Steel completes on diagrid landmark office scheme

Structural steelwork has been completed on Four New Bailey, a 10-storey office development in Salford, which has been let to telecommunications giant BT as its new regional hub.

Designed by Make Architects, the building features a lattice diagrid steel frame, said to be influenced by the Victorian infrastructure and bridges along the adjacent River Irwell.

According to Make, BT’s team will benefit from exceptional communal facilities throughout the building that support colleague wellbeing, right up to the rooftop terrace where they will be able to enjoy panoramic views across the city.

Working on behalf of main contractor Bowmer + Kirkland, Billington Structures fabricated, supplied and erected 1,100t of steel for the project.

Aiming to achieve a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating, the building will provide 16,250m² of Grade A office space.

The steel frame is founded on piled foundations and gains its stability from a combination of the main centrally-positioned concrete core, the diaphragm action of the floor slabs and the stiffness of the diagrid.

With minimal internal columns, long span cellular beams, up to 15m-long, create open-plan floorplates, accommodate the building’s services within their depth and support a metal decked composite flooring solution.

Four New Bailey is due to complete by the end of the year.