Thanks to the South Tower on Deansgate Square, which stands 67 storeys (201m) high, Manchester is already home to the UK’s tallest building outside London.
Already think the South Tower is pretty tall? Well, the city has its sights set on climbing even higher. SimpsonHaugh, the architecture firm behind the South Tower, has unveiled plans for a new skyscraper set to reach an enormous 76 storeys and 230m (possibly even higher).
The new tower is set to be built on a former railway viaduct and feature inclined faces that are meant to ‘catch light differently, creating a dynamic response to changes in light conditions’. Sounds swanky.
It’s one of five towers that make up the new ‘Viadux’ scheme, regenerating the area between Manchester Central Convention Complex and Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink Station.
Right now, the giant skyscraper is being referred to as Viadux Phase Two. Alongside another new 23-storey housing block (Viadux Phase Three), it will have more than 900 homes, including around 130 affordable ones. Phase One of the project has almost reached completion and includes a 40-storey residential tower.
SimpsonHaugh said: ‘The overall design ethos for the Viadux site is to create a collection of buildings that complement each other and create a distinguishable and elegant tall building cluster that will be visible from a variety of perspectives, distances and viewpoints. The simple forms respond to the wider city centre context and vertical form.’
There’s tonnes of other exciting developments going on in Manchester at the moment. Have you heard about this new market hall in Prestwich? What about the mega £250m water park? Plans are also underway to make Old Trafford the ‘Wembley of the North’, plus there’s a huge new ice rink coming to Trafford City.
Did you see which UK city is getting a new night bus service?
Plus: this Scottish tourist attraction might be getting a new name.
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