Footballers unveil first images of 拢140m towers

Footballers-turned-developers Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs have unveiled two towers designed by Make and declared their intent to make Manchester鈥檚 鈥渂iggest statement in architecture in modern times鈥�.

The 拢140 million city centre scheme, originally known as Jackson鈥檚 Row but now called St Michael鈥檚, will include a new synagogue, a five-star hotel, 153 flats and 13,000sq m of offices, plus some retail.

The towers will be 31 and 21 storeys high and will be capped by two 鈥渟ky bars鈥�.

Our vision is to deliver the biggest statement in architecture and development that Manchester has seen in modern times

Gary Neville

The 65,000sq m scheme will also involve a significant amount of public realm - some of it with a retractable roof and linked in one place by a 15m 鈥渁rchitectural staircase鈥� edged by bars and restaurants.

Gary Neville, director of Jackson鈥檚 Row Developments, said: 鈥淥ur vision is to deliver the biggest statement in architecture and development that Manchester has seen in modern times. 

鈥淥ur wish is for St. Michael鈥檚 to become the premier destination in the city that people come to enjoy all year round.  Through the provision of three stunning new public spaces, St. Michael鈥檚 Square, The Steps and The Garden, we鈥檙e committed to bringing back to life such a key, underused area of the city, which connects Albert Square and St. Peter鈥檚 Square through to Deansgate and onto Spinningfields.鈥�

A number of historic buildings will be demolished to make way for the scheme but Manchester鈥檚 council leader Richard Leese said it was a welcome 鈥渧ote of confidence鈥� in the city at an uncertain economic time nationally.

Make chief Ken Shuttleworth said: 鈥淲e have designed two slender, elegant towers for the site, which sit very much as a pair using the same sleek black aluminium cladding, yet with differing heights and arched crowns.

鈥淭heir appearance will change as you move around the city. Together they provide a dynamic addition to the skyline that will position the scheme in Manchester both physically and within the marketplace.鈥�

A public consultation will take place in September.

 

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