Oxygen reaches highest point

The two cores at Oxygen, the new luxury residential development from Property Alliance Group, have reached their highest point. Main contractor Russells Construction has completed both cores, which house the development’s lift shafts, and which reach to 32 storeys and 16 storeys respectively from basement to roof.

The structure in Store Street is the tallest single building that Russells has built, surpassing Axis, the 27-storey residential development further south in Albion Street.

Oxygen is also Russells’ highest value project to date, and its largest high rise residential scheme, creating 379,485 sq ft of space. Three individual but interlinked towers will provide 372 one- and two-bedroom apartments with a further 12 family townhouses at street level.

Tower 1 has almost reached its halfway point, with the team now working on level 16 of 32. Tower 2 is currently at level 12 of 16, and Tower 3 at level 9 of 10.

The finished scheme, designed by Jon Matthews Architects, will include a spa, gym and pool, plus 35 basement and surface car parking spaces. Outside there will be a double-height ground-floor retail unit in Tower 1.

Logistically a tight site, the team opted for a construction method involving in-situ concrete frames with post-tension slabs, pre-cast concrete walls and curtain walling. Four tower cranes, including one at 120m high, are now installing the precast cladding, which will be closely followed by the glazing units as part of a progressive programme.

Gareth Russell, director, said: “With the cores having reached their highest point we can now see the full extent of what an impressive building Oxygen will become. The team is doing a fantastic job managing a multi-faceted construction programme across separate three towers within a tight 3,300 sq m footplate in an incredibly busy part of the city centre.”

Developer Property Alliance Group has already sold 76% of the units off plan. Alex Russell, managing director, said: “We’re pleased to see such great progress being made, especially given the complexities of the build.

“Oxygen will add to Manchester’s growing portfolio of impressive residential schemes and is set to become one of the highest specification buildings ever built in the city. Not only does it offer high-quality homes, but five-star leisure facilities for residents.”