HE Simm, one of the UK’s leading mechanical, electrical and public health (MEP) providers, has successfully completed full M&E services for River Street Tower, a new £110m student accommodation development in the heart of Manchester.
Appointed by Downing in March 2019, HE Simm completed work on the 792-bedroom complex, which includes state-of-the-art en-suite bedrooms, shared flats and self-contained studio apartments, on time in August 2020, and to the high specification required. River Street Tower welcomed its first student residents in September 2020.
During the first year of the project a team of seven from HE Simm and more than 40 subcontractors worked on site, equally balanced across mechanical and electrical disciplines. These numbers were reduced in-line with government guidelines following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Commenting on the completion of the project, Greg Simm, Managing Director Engineering Services (North) at HE Simm, said: “The project was running to plan when the Covid-19 pandemic struck. Our number one priority was to ensure the safety of everyone working on site and we worked in partnership with Downing and colleagues across the HE Simm business to implement new working practices to ensure the continuation of the project and maintain safe working.
“With so many suppliers either closed or with reduced operations and stock, the HE Simm team worked tirelessly to source all of the specified products. Completing this scheme on time and to specification during a global pandemic is a huge achievement. It was a real team effort and a testament to positivity, collaboration, communication and openness.”
Ian Orton, Director at Downing, commented: “Despite the significant challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, HE Simm has delivered this high-spec project on time and to a very high standard. The extra effort put in by the HE Simm team to enable everyone to work safely on site while maintaining the project timeline is incredible and I would like to thank the entire team for going above and beyond to deliver this new student complex.”
Located close to Manchester Metropolitan University and Piccadilly Station, River Street Tower has 792 en-suite bedrooms include shared flats and self-contained studio apartments, all fitted out to a luxurious standard. Additional facilities include a gym, games room, communal social space, dining area, laundry and cinema.