This is a large mixed-use development consisting of six separate buildings providing residential accommodation, office space, retail units and hotel accommodation. The development is dominated by the 37-storey and 25-storey twin residential towers at the northern end of the site.

A variety of structural forms are proposed for this major mixed-use development. The size of this project presents a huge number of difficult inter-related design problems which Shepherd Gilmour is well used to solving. Particular attention has been paid to ensuring the sustainability of the project throughout its life including the construction phase.

Structural aspects of the design include wind tunnel modelling carried out at the National Physical Laboratory and complex 3D analysis modelling of the individual buildings using specialist software. In particular, the early stage analysis of horizontal accelerations due to vibration and wind deflections. In addition, considerable thought has been given to the logistics of constructing the six buildings and associated public realm works, given the site constraints such as the proximity of the Bridgewater Canal, and one of the main arterial roads into central Manchester