Manchester: The New High Life at Beetham Tower

Like most of the UK’s major cities, Manchester has seen a series of new building developments on an unprecedented scale including the tallest building in the UK outside of London, the spectacular Beetham Tower. In addition, it also features the highest living space in the country - a 750 metre square penthouse on the very top floor.

Construction started on this architecturally controversial building in August 2004 with a spectacular lightshow and fireworks display heralding its topping-off ceremony less than two years later on 27th April 2006, and now it ranks alongside Old Trafford and the City of Manchester Stadium as instantly recognisable Mancunian structures.

Adjacent to the imposing tower is space for the construction of a 12-storey office block, but given the current economic situation plans to proceed with that complex are on hold until the office space can be pre-sold or pre-let. However, there is an existing four-storey annex which houses a swimming pool, conference centre, ballroom and coffee shop for the hotel contained within the lower part of the Tower.

Standing 171 metres tall in total, the bottom 24 storeys of the Beetham Tower are home to the 285-bedroom Hilton Hotel Deansgate and the top 26 floors boast 219 luxury apartments, including a spectacular penthouse estimated to be worth £3million. However, anyone wishing to buy it will be sadly disappointed as the building’s architect Ian Simpson had first refusal, which he has duly exercised and is now its proud owner.

From the comfort of his plush living accommodation, Simpson can survey the whole of Greater Manchester and on a good day, 10 other counties, the Blackpool Tower, and first class views of all departing and incoming flights to Manchester airport!

The Beetham Tower also boasts several unusual architectural features. Firstly, it is ‘top- heavy’ from the 25th floor upwards as a cantilever juts out an extra four metres making the top half of the building wider than the bottom. The Hilton’s Cloud 23 bar is situated on the first level to jut out the extra four metres and two glass portholes are built into the bar floor, allowing drinkers to look 77 metres straight down to the pavement below, if they feel so inclined.

Additionally, Beetham Tower is an extremely thin skyscraper with an unusual aspect ratio of 1:9, measured by the area of least width in proportion to its height. However, it totally dominates the district of Castlefield and looms large over the centre of Manchester. It is close to the main shopping area of Deansgate and the heart of the city’s nightlife, and its construction has certainly brought a taste of the high-life to cosmopolitan Manchester, changing the city’s skyline forever.

Article Source: http://www.mycontentbuilder.com

Andrew Regan writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated