It’s always satisfying when a project tops out, especially large high-rise developments like the C2 residential tower in New Bailey, Salford. The 23-storey building will deliver 198 new homes as part of the wider £1 billion Salford Central regeneration, led by the English Cities Fund (ECF) in partnership with Salford City Council.
Developed by ECF and backed by CBRE Investment Management, the scheme is providing a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, complete with resident amenities including a gym and co-working spaces. Designed by Hawkins\Brown and built by Morgan Sindall Construction, the building forms the final phase in the long-running regeneration of the area.
With the project now topped out, the fit-out is underway and progressing steadily up through the floors.
Key engineering innovations
As structural engineers on the project, we’ve had an important part to play. The considered designs we delivered support:
- Rationalised slab design: Working closely with the architect and design team, we developed a consistent structural grid that allowed us to reduce the floor slab thickness from 225mm to 215mm, cutting both concrete and embodied carbon.
- Efficient core and corridor zoning: We optimised the core design by creating a 450mm structural corridor zone without penetrations, improving stability and enabling thinner internal walls. This also simplified MEP coordination.
- Futureproofed MEP strategy: By eliminating several internal walls within the core at service risers, we created uninterrupted corridors that allow services to be distributed more efficiently across the floorplate.
- Low-carbon concrete mix: The concrete mix included cement replacement in the form of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), reducing embodied carbon and improving durability.
- Embodied carbon performance: Through design rationalisation and material optimisation, we reduced the SCORS rating from a Stage 2 ‘D’ (273kg CO₂e/m²) to a Stage 4 ‘B’ (192kg CO₂e/m²), bringing the project closer to LETI 2030 targets.
Looking ahead
C2 has gone up quickly and efficiently thanks to close collaboration across the team. With the building now topped out, we’re looking forward to seeing the final stages come together and residents move in. It’s great to have played our part in helping deliver a smarter, more sustainable structure that forms an important part of Salford’s continuing transformation.
