New Victoria was one of six buildings shortlisted for the Building of the Year Award 2023.
The flagship scheme is repurposing a key area adjacent to Manchester Victoria train station into a vibrant new residential community.
The Private Residential Scheme element will deliver 450,000 sq ft of residential development, providing 520 new homes over two 20 and 25-storey towers respectively, alongside ground-floor retail and extensive public realm. There is a linking amenity link bridge between the towers housing a concierge space, a gym, shared working, a games room, a shared kitchen, cinema room, a shared entertainment space, a café and a library/music space.
The two towers are built over an existing culvert which meant that the buildings were dictated in footprint by the culvert which sits on either side of an existing culvert. The existing culvert is a Network Rail asset and the plan had to overcome challenges of strict protocols for Network Rail and the neighbouring TfGM Metrolink and Victoria Train station.
Early Completion
New Victoria was completed six months early and this was achieved because of everyone pulling in the same direction. There was a highly collaborative team (a very high-performing team) and all stakeholders played their part in making it success.
Vinci worked hard to make this project a high-value project with plenty of ESG running through the duration of the build.
The notable flagship scheme was a partnership with LifeShare to bring about a temporary space using the temporary site accommodation, opening between 7am to 8pm, for two weeks every Christmas break in 2021 and 2022. The homeless or those in crisis could come and find a hot meal, companionship, medical and personal care (showers, veterinary care doggy care centre, hair salon, eye tests and glasses). The kitchen was fully stocked with over 100 turkeys over these two Christmas periods, equating to 2,200 hot meals. Towels, toiletries and clothing bank parcels were issued. This is a true example where all parts of the projects donated time and money. Walker Sime made a financial contribution each year and had volunteers for both year. In 2021 the Big Give campaign doubled the monies raised in 2021 and 2022. In 2021 over £6,000 was raised and the bar raised even higher in 2022 with £15,000 by the client team.
The LifeShare project is only one example of a social value initiative, there were plenty more such as charity walks, Easter egg collections, ROTL scheme (getting prisoners back in to work scheme) etc.
If getting an early completion on New Victoria wasn’t a fantastic achievement in itself (by introducing 520 new homes), implementing all these ESG initiatives on this scheme were life-changing interventions during the construction build between 2020-2023 - rejuvenating this area of the Manchester city centre.
The Christie Paterson Building was the winner of the Building of the Year Award 2023 - read more here.