it look a bit more downtown? lol.

As you can see the building steps up from 10 storeys to 19 storeys in, I think, 2 or 3 steps. Purpley-red panels and dark purpley-blue bricks to the side elevations. There are 2 floors of retail / commercial space to the ground floor. The images on the planning application also indicate a very slim looking building looking side-on.

I think this is a decent building and certainly a step up from most other student halls built in the city in recent times. Unite Group seem to employ decent architects and are perhaps a wee bit more design conscious than other private developers of student halls such as Opal or the company that built the Berry / Buxton St block next door.

Longy - it is by Stephenson bell

Longy - it is by Stephenson bell

Real question here, I'm not just taking the piss, but does anyone know of any purpose built student accommodation that doesn't look crap?

I wouldn't imagine this is going to be anything spectacular but it can't be much worse that what's there at the moment.

From Platform 13 in Piccadilly Station

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_0854.jpg

The people living in those apartments behind are going to be so pissed off...
Cheers for the pic H.

Yeah, they really had a great view of a couple of car parks and a railway platform with a scabby underpass full of prostitutes!

Mill Point is not apartments , its student accomadation.

thanks for the pic H, quite tall isnt it.

Starting to rise now.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_0873.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_0874.jpg

Another floor done

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_0908.jpg

That is a fucking big building.

I wonder if it would be a good idea to get one the student flats in this place for my 2008/09 year at uni... would be a good vantage point for Albany and Eastgate towers!!

All that noise interrupting your drinki..ahem studying?

Drinking is the best part of the town and country planning course!! ;)

Well I've lived in two different halls with construction right under the window and it never bothered my studying, although not much would cos I was too busy doin more important things ;) I'd personally love to live amongst all that 'terrible dust n noise'.. especially if above it all for a few months :D

A few diagrams of the Berry Street proposal. Shows a good comparison with BT House. It's a bigun, that's for sure. Go to associated documents.

http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/publicaccess/dc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=J1M7SFBC62000&searchtype=WEEKLY

You get quite a good view of the impact this will have from Ancoats and New Islington. Cheers for the images JRB.

Taken today.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture288.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture289.jpg

Taken on friday

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d144/legin3/sport093.jpg

anyone worried this ones going to turn out shite? i am...

anyone worried this ones going to turn out shite? i am...

It looked quite decent on the planning app. I think you may be pleasantly surprised.

I don't think it'll be brilliant, Manc Guy. But I don't think it'll be shite either.

I wonder if it would be a good idea to get one the student flats in this place for my 2008/09 year at uni... would be a good vantage point for Albany and Eastgate towers!!

Well... my flat for my postgrad course is behind Eastgate site and 150 meters to Albany just hope they start building them before I have to leave it :(

going up pretty fast, and now have signs on them identifying them as student housing

(and I thought they were part of the MacDonald Hotel development on London Road).

Is there a thread on here with pictures of how they are intended to be?

thanks

apologies - I see it is under Berry street below

Today. Taken on me mobile. Its certainly moving along and is already looming large from platform 13 at Piccadilly Station.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i182/macc2001/DSC00042-1.jpg

Nice monolith.

Piccadilly Point, which will be apartments/student flats, a.k.a. the Unite Tower (Unite being the student flat company) is a 55m / 19 storey tower going up at the moment near Piccadilly station, on the corner of Baring Street and Buxton Street.

(There was a thread on this... but it's lost...)

Taken today from The Glorious The Sackville Street Building.

http://pichotel.com/pic/4750g5mlQ/101965.jpg

This tower will hopefully be the first in a number of towers round the back of Piccadilly. It's the next area the city centre can easily expand into.

See also:

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=4589

This one?

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d144/legin3/03_p37_Buxton_St.jpg

Yes here's one I from about a 2 weeks ago

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d144/legin3/dec052.jpg

Ah yes - thanks for that photo. I haven't actually gone right up to it, as seeing it from Piccadilly station or from the University is enough. I wonder if they will be able to accommodate students in September 2007 already? I'm not taking any chances! Saying that, I may give it a go in my final year (2008/09) at Uni - could get some cracking views of the city centre/Eastgate/the Universities.

I wonder if they will be able to accommodate students in September 2007 already?

They are advertising it as to be completed by the next student year, if thats what your mean.

Yes I know, but whether it will actually be finished by then (and I mean completely finished)... it has happened before that students have had to be housed elsewhere for a couple of weeks!

Well they dont look too far off now, 9 months is alot of time to paint the skirting boards! Although the first year of any student halls is not a great time to be there, its all fresh but its also when all the defects are snagged out. Hope the clad is as funky as the renders suggest.

Er, I think that's clunky, not funky, Architecty.

I'm not a big fan of this building. Why not just build a rectangular block instead of stepping it up? Alternatively if the stepups occured at the cores they might look structural and solid. If they swept up in a curve it could look really something. But the way they are just leaves me cold. It just looks wrong. A bit of artful design with no artifice, and a waste.

So while I like colour, I'm not optimistic about those panels.

Farsight - it's a student accommodation block in a run down part of town - they are not interested in aesthetics like curves- couple more pics. Just think Eastgate will be rising behind very soon.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d144/legin3/dec042.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d144/legin3/dec039.jpg

If anything considering the location its looking well designed and like a reasonable amount of cash is being spent; especially considering its student halls.

Just a shame that it isn’t the block closest to the Manc Way, instead of the generic crap they slapped up there, god I hate aluminium on top two floors type affairs.

Thanks Legin. It's a shame there's not a curve to echo the long long curve of the (former BT Building?) McDonald Hotel. But yes Architecty, that small-eyed abortion in front makes it look a whole lot better. So yeah, maybe I reckon somebody missed a trick but hey it's an imperfect world, so OK, pass.

Some photos of this architectural masterpiece.
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/4589UNITETower_pic2.jpg
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/4589UNITETower_pic3.jpg
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/4589UNITETower_pic4.jpg

This'll be an awesome place to live. Coming home pissed from 5th ave at half 3, greeted by delightful prostitutes and druggies in the dark corners around abandoned Mayfield. Meh, students pratically live in their own filth these days anyway.

ave at half 3

Half 3? bit early. I prefer the walk of shame the next day :)

They're cracking on with this at a good pace (it's Carillion - the same company which will be building nearby Eastgate). It actually makes quite an impression on the skyline from certain places. I'll get some photos this weekend maybe.

It actually makes quite an impression on the skyline from certain places. I'll get some photos this weekend maybe.

It certainly does, I can see it all the way from lower broughton in salford.

Some photos from today:

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9070/picpoint19gl.jpg

(taken from Piccadilly station)

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/6955/picpoint28db.jpg

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/3773/picpoint31yt.jpg

It is in a pretty dodgy area - almost got mugged, about 5 minutes before taking these last two photos! :runaway:

Just a shame that it isn’t the block closest to the Manc Way, instead of the generic crap they slapped up there, god I hate aluminium on top two floors type affairs.

There has to be some generic amorphous crap dotted around, doesn't there?! The aluminium/red brick effect is ok-ish. I repeat this like a parrot every few months but I think using red brick is important in Gtr Manchester to tie in what's already here. Otherwise it should be like a blank canvas, albeit a red one.

I couldn't agree less.

There has to be some generic amorphous crap dotted around, doesn't there?! The aluminium/red brick effect is ok-ish. I repeat this like a parrot every few months but I think using red brick is important in Gtr Manchester to tie in what's already here. Otherwise it should be like a blank canvas, albeit a red one.

Why the approximate tone of some of Manchester’s buildings is deemed as the lynch pin of continuitous architecture escapes me. Firstly the “red brick” that is supposedly Manchester’s colour is more often than not terracotta and not plain stock red; and where brick was used on the warehouses and such it tends to be much more brown than red. Even when you see non-terracotta red brick used in older Manchester architecture there is a vast modulation in the shades tones and colours in the bricks, never monotonous blank Rugby stock.

So no, its NEVER acceptable, it fits in with nothing, and only serves to male lots of shot new buildings in Manchester look relevant to each other, not the existing stuff. Where does this idea of things playing terrible misinformed lip service to old architecture being a good thing come from? Stop accepting dirge as an acceptable part of urban life!

I hate red brick (except on my house - but i'm moving so i hate red brick houses aswell in about two weeks time!).
I think ive fallen out with my fellow heritage nazis over red brick more than anything.

Near me there's an area called Canford Cliffs. You see stone and rendered cottages and villas being demolished to be replaced by red brick because it's a "conservation area". I don't believe this is the developers' choice, but that they are encouraged/pressured to use red brick. There's always been an element of red brick in Canford Cliffs, but the amount is gradually increasing. Coupled with the inevitable increase in density and flats, what we're seeing is a soft suburban aspect gradually acquiring a somewhat urban and industrial look in the name of conservation. I find it amazing that people can get things so wrong.

I think the same applies to Manchester, and rather more older buildings were non-brick than people realise. I like old stone, like on the Town Hall. I think terracotta can look good (eg Refuge = Palace Hotel), as can red brick (eg University Precinct centre). What I like best though that rich tapestry of stone and glass and metal and render and timber and brick. Not some dreary monoculture of urban, industrial, red, red brick.

Fucking Hell this is getting ridiculous - for the third time i am in agreement with Farsight.
In fact i am even going to go as far as knicking his 'soft suburban' phrase and use it in intellectual conversation. Like it - nearly as much as 'sidey'.

Cranes now come down ,, this one is a big bugger .

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1296.jpg?t=1172266391

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1298.jpg?t=1172266447

the cladding going on
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1299.jpg?t=1172266485

Do Burberry know about the cladding? ^^ Wasn't it supposed to be red cladding?

http://www.uncrate.com/men/images/burberry-check-boxer.jpg

Looks like B&Q had a job lot of kitchen work tops going cheap. This is nearly as bad as the Rylands cladding. A rare bollocked dropped by Stephenson Bell.

I should reserve judgement until its finished but this looks bobbins at the mo.

lol,,, very quick jerbster

actually it looks really good in the flesh mate ,, its very different and dont forget this building will probably be hidden from future developments that go up fronting onto Fairfield St ,, i like it :)

Looks alright that...

http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/k/ky/kymmie_xox/136644_licorice_allsorts.jpg

File in b4llsortsmmy's Haribo Tower thread (if i could be bothered to find it).

lol,,, very quick jerbster

actually it looks really good in the flesh mate ,, its very different and dont forget this building will probably be hidden from future developments that go up fronting onto Fairfield St ,, i like it :)

Obviously built for Southern Freshers H.

Expect Louis Vuitton to open their second Manchester store in one of the retail units.

The Bet Lynch of the manchester skyline :laugh:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1383.jpg?t=1175798306

i like it, its 100% better than their abomination of a scheme in liverpool

The cladding panels were going to be a deep purple were they not? They should have stuck with that colour I think.

i like it, its 100% better than their abomination of a scheme in liverpool

Ditto - purists may not be too keen on it, but I like it too...

Hmmmn.

Well at least it's got a bit of colour to it and.. and..

Hmmmn.

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/9759/0008bn9.jpg

I like this.

Beats most student blocks.

All those offset windows and panels hurt my eyes.

It also hurts my mind, because some of those windows are aligned, and others are not, but it's hard to tell.

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h51000/h51395.jpg

http://www.london-footprints.co.uk/Photos/grosvenor.jpg

A shame they changed the colours to slightly naff pastel shades, would have looked much better with bold tones; has taken the edge off what was looking to have been a very good building for its type. Still okay, but could have been better so very easily.

Taken Friday.

From a distance it looks erm..... :rant: Close up it looks..... :dunno:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture3947.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture3946.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture3951.jpg

The form of the building looks fine but the cladding looks far too busy.

This building was originally to have a sort of purple-y cladding was it not? Whoever enforced / decided upon this jumble of earth tones should be ashamed. A good building compromised.

I quite like this. I mean, it could quickly become too much of a good thing, but in the mundane surroundings it looks pretty funky..

This building was originally to have a sort of purple-y cladding was it not? Whoever enforced / decided upon this jumble of earth tones should be ashamed. A good building compromised.

Yup, what he said!

You cant do bold and timid at the same time; this happens so often when strong concepts are watered down and end up being shit because of someone loosing their nerve. However am still thrilled that is like this and not just a blank brick box; its nice to see a building clad badly in a new way! :nuts:

I caught it comming into from Piccadilly on a train, at the weekend. I was surprised at how quick the cladding seemed to go on.

It definately grabs the attention but I too had a momentary pang for purple after recalling the original palette. the chosen colour scheme made it come across as more of a 'filler' that it would of, had it been purple. Considering its student flats though, I'm not knocking it.

this happens so often when strong concepts are watered down and end up being shit because of someone loosing their nerve.

At what stage was it likely to have change, do you think? Surely you can't get planning permission for a building like this and then completely change the colour scheme just because you feel like it.

I have to say after seeing this from Picadilly station that I really like it, the cladding is a bit... retro to say the least, but when considering its a student block, I think its a really cool job.. much better than the likes of what some university's have. It certainly catches your eye from that area of the city, didn't realise it was so big dominant either, but hey its different and all adds to the organised chaos that a city should be.

At what stage was it likely to have change, do you think? Surely you can't get planning permission for a building like this and then completely change the colour scheme just because you feel like it.Dont know the history but I supose it may not have got planning for the brighter colours in the first place; anyone know if this is the planners being gutless? Architects and developers do sometimes get all concervative just as the money is about to be spent though....

I have to say after seeing this from Picadilly station that I really like it, the cladding is a bit... retro to say the least, but when considering its a student block, I think its a really cool job.. much better than the likes of what some university's have. It certainly catches your eye from that area of the city, didn't realise it was so big dominant either, but hey its different and all adds to the organised chaos that a city should be.
Yup, much better than the lazy brick chunk neighbours; close but no cigar! Particularly like you saying "all adds to the organised chaos that a city should be"; thats something I massively agree with :yes:

Love it or hate it, it's different and isn't this type of cladding what's more or less proposed for Wilmott Street....but on a larger scale and in a much more prominent location?

Link below picture.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f276/lozoatway/urbex/Piccadilly%20Place%20Rooftop/DSC_0542.jpg

http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=17603


You can see on this picture in the top left corner that the Berry Street student accomadtion block is now fully cladded just internal works going on now.

Taken Thursday - From Platform 14 at Picadilly Station

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1430/5875668/16921559/274431604.jpg

Y'know, I quite like it! Nice and tidy.

p.s. I like the platform number on the wall, very professional looking! ;)

Taken Thursday - From Platform 14 at Picadilly Station

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1430/5875668/16921559/274431604.jpg

Noticed it when i arrived into Piccadilly on Tuesday it really does stand out with the cladding very different and unique and it works rather quite well with the new Macdonald Hotel right next to it.

that macdonald hotel refurb really shows what a gorgeous piece of architecture it is, it is by far manchesters most international style building

that macdonald hotel refurb really shows what a gorgeous piece of architecture it is, it is by far manchesters most international style building

I've always loved that building. I cant believe some guys on here wanted it knocked down!

Looks good down there now with these two buildings, now all we need is a new International Railway Terminal at Mayfield :banana:

That Berry St building is fucking horrible. SB should be ashamed of themselves on that one.
Awful.

That Berry St building is fucking horrible. SB should be ashamed of themselves on that one.
Awful.

It does look like the students puked down the sides on a Friday night, but I think you've been a wee bit harsh there. :)

I've seen student accomodation that looks alot worse than that. Opal Tower in Leeds springs to mind.

http://www.nickgrayson.net/Gallery/east%20manchester%20mostly-%2026%20april%202008/images/IMG_4016%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/Gallery/east%20manchester%20mostly-%2026%20april%202008/images/IMG_3997%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/Gallery/east%20manchester%20mostly-%2026%20april%202008/images/IMG_3988%20copy.jpg

Nice but did you ever get on Platform 14? That is a great place to get afew pics.

Nice but did you ever get on Platform 14? That is a great place to get afew pics.

nah couldn't be bothered to lock my bicycle up. you're right, i really should get round to getting over to platform 14.

nah couldn't be bothered to lock my bicycle up. you're right, i really should get round to getting over to platform 14.

lock it up? you can take it into the station, the plaform, you could if you wanted get on the train with it! Loads of people do it.