Big projects, contracts particularly in London

Otis to Provide 67 Units for Bishopsgate Skyscraper

Otis has been hired to provide 67 units for Twentytwo, a 59-story, 255-m-tall office building developed by Lipton Rogers and designed by PLP Architecture in London’s Bishopsgate. Filling a gap in the area’s eastern building cluster, Twentytwo will contain 1.4 million sq. ft. of office space housing approximately 12,000 workers. Minutes away from the new Liverpool Street Crossrail station, it is scheduled for completion in 2019. Otis will provide 18 Gen2®, 13 SkyRise® single-deck and 26 SkyRise double-deck elevators, as well as 10 escalators and a trio of SkyBuildTM elevators to be used during construction. Hemant Jolly, vice president and general manager of Otis U.K. and Ireland, stated, “With pressure on London’s infrastructure, combined with population growth, this new building is an intelligent response to the city’s evolving needs.”

AL Lands 100-Plus-Unit Maintenance Contract

London-based Amalgamated Lifts (AL) has won a contract to maintain, service and repair more than 100 lifts within the Newlon Housing Trust property portfolio. The contract commenced in January. Newlon is a nonprofit organization that provides charitable housing, owning or managing approximately 8,000 affordable homes throughout the London area. Upon landing the contract, AL Managing Director Simon Smith said, “The opportunity permits us to deliver progressive performance and create an environment of improvement that will set new standards for major contracts across London.”

Canary Wharf Orders Awarded, Progress Made

Alimak Group has been awarded orders for construction hoists, associated infrastructure and services totaling SEK80 million (US$8.7 million) in London’s Canary Wharf. Most equipment will be delivered in the second quarter of this year. Alimak observes its construction hoists are based on modular designs, which provides flexibility that make them usable in a variety of applications, regardless of project size. Fredrik Betts, executive vice president and head of Business Area Construction Equipment, stated, “We are very pleased to see a continued interest in and recognition of Alimak’s premium products, which are designed to support reliable, safe and efficient vertical access.”

The city council has recommended that Mayor Sadiq Khan approve 41- and 16-story buildings in Canary Wharf designed by Rolfe Judd that would contain more than 200 apartments and stores or other businesses, bdonline.co.uk reported. A plan submitted in 2014 for the site, at 54 Marsh Wall, had insufficient affordable housing and public space, city leaders said. In the new plan, 36% of the residential units would be “affordable.” The 0.2-ha site currently houses a three-story bank/office building.

“Ovatus,” Oval Skyscrapers Proposed in Liverpool

Prospect Capital and its partner hope to build the 27-story Ovatus 1 and 48-story Ovatus 2 residential skyscrapers near the Mersey River in Liverpool, Place North West reported. Prospect and Wilcox & Wilcox submitted a planning application in late 2016 for Ovatus 1, designed by Hodder + Partners and set to contain approximately 170 homes on Old Hall Street. Prospect expected to submit an application for Ovatus 2, with approximately 500 homes, sometime this year, although construction likely cannot start until a current tenant vacates the premises in 2020.

Manchester Residential Tower Gets Funding, Moves Forward

A US$100-million loan has been secured by Moda Living from a German bank to build a 34-story tower in the Angel Gardens development in Manchester, representing the first U.K. residential skyscraper to be built outside London since the 2008 financial crisis, About Manchester reported. The development will contain approximately 460 rental units within 520,000 sq. ft., along with amenities such as a rooftop garden, fitness areas and concierge services. It will be built in phases from 2019 to 2020. Moda Living plans to both build and operate the property.