Rising to nine storeys, the £24m project designed by Tim Groom Architects is on a former car park on Blundell Street, next to the popular 24 Kitchen Street nightclub and events venue.
See below for gallery
ISG is 30 weeks through a 90-week build, one of two jobs it has secured with the developer, the other being another private-rented scheme in Cornbrook, Manchester.
The tight site has a single access via Blundell Street, and the nightclub itself has proved to be one of the most challenging aspects of the scheme, according to ISG project manager Ross Sangster.
When the scheme secured planning consent in 2016, conditions were set to minimise the impact on the nightclub, all part of a city council approach “maintain the vibe of the Baltic Triangle as a creative hub”, according to Sangster.
This meant the contractor had to work up a comprehensive acoustic strategy for the site.
“The next-door nightclub has presented a definite challenge: “We had to put a lot of thought into the acoustics, with a planning condition in place that meant nothing we did during construction could impact the nightclub,” said Sangster.
“We reviewed the acoustic strategy and added additional brickwork and plasterboard internally, upped the specification of windows to give the building an acoustic upgrade with the full support of the client. This was done early in the process.”
Site clearance, a reduced-level dig to create a car park, and pad foundations all started last year, with the 1,200-tonne steel frame nearing completion. The site is served by a crane operating centrally, and this has provided more challenges to the delivery team.
Crane breaks have been built into the programme due to the risk of high winds; this allows the team to continue working with mast climbers and the concrete slabs if the crane cannot be used. Other steps taken have included offsetting the steel frame from the site boundary to avoid the need for temporary works and digging up neighbouring footpaths.
Around 440,000 bricks will be used through the course of the project with the buff-brick finish to reflect the neighbouring buildings. Along with the apartments, there are also two commercial units at ground-floor level, one of which will be rented out, while the other is to be retained by Brickland for use as an “enterprise unit”, to act as a work or creative space for local businesses.
Much of the team has transferred from ISG’s recently-completed £39m Lime Street development, which saw the delivery of a Premier Inn, a 412-bed student scheme, and retail units along Bolton Street for clients Ion and Sigma Capital.
As well as the team, mast climbers and the tower crane have also been transferred, which according to Sangster has helped to bring the “lessons learned” from that scheme to Blundell Street.
ISG and Brickland’s Baltic Triangle scheme is set to hand over in summer 2020. The professional team also includes Walter Watson on steelwork and Clancy as structural engineer.
Article from Place North-West