The project comprises the design and construction of an originally deep basement with second piling to the perimeter, predominantly formed in in-situ reinforced concrete. Three towers up to 27 storeys were then constructed providing accommodation for 373 residential apartments, 274 student rooms and 12 commercial units including a major supermarket, restaurants and a gymnasium.

The basement structure provides over 160,000 sq.ft of net internal space which has been fitted out to provide office, retail, storage and car parking space along with loading bays to support the retail facilities. The basement construction works were carried out in two steps, comprising an initial “Enabling Works Contract” to deliver the second piling and to crystalise the planning consent followed by the “Main Works Contract” whereby stepped and romped excavations more undertaken in parallel with the formation of the structural basement box. Total costs associated with just the basement works were in order of £25.

McBains provided project management, contract administration and cost management in addition to Design services. The PM, CA, CM role was engaged from the outset in 2007 throughout the design, procurement and construction period and we were retained to carry out various additional works on site to satisfy more recent requirements.