Former gas works site reborn with steel

A seven-storey steel-framed office and retail building is the latest structure to take shape at the First Street Development in central Manchester.

Located on the site of the former Gaythorn Gas Works, near Oxford Road railway station, the First Street scheme includes a mix of commercial office, retail, residential and cultural buildings.

Working on behalf of main contractor Carillion, Elland Steel Structures is fabricating, supplying and erecting approximately 1,750t of steel for the building, which will provide 14,600m² of Grade A office accommodation.

It will also include 1,300m² of retail space at ground floor, with associated entrance lobby, loading/ service bay and undercroft parking.

A striking feature of the building is the elevational treatment, with two-storey high punched windows projecting forward from a contemporary architectural mesh that wraps into the entrance lobby and key internal spaces.

Setting the office development apart from other projects in Manchester is a series of six two-storey high winter gardens that will provide recreational and break-out space for the building occupants.

Erected around a centrally positioned core, the steel frame features Westok cellular beams throughout and is based around a 6m × 13m grid pattern.

Completion of the building is set for September 2017.