Supporting Manchester’s Skyline | RAXTAR Construction Hoists at First Street

Located in the heart of Manchester, the First Street development by Downing Construction is a major high-rise project and Downing’s largest development to date, consisting of three co-living towers with over 2,000 bedrooms. As one of the largest student accommodation providers in the UK, Downing is known for delivering high-quality urban living environments. For this project, RAXTAR was selected to provide a complete vertical access solution, supporting the construction of these towers with safe, efficient, and high-performance equipment.

Block A: 104 meters tall, 22 floors

Block B: 177 meters tall, 26 floors

Block D: 172 meters tall, 45 floors

Client:        Downing
Partner:     ANC Platforms & Hoists UK
Segment:  High-rise
Status:       Completed

Challenge
The project required a robust and flexible hoisting solution capable of transporting large unitised panels while serving three high-rise towers simultaneously. The site demanded minimal disruption, high uptime, and safe transport of both personnel and materials across multiple access points.

RAXTAR Solution
RAXTAR delivered a total of six Size Matters construction hoists, configured as three twin Wide Body units. Each hoist is equipped with a hydraulic ramp to bridge the gap between the hoist and the building enabling the closing of the façade during the construction phase, ensuring safe and seamless loading and unloading at every level. The RX2545MF WB 2.0 hoists were chosen for their large platform size, reliability and compatibility with high-rise construction logistics.

As a rental project, RAXTAR also provides full installation, maintenance and remote monitoring services through ANC UK, ensuring optimal performance throughout the build.

Outcome
The tailored vertical access solution has enabled Downing to maintain a high construction pace while ensuring safety and operational efficiency. RAXTAR’s integrated approach, combining equipment, service and engineering, has proven to be a key asset in the successful execution of this complex urban project.

Hoists used: