Projects
Abseil Track for New St Michael’s Development in Manchester
The Client
St Michael’s Manchester is a transformative redevelopment project located on Jackson Row and Bootle Street in the heart of the city centre. Spearheaded by Gary Neville’s development company, Relentless, in collaboration with property developers Salboy and investment firm KKR, the project is set to become a landmark destination in Manchester.
The mixed-use development will feature a five-star hotel, premium residential apartments, high-specification office spaces, a restaurant, and a new public park — all designed to showcase the very best of what the city has to offer.
Appointed as the principal contractor, Bowmer and Kirkland were tasked with sourcing specialist Work at Height equipment for the development. As a trusted industry leader, Heightsafe were their first port of call to provide a safe, integrated façade access solution.
The Brief
The goal was to deliver a future-proof, sustainable building that supports the health, wellbeing, and productivity of its occupiers. With this vision in mind, Heightsafe were commissioned to design and install access systems that would offer maximum safety while remaining discreet and sympathetic to the building’s architectural aesthetic.
Following detailed consultations, it was determined that a combination of an Abseil Rail and Davit Arm Systems would provide the optimal solution for safe, ongoing access to the building’s roofs and façades for maintenance purposes.
The Solution
Heightsafe have collaborated with FallProtec on multiple projects over the years, and have built up a solid relationship with their team. Leveraging our long-standing partnership with FallProtec, our technical teams collaborated closely to design a bespoke Abseil Rail System tailored to the unique structure of the ‘Phase One’ development — a striking, glass-fronted, nine-storey tiered building.
The rail was engineered to integrate seamlessly with the building’s perimeter, preserving the visual appeal of its outdoor terraces and contemporary architecture. The system also featured motorised trolleys to aid in climbing the incline sections of rail.
In addition to the Abseil Rail, multiple Davit Arm Systems were strategically installed at varying levels of the structure to ensure full façade access coverage. Heightsafe’s experienced installation teams executed the work with precision and provided comprehensive training to the client upon handover.
The Outcome
Together with FallProtec, Heightsafe delivered a discreet yet highly effective façade access solution that supports the long-term maintenance of this iconic development — without compromising its design integrity.
Our systems ensure that future operatives can safely and easily clean and maintain the building’s exterior, allowing St Michael’s to remain a beacon of architectural excellence in Manchester for years to come.
Contact Us
To learn more about Abseil Rail Systems, Davit Arm Systems, or other innovative Façade Access solutions, speak to our expert team today on 020 3819 7199 or submit an enquiry here.
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