Oxygen Towers

Description:

BriggsAmasco Provides Smart, Weathertight Finish for ‘Vertical’ City Centre Development.

For a luxury high-rise development in Manchester city centre, the experience and skills of a quality waterproofing company were required to install a weathertight solution to three huge towers which serve the mixed-use scheme. BriggsAmasco’s teams were more than qualified for the task.

The Oxygen development is described as having set new standards for luxury living in Manchester. Located in the city’s popular New Islington district, the ‘vertical neighbourhood’ comprises a 32, 16 and 10-storey tower. Each offers a spectacular view across the city, as well as enjoying close proximity to Manchester’s most up-and-coming area, the bustling, bohemian Northern Quarter.

In total, the development, which was designed by Jon Matthews Architects on behalf of Property Alliance Group, comprises 12 luxury townhouses, 361 premium one, two and three-bedroom apartments and seven penthouses. Covering a 379,000ft2 area, the scheme’s luxury facilities include a gymnasium with a separate fitness studio, steam room and a residents’ lounge. A community park, which is exclusive to residents, is available on the ground floor.
For the towers’ waterproofing, BriggsAmasco was selected by main contractor Russell WBHO to supply a system comprising an IKO Permatec hot-applied, self-sealing membrane, as well as a rigid insulation board. Due to the towers’ height, wind uplift was a potential issue. To counteract this, BriggsAmasco installed a dense level of ballast and 63mm paving slabs as a finish for each roof.

Each tower was linked by a lift and a stair core, with both containing over runs. These were sealed by BriggsAmasco using an IKO system featuring a self-adhesive vapour control layer and a self-adhesive underlay with a torch-on capsheet. Teams also installed the IKO Permatec hot-melt membrane to a groundfloor podium which surrounds each tower. As an example of how Briggs’ site operatives go and above and beyond to ensure roofing projects are completed to the client’s full satisfaction, for the Oxygen project they also installed and waterproofed davit posts for each tower. These will allow abseil access for cleaning and maintenance works to be carried out on the towers’ exterior.

Despite work being suspended for two weeks due to coronavirus restrictions, BriggsAmasco teams completed the Oxygen towers’ waterproofing aspect in July 2021, in line with the client’s agreed timeframe. This project further showcases BriggsAmasco’s skills in bringing a vast and complex waterproofing project to a successful conclusion. For this desirable city centre development, the company’s renowed expertise will safeguard the long-term comfort and peace of mind of its current and future residents.