Birmingham’s tallest residential tower tops out

The Mercian, Birmingham’s tallest residential tower at 42 storeys, has topped out.

Developer Moda Living, main contractor John Sisk & Son, investment partner Apache Capital were joined by sub-contractors Morrisroe, Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street, Glenn Howells Architects to mark the occasion.

The Mercian will be home to 481 apartments for rent, ranging from studios to three-beds, with amenities including 24-hour concierge, shared lounges, flexible workspaces and a cinema room and private dining spaces for residents to hire.

On track to complete in 2022, The Mercian will also provide residents with health and wellness zones, including a 200m podium open-air running track on the roof and a gym.

In addition, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has funded a training hub during the construction of The Mercian, creating 140 job opportunities for local residents and equipping them with valuable skills for their future careers by offering construction training and a guaranteed job interview after completing a 20-day course.

Moda recently received planning a second neighbourhood in Birmingham, Great Charles Street, which will deliver 720 homes for rent alongside new public realm, mixed commercial space and a range of amenities.

Tony Brooks, managing director at Moda Living, said: “Marking this milestone at The Mercian is testament to the fantastic teams that are part of the DNA at Moda and Sisk, who have worked tirelessly, and always with our workers safety at the forefront to keep the site open and on track, even during uncertain times. It’s been exciting to see the building take shape and become a landmark on Birmingham’s skyline. It reflects the ambition and resilience we have come to expect from the people of this city, and we can’t wait to open to doors to Birmingham’s first Next Generation Neighbourhood.”

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA, said: “The Mercian will not only transform living and renting in our city when it opens, but it has also played a huge part in training the region’s next generation of construction workers through the on-site training hub.

“We know the coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on our region, and training people in the skills needed for the jobs of the future is vital to our economic recovery. Being able to use such a big development to provide free training to local people is a reflection of the great teams behind The Mercian and the impact it will have on our city once the doors are open. I’m looking forward to seeing what else Moda and Sisk bring to our region in future years.”

John Dunkerley, CEO and co-founder of Apache Capital Partners, said: “The topping out of The Mercian marks an important milestone in the delivery of our build-to-rent pipeline with Moda Living. It is thanks to the hard work of Sisk and their supply chain partners that we have been able to celebrate this occasion.

“As Europe’s youngest large city and with a growing number of top-tier employers from both the private and public sector, Birmingham offers compelling investment fundamentals and we are excited to be bringing forward not one but two schemes in the city.”

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