Victoria Point

An upgraded student residential scheme adjacent to a key heritage asset in South Manchester.

Victoria Point

An upgraded student residential scheme adjacent to a key heritage asset in South Manchester.

Client. Empiric Property Services
Location. Manchester
Value & Size. 129,200 sqft / 295 Dwellings
Services. Architecture
Status. On-Going

This 5plus designed PBSA scheme, part of a larger masterplan and student residential scheme developed in collaboration with Bell Phillips Architects, sits next to Victoria Baths, a key heritage asset in the South Manchester suburbs. The proposals involve a major transformation of 6 existing buildings, through part demolition, extension, and new buildings to re-position the place and deliver an increase of 310 student beds.

The wider masterplan will deliver 876 new and refurbished student bedrooms including a mix of accommodation ranging from studios to four-bed cluster apartments. The 5plus element of the scheme involves buildings 5 and 6 which sit immediately adjacent to Victoria Baths and fronting on to Hathersage Road. The two buildings combine to offer 295 student dwellings (365 beds) with shared amenity spaces both internally and externally along with new staff, commercial and community space.

Building 6 is a new build structure, four storeys in height with a varied roof creating a new domestic scale to the street whilst building 5 involves a significant remodel of the existing structure. The form of the buildings has been developed to address the streetscape along Hathersage Road, to create a character more in keeping with the rest of the street and framing Victoria Baths. The existing building 5 to the rear is extended by two storeys and the space between is infilled and rises to twelve storeys in height to frame the entrance to the scheme. The retention of a significant portion of the existing buildings alongside improved thermal performance and air tightness forms part of an ambitious de-carbonisation strategy.

Alongside new and improved student accommodation, Victoria Point will additionally deliver wider benefits to the surrounding local community through enhancements to the public realm to improve cycle and walking connections alongside shared training and community meeting spaces located on the ground floor of the buildings.

The materiality of the scheme is influenced by the red brick of the neighbouring buildings, with a regular punched window pattern. Layers and string courses are included in the façade, influenced by the neighbouring baths, with texture, pattern and detail increased to the front of the building, replicating the more decorative approach along Hathersage Road, with simpler details to the rear. Green ceramic tile is proposed as part of the detailing, influenced by the internal finishes of Victoria Baths.