FP McCann’s Precast Off-Site Building Solutions the chosen design on City Centre Hotel
Status: Completed
Location: Motel One and Staycity Aparthotel, 3 Peter’s Square, Manchester
Client: Property Alliance Group
Architect: Leach Rhodes Walker
Main Contractor: Russell WBHO
Products Supplied: FP McCann Precast Concrete Building Frame System; Architectural sandwich Façade Panels; Precast Stair Flights and Landings
FP McCann’s Precast Off-Site Building division has installed the complete package of modular precast components on a brand new £50 million hotel project in Manchester.
Client, Property Alliance Group has fronted the 3 St Peter’s Square project that houses Motel One and a Staycity aparthotel. Working in partnership with Manchester based main contractor Russell WBHO, the building of the 20 storey, 584 bedroom/studio complex was handed over in February. The hotel has been designed by Stephenson Studio with Leach Rhodes Walker as delivery architect.
Work on the building frame started in 2019 after FP McCann successfully tendered to Russell WBHO for the supply and installation contract submitting the complete design package of precast concrete structural and architectural facade materials required for the build.
In total some 3460 individual precast units make up the precast structural frame including 1209 no. solid floor slabs; 372 no. pre-stressed floor slabs; 1208 no. cross walls; 13 no. columns; 45 no. cladding units and 535 no. architectural finish sandwich facade panels. Also included in the build are 78 precast concrete stair flights and stair landings.
All units were delivered on a ‘just-in time’ basis from the Company’s Byley precast factory. The FP McCann contracting team RLH Construction, completed the work on the very tight city centre site. Once offloaded, the units were fixed into position, the single handling operation ensuring that all the components were safely installed with minimal risk of damage.
The main supporting precast structure of the building comprises precast concrete crosswalls 200mm thick and precast concrete solid floors 200mm thick, with a localised pod recess. The crosswalls in turn, support the fixing of the external precast concrete facade panels specially designed to meet the architect’s exacting brief.
The architectural panels are of a 430mm thick ‘sandwich’ construction with the outer 80mm thick facade being of a light grey smooth acid-etched finish in combination with stencilled natural stone effect finish panels. The insulation layer sits between the inner and outer concrete faces. The facade panels have been manufactured at McCann’s specialist architectural precast facility in Byley, Cheshire and have been designed to accommodate the pre-installed 0.15 U value windows, factory fitted prior to delivery.
All precast wall and floor sections have been designed for ease of build, linking together with hidden tie rods. Joints are finished with a high-strength non-shrink grout.
Both the structural and architectural facade teams at FP McCann worked closely with the designers Stephenson Studio and partnering architect Leach Rhodes Walker on the project to ensure all aspects of the build meet the exacting specification standard.
Commenting on the building design, Joe Rawlinson, Project Manager for Russell WBHO says, “This method of modular precast construction demonstrates a number of efficiencies compared with practices associated with a traditional build. Speed of construction, minimising waste and the ability to work in all weather conditions are all major benefits. Additionally, the sandwich panel external architectural facade system removes the need for scaffolding thereby minimising the health and safety risk factors associated with people working at height.”
For further information on FP McCann’s Precast Off-Site Building Products, contact the team at Byley on 01606 843500 or email sales@fpmccann.co.uk
