Forming part of the Great Jackson Street Strategic Regeneration Framework area (now known as New Jackson), Crown Street Phase 3 is a residential development that will deliver 1,746 apartments across its 4 distinctive towers.
Two taller towers (C7 and C8), rise to 51 storeys, with the two smaller towers (E1 and E2) standing at 47-storeys. The buildings will step down in scale slightly to the east, lowering just below the level of West Tower of Deansgate Square.
At street level, a two-storey colonnaded podium defines a new public square, an inviting and vibrant space at the centre of the scheme, anchored at each corner by the residential towers.
With a new green square lying at the heart of the development, the scheme offers significant new high-quality public space for Manchester. A classic design of a raised central lawn and single line of striking trees offers an attractive and simple form that complements the architectural colonnade surrounding the public realm.
At ground floor, the accommodation is designed to create active frontages and seamlessly connect with the new public realm, including 14 commercial units collectively providing 992 sqm of commercial space. At first-floor, high-quality residential amenity is arranged within the podium building and includes a gymnasium and associated studios, for classes such as spinning and yoga, as well as additional flexible workspace and meeting rooms.
Each tower is cut back at Level 2, articulating the tower separately from the grounded podium block, while also creating the opportunity for terraces overlooking the colonnade. Residential amenity is also provided at this level, comprising flexible spaces, such as residential lounges and private dining.
The elevation treatment for the Phase 3 towers complements the emerging context of the New Jackson, whilst also providing a unique appearance. The façade arrangement combines vision glass, perforated solid panels and perforated rapid vent panels for ventilation in a facetted arrangement within which adjacent facets contrast each other and enhance the unique tower forms. The facades will reflect the light differently on each facet, offering dynamic backdrops to the GJS Framework area. The contrasting use of texture, colour and glazed panels provides the buildings with their own character.
For towers C7 and C8, the perforated aluminium elements of the building are an anodised ‘champagne’ tone to harmonize with the bronze tone of Elizabeth Tower of Crown Street Phase 1, the polished silver of The Blade, and the dark grey of Three60, which form Crown Street Phase 2. Meanwhile, towers E1 and E2 showcase perforated aluminium elements in an anodised ‘silver’ tone to complement the silver used at Deansgate Square and provide a neutral counterpoint to tower F1 of the Plot F development.