BEYOND THE BUILDING: July 2024

STUDENT ACCOMMODATION SCHEME, PERSHORE JUNCTION REACHES PRACTICAL COMPLETION ?? ?? ??

GMI Construction Group has completed the ￡24m Pershore Junction purpose-built student accommodation in Birmingham on schedule – with rooms already being reserved ready for Autumn term.

The 167 bed state-of-the-art development in the suburb of Stirchley consists of 101 studios and also features a student hub, communal spaces and enhanced retail space.

Led by specialist student developer Alumno , the vibrant living space is ideally located for the city’s universities, together with Birmingham’s School of Dentistry.

A launch event marking its completion was hosted by Alumno and was attended by the delivery team and key stakeholders. It also coincided with an Alumno -sponsored Birmingham student photography competition and exhibition organised by Photo North The Curators which featured a series of talks by notable photographers.

Designed by Birmingham-based Howells , the Woh Hup (Private) Limited -funded scheme incorporates brickwork and terracotta detailing that reflects the area’s architectural heritage while also providing the building with a distinct identity.

A highlight of the development is an interior poetry garden, a unique and peaceful social space created in collaboration with Birmingham Poet Laureate Casey Bailey and Writing West Midlands Ltd . The garden includes landscaping, seating, and cycle stands.

Situated at the intersection of Dogpool Lane and Pershore Road, Pershore Junction has successfully transformed the former 英国电信集团 brownfield site and its completion strengthens Alumno ’s successful partnership with GMI Construction Group, which recently delivered the nine-storey Church Inn student scheme in Manchester and the Terry Frost Building, a 411-bed student accommodation, in Leeds.

David Campbell , Alumno Managing Director said: “It is wonderful to see this dynamic building come to life and provide accommodation for Birmingham’s expanding student population. Working with the local authority and community was integral to the buildings’ success and it has re-energised the overlooked site to offer a unique student experience and enhance this vibrant university town.”

Gareth Jones , GMI Construction’s Divisional Managing Director in the Midlands, said: “We are delighted to see Pershore Junction completed, which will help tackle the shortfall in high-quality student accommodation in the city. This development underscores GMI’s expertise in constructing multi-occupancy buildings, particularly in the student sector, and highlights our ongoing successful partnership with Alumno.”

Philip Johnson , head of investment at Woh Hup (Private) Limited , added: “We are delighted to launch this new property at Pershore Junction to add to our existing portfolio of more than a thousand student beds in the UK.

“We are extremely grateful to the Alumno and GMI teams for their support in delivering a best-in-class building and look forward to welcoming students in September. We continue to look for further development and funding opportunities around the Selly Oak and adjacent areas.”

Alan McCartney , partner at Howells, said: “Pershore Junction contributes appropriately to the ongoing transformation of Stirchley, with the design delivering a contemporarily crafted brick and terracotta building, which remains clearly of its place.

“Stirchley is a fantastic part of Birmingham and the quality the whole team have been able to deliver will serve to set the benchmark for new buildings coming forward in the area.”

CARLTON HILL, LEEDS HAS BEEN AWARDED THE STUDENT ACCOMMODATION SCHEME DEVELOPMENT AWARD AT THE INSIDER MEDIA YORKSHIRE PLACEMAKING AWARDS 2024?? ??

Carlton Hill was shortlisted in two categories at the Insider Media Yorkshire Placemaking Awards where the project has been recognised for taking a leading front in prioritising high quality living and improving students wellbeing.

This award is testament of our client Pickard Properties and our Yorkshire team who have gone above and beyond in the prestigious execution of the PBSA development.

Carlton Hill is now home to the students of Leeds and will be welcoming the class of 2024-2025 in the upcoming academic year where they will be greeted with luxury living space with larger than standard bedrooms, a well-equipped gym and fully landscaped sky garden to encourage relaxation.

We want to say a huge congratulations to all involved in this outstanding achievement.

GMI AND BRUNTWOOD SCITECH HAVE MARKED A MAJOR MILESTONE IN REACHING THE TOPPING OUT STAGE OF THE INTERNATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT HEALTH INNOVATION CAMPUS, CITYLABS 4.0 ?? ??

Bruntwood SciTech – a joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General and Greater Manchester Pension Fund, and GMI Construction – has celebrated the topping out Citylabs 4.0, the latest innovative lab and workspace offering on the Citylabs development, located within Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust’s (MFT) Oxford Road Campus.

To celebrate this major milestone in the development process, Bruntwood SciTech hosted a two-part event, kicking off with a morning interactive session with patients at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, followed by the official afternoon ceremony with local partners.

The topping out ceremony began at Citylabs 1.0, with guests walking through the MFT campus to the Citylabs 4.0 site, to get a true understanding of the scale and vibrancy of the existing cluster which sits at the heart of the largest clinical academic campus in Europe. Guests received a full site tour co-hosted with GMI Construction, the lead contractor for the development, as well as hearing from Dr Kath Mackay , Chief Scientific Officer for Bruntwood SciTech , on the global importance of the work that goes on at Citylabs and the medical advancements that have been made there.

Alongside this, Bruntwood SciTech worked with Manchester Foundation Trust Charity to host a ‘skills sharing’ session with their Youth Zone situated within Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital which neighbours both Citylabs 2.0 and 4.0. Children and young people between 11 and 25, were given the opportunity to learn about the Citylabs campus and what a career in science or construction could look like.

Once complete, the ￡42m, 125,000 sq ft, seven storey lab and workspace will offer world-leading, highly specialist space specifically designed to support companies working in precision medicine, including those in diagnostic, genomics, biotech, medtech, health-related AI and digital health. It will also bolster the existing Citylabs cluster, strengthening the internationally significant health innovation campus – a joint venture partnership between Bruntwood SciTech and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust .

Dr Kath Mackay , Chief Scientific Officer for Bruntwood SciTech , said:?“To date, the Citylabs campus has helped to support hundreds of specialist healthcare businesses that are changing the face of medical science across the UK and beyond. By creating a cluster of like-minded businesses all centred around one of the country’s most eminent teaching hospital Trusts, we have seen first-hand how the ability to collaborate and knowledge-share will drive forward innovations in medicine and healthcare.

“To celebrate this important milestone, we knew we wanted to engage with those people who are benefiting first-hand from the work being undertaken at the campus and inspire future generations to work in those sectors or, indeed, those that enable this important work to happen. Future innovations will only happen if young people know that these opportunities are open to them and are engaged in finding the solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems. We hope to have inspired a few future science or engineering stars of the future through this event and look forward to working with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust further to showcase the opportunities for businesses at the Citylabs campus to collaborate directly with one of the country’s largest NHS Trust s.”

Citylabs 4.0 incorporates infrastructure to accommodate containment level 2 (CL2) biology and chemistry labs and specialist equipment, including increased floor loading, enhanced cooling systems and ventilation provisions, and a large platform lift. Businesses that locate here will also benefit from 100GB superfast connectivity, shared breakout spaces, an internally secure cycle storage with showers and kit drying room, and have access to the campus’ 150-person event space, multiple meeting rooms, cafes and supermarket.

As part of the support provided by the joint venture, businesses receive access to research, development, innovation, and funding support, as well as opportunities including joint clinical trials, sample supply, diagnostic collaborations and medtech adoption with MFT. They can also access the world-class talent and research capabilities of MFT, the 英国曼彻斯特大学 , and The Manchester Metropolitan University .

Citylabs is surrounded by some of the UK’s most eminent teaching hospitals including Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Saint Mary's Hospital and the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital (all with emergency helipad access), and is located in the heart of the city’s knowledge quarter – the Oxford Road Corridor – home to 50% of the city’s life science businesses, generating around ￡3bn GVA each year. The campus is also a government-designated High Potential Opportunity Zone for Diagnostics and Healthy Ageing, and a named Enterprise Zone. Sitting at the heart of the city’s health and life science cluster, it is surrounded by world-class research centres including Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine , The University of Manchester Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health , and two of the NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) (NIHR) NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility (CRF) sites, and the Pankhurst Institute. It is also the operational home to the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) .

The development of Citylabs 4.0, the third phase in the Citylabs masterplan taking the campus from 192,000 sq ft to 327,000 sq ft, will build on and enhance the existing health innovation cluster at Citylabs, which is home to more than 20 life science and healthcare businesses including global molecular diagnostics company 凯杰 who opened their Global Centre of Excellence for Precision Medicine at Citylabs 2.0 in November 2021, new generation molecular diagnostics business APIS Assay Technologies Ltd. , ophthalmic instrument manufacturer TAKAGI Ophthalmic Instruments , and one of Europe’s largest contract research organisations MAC Clinical Research .

Citylabs 4.0 is expected to achieve net zero carbon in construction and operation in its shared spaces and will be 100% electric. As a highly energy efficient building, it is targeted to be EPC A and include 208m2 of solar panels, enough to charge an average electric car approximately 1235 times. The building’s cladding system will be made from 75% recycled end-of-life aluminium (post-consumer scrap), meaning its content will have one of the smallest carbon dioxide footprints worldwide; seven times less than the global average for aluminium production.

The new lab and workspace is expected to be complete in Spring 2025.

Mark Cubbon , Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust Group Chief Executive, said: “Today’s ceremony marks a significant milestone in the Citylabs 4.0 development which will present new and exciting opportunities for us to co-design the future of healthcare with industry partners and transform scientific breakthroughs into a reality for our patients across Greater Manchester and beyond.

“The pioneering partnership between MFT and Bruntwood SciTech , starting with the first Citylabs development 10 years ago, is a legacy to the late and visionary Keith Chantler, our former Director of Innovation, who was instrumental in the creation of the Citylabs project.

“We are proud of the progress over the last decade and the real difference it has made in enabling us to tackle health inequalities in our communities and address some of the most pressing health challenges we face. We look forward to welcoming new partners from the life sciences industry to co-locate through Citylabs 4.0, along with the opportunity to develop our hosted research and innovation infrastructure at MFT.”

Contractor GMI Construction Group is leading the build of the Sheppard Robson-designed development and local teams also working on the development include 奥雅纳 , Hilson Moran , Gardiner & Theobald LLP , and Layers. The development of Citylabs 4.0 is supported by a ￡32m senior loan from the The North West Evergreen Fund , managed by 世邦魏理仕 ’s Investment Advisory team, which is part of 世邦魏理仕 Capital Advisors.

Anthony Judge MCIOB CMgr MCMI , Regional Director, North West, at GMI Construction Group, said: “The topping out of Citylabs 4.0 marks a significant achievement for GMI and our delivery partners. This state-of-the-art facility is set to become a hub for innovation in precision medicine and life sciences and we are extremely proud to be part of a project that will drive advancements in healthcare diagnostics and treatments and foster collaboration between businesses and leading research institutions.

“GMI has a considerable track record in delivering much needed workspace for the research, science and technology sectors throughout the North and the Midlands and Citylabs 4.0 demonstrates our ability to deliver these in-demand developments.”

WE ARE OVER THE MOON TO ANNOUNCE THE OFFICIAL COMPLETION OF LANDMARK APARTMENT SCHEME, SETL IN BIRMINGHAM ??

GMI Construction Group has successfully completed the high quality SETL residential development in the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter.

HBD ’s canal side development features 101 one and two bedroomed apartments over six storeys, together with 2,350 sq. ft of ground floor commercial space designed for independent retailers.

Located in the sought-after St Paul’s area, the contemporary-designed homes are complemented by a roof garden, wellness studio, hotel-style lobby, circulation areas, and co-working lounge.

The design, by BPN Architects , incorporates materials sympathetic to the area’s traditional aesthetics, such as glazed terracotta and sawtooth brickwork, ensuring that? SETL is in harmony with nearby historic buildings and Georgian Square.

The site, next to the city’s iconic 英国电信集团 Tower, was previously home to the run-down 1960s Cornwall House office block and is ideally placed for New Street and Snow Hill stations, Grand Central, and Colmore Row workspaces.

GMI, whose offices are also in the Jewellery Quarter, was appointed principal contractor in 2022.

Gareth Jones , GMI’s Divisional Managing Director, Midlands, said: “Our collaboration with HBD and BPN architects has allowed us to create a high-quality residential scheme which respects the rich heritage of the Jewellery Quarter while offering modern, functional living spaces.

“This project exemplifies our commitment to excellence in construction and design and further strengthens our long-standing relationship with HBD.”

Simon Raiye , Director, HBD ? We are thrilled to see Setl open its doors this month. This redevelopment project has transformed a dilapidated office block into a best in class residential development with an unrivalled focus on high-quality design, community and wellbeing. We have enjoyed working with GMI to create such a top-tier product and are looking forward to welcoming the first residents this summer.

SETL represents HBD ’s first development in Birmingham city centre but GMI’s most recent collaborations with the developer include a new brain injury hospital at York’s Chocolate Works, and a 260,000 sq. ft medical distribution centre in Wakefield.

WE HAVE BEEN SHORTLISTED FOR THE MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANY OF THE YEAR AWARD ?? ??

GMI have been recognised by the Building The Future Awards - Showcasing Young People in Construction 2024 for our efforts in driving innovation throughout our projects.

GMI have been invited to the black-tie awards ceremony held in Birmingham to celebrate their commitments in taking innovation to new heights.

It won't be our first time attending this awards ceremony where Midlands Site Manager, Joshua Khan was awarded Young Construction Professional of the Year in 2023 for his outstanding performance as a young professional who has made a significant impact on the construction industry through his work, leadership, and fantastic commitment .

This category honours companies which demonstrate exceptional innovation in their practices, products and services within the construction industry, driving progress and setting new standards.

GMI have shown outstanding innovation practices in several of our developments, taking a leading front in creating safer environments by installing lifesaving bleed kits on several of our GMI sites or making the business more digitally inclined through the implementation of ProjectData. GMI are setting new standards with our sustainable practices on our award-winning projects like Carlton Hill and Dogpool Lane, ensuring we are providing best practice throughout.

The Building The Future - Construction and Built Environment Sector Awards 2025 recognise companies for their support of young people in the industry and celebrate raising awareness of construction careers and the opportunities available to young people. GMI has shown outstanding commitments in expressing construction careers to all ages to ensure an increase of talent into the industry.

Lee Powell , CEO of GMI Construction Group said “Recognised as an innovative contractor is a testament to all project teams and departments going above and beyond in ensuring innovation is at the forefront of our practices”

Congratulations to all for this great achievement and fingers crossed for the awards ceremony in November.

ANOTHER MAJOR MILESTONE HAS BEEN CELEBRATED BY THE GMI NORTH WEST TEAM AND BRUNTWOOD SCITECH WHERE NO.3 CIRCLE SQUARE, MANCHESTER HAS OFFICIALLY TOPPED OUT ?? ??

Construction of No.3 Circle Square – the latest phase of specialist, cutting edge workspace to be developed at the Circle Square neighbourhood within the Oxford Road Corridor knowledge quarter – is continuing at pace,?as leading contractor GMI Construction Group and?developer Bruntwood SciTech celebrates its topping out.

Led by GMI Construction Group, the ￡87m, 267,000 sq ft brick clad building design will pay tribute to Manchester’s Victorian and Edwardian architecture and provide 15 floors of cutting-edge workspace designed to support creativity and innovation.

The development is being brought forward by Bruntwood SciTech , a joint venture between Bruntwood , Legal & General and Greater Manchester Pension Fund and the largest dedicated property platform serving the growth of the UK’s knowledge economy to become a global science and technology superpower.

This latest milestone was celebrated at a ceremony on Wednesday 26th June hosted by Bruntwood SciTech Chief Development Officer, John Marland , alongside Lee Powell , CEO of GMI Construction Group. Guests were able to get a first look at the progress on site since construction began in July 2023 and mark the milestone by adding photos of the teams involved into a time capsule that will be buried within the No.3 site.

Circle Square is one of Manchester’s fastest growing digital tech communities – and one of the city’s largest new developments – which brings together forward-thinking innovation-led businesses looking to benefit from access to highly-skilled talent at 英国曼彻斯特大学 and The Manchester Metropolitan University , funding and finance support, and access to a like-minded, large ecosystem and network for growth and collaboration opportunities, all of which Bruntwood SciTech provides.

Circle Square’s existing workspaces – No.1 and No.2 Circle Square – are both fully let to global tech brands including Roku , Bosch , HPE GROUP and Autocab , which was acquired by Uber , as well as disruptive startups and scale-ups in the Tech Incubator.

No.3 Circle Square, which is anticipated to open in Spring 2025, will offer flexible office space designed for a range of different businesses, from global names to emerging tech scale-ups. Alongside this exciting new workspace, customers will also benefit from a large shared roof terrace with expansive views across the city, breakout space and lounge, a ‘grab and go’ food and drink offer, 24/7 access with superfast connectivity, dedicated onsite security, bookable private meeting rooms and access to all facilities at neighbouring Circle Square buildings. Wellbeing and active travel have also been prioritised, with secure bike storage, high-quality shower and changing facilities also included.

No.3 Circle Square will open onto Symphony Gardens, a newly landscaped space designed to complement the neighbouring Symphony Park, to promote biodiversity and provide access to shared green space at CircleSquare . Two retail stores will also be located on the ground floor for businesses and the general public to enjoy, joining the likes of Manchester-favourite Onda Pasta Bar, North Tap Room and Federal Cafe Bar.

Businesses locating to No.3 Circle Square will also benefit from access to an exciting in-house events programme providing a range of growth support opportunities, connecting them with neighbouring businesses and key stakeholders in the city; ideal for identifying new opportunities for collaboration. They will also be connected into Bruntwood SciTech ’s large citywide ecosystem in Manchester, including those based at Manchester Science Park, Citylabs, ID Manchester, and their city centre innovation hubs such as Bloc, Bond, and 111 Piccadilly, as part of the business’ UK-wide community of 1,100 start-ups, scale-ups and global businesses.

?

Sustainability is one of the core principles in the design of No.3 Circle Square as part of Bruntwood SciTech ’s net zero carbon commitments. It will be net zero carbon in construction and, operationally in its shared spaces and is expected to achieve BREEAM Excellent status, NABERS 5-star rating and an EPC A rating. Its innovative features to maximise energy efficiency and improve fresh air and climate control, for those within the building, include an all-electric heating and cooling system with highly efficient air source heat pumps, smart metering, roof mounted solar panels, a smart building management system (BMS) and a state-of-the-art ventilation system that maximises efficiency and fresh air control to customers.

John Marland , Chief Development Officer, Bruntwood SciTech , said: “It’s fantastic to see No.3 Circle Square coming to life, with construction having moved at pace over the past 12 months. With No.1 and No.2 fully let, we know there is a real appetite from innovative businesses of all sizes to be based in a fast growing, like-minded ecosystem which has beautiful, state of the art workspaces, where they can gain access to opportunities to collaborate, build their networks, and succeed. No.3 Circle Square will be the next addition to scale this ecosystem even more.

“Throughout the design process, our sustainability ambitions and provision of first-class amenities were prioritised to provide a place where people want to spend time and can ensure? a positive work-life balance.

“We’ve had lots of interest already and are looking forward to sharing updates on this as we near completion.”

Lee Powell , CEO of GMI Construction Group, commented: “Today’s topping out ceremony represents a significant milestone in a project that underlines the continued expansion of Manchester’s vibrant tech and innovation community. This collaboration with Bruntwood SciTech showcases GMI’s commitment to excellence and our shared vision in delivering dynamic business ecosystems.”

No.3 Circle Square is one of several developments by Bruntwood SciTech currently underway in Manchester as part of their commitment to providing world-class workspace, communities, and support to assist the growth of the science, tech and innovation sector. Other developments underway are Citylabs 4.0, Pall Mall, King’s House, and Greenheys at Manchester Science Park as well as approval of plans recently gained for 117-119 Portland Street.

Bruntwood SciTech’s team for No.3 Circle Square includes Bridge Architects, Richard Boothroyd Associates, Curtins, CWC and Planit-IE.