The team behind Oxygen, the new £85m luxury residential development in Manchester’s Piccadilly, has marked the project’s latest construction milestone. The roof of the 32nd floor has been installed and the project team has come together to celebrate the official ‘Topping Out’.
Main contractor Russell WBHO hosted a socially-distanced get together at the scheme in Store Street with representatives from developer Property Alliance Group and designer Jon Matthews Architects, the same team which was responsible for the Axis building in Albion Street.
Oxygen is Russell WBHO’s tallest and largest residential project to-date with 372 one- and two- bedroom apartments and 12 townhouses each with its own front garden. The scheme also features exclusive penthouses, which are due to be released in September 2020, each offering outside space and extensive views of the city.
Together with resident amenity areas, gardens, retail and leisure facilities, and car parking, the scheme covers a total 379,485 sq ft.
The ‘vertical neighbourhood’ comprises three individual towers of 32, 16 and 10 stories linked by two lift shafts. Facilities include a residents’ lounge and reception, with a cinema and social room, as well as a separate spa, featuring a 25m swimming pool, gym, fitness studio, steam room and sauna.
The striking chamfered wedge of Tower 3 will incorporate an eco-friendly tiered allotment for use by residents, while in Tower 1 there will be a double-height ground-floor retail unit. Located in Manchester’s emerging Piccadilly Basin district, Oxygen is just a short walk from the Northern Quarter and city centre employment zones.
Gareth Russell, joint managing director of Russell WBHO, said: “Oxygen is an impressive development and our largest residential scheme to-date, creating a new landmark building at the eastern entrance to the city centre. Mitigation of the recent COVID 19 situation has been meticulously managed by our project team and we’re extremely pleased to be topping out the development as planned.”
Victoria Russell, director at Property Alliance Group, said: “We’re impressed with the construction team’s commitment to keeping the project running throughout these challenging times, and we’re delighted to be celebrating the topping out with our colleagues from Russell WHBO and Jon Matthews Architects.
“Oxygen is an extremely exciting new self-contained neighbourhood. The apartments and townhouses connect with our fantastic residents’ hub, providing different spaces to fit with the tempo of your day, whether you’re burning off energy in the gym or relaxing with your favourite book and a coffee. It’s going to be a great, welcoming space for our thriving community to enjoy.”
And John Crellin from Jon Matthews Architects added: “Seeing this building progress is extremely satisfying and we’re thrilled to be marking this milestone. Oxygen is an exciting mix of high quality homes with enviable amenities and a significant amount of outdoor green space for a city centre high rise, which promises to become one of Manchester’s most-recognisable and aspirational new residential addresses.”
Construction of the building envelope will continue until the end of the year followed by a nine-month fit out with completion expected before then end of 2021. Construction is by way of in-situ concrete frames with post-tension slabs, pre-cast concrete walls and curtain walling, and a high specification internal fit out. Each property will benefit from full height windows and balconies, offering views across the city and beyond to Derbyshire or the Pennine Hills.
