3 minute read
Reducing hook time on Michigan Avenue
by PERIUK
Michigan Avenue, Manchester
Hydraulic climbing systems are increasingly being adopted on sites outside London, as contractors respond to the rapid growth of mid- to high-rise construction projects further north and seek ways to accelerate programmes without depending on traditional crane operations.
One such project utilising hydraulic operations is Michigan Avenue in Manchester, where our RCS CL hydraulic climbing system is cycling formwork shutters and platforms on Tower 2.
All elements of the substructure and superstructure on the newest phase of the Media City development are being delivered by concrete frame contractor Heyrod Construction.
Heyrod’s use of our hydraulically powered RCS system played a critical role in forming the concrete core of the 35-storey tower, which houses three lift shafts, three smoke risers, a stairwell, and two lobbies across all levels.
A key challenge and the driver behind hydraulic operations on this site is the high demand for the tower crane, as it supports numerous construction activities simultaneously. By incorporating the RCS CL system, the site team were able to accelerate core construction ahead of the rest of the building. This allowed other elements of the supporting frame and permanent access to progress swiftly, leading to the timely handover of the lower floors and contributing to overall project efficiency, with the team now three days ahead of schedule.
By significantly reducing reliance on the tower crane, the project team has been able to reallocate crane operations to other essential tasks, allowing various activities to run concurrently.
For internal access to the live work areas within the core, Heyrod installed our PERI UP Flex Stair 75, a compact in-line stair tower. The site team praised the system for its easy installation and how well it adapted to the limited space inside the core.
Beyond formwork and scaffolding, we also collaborated closely with Heyrod Construction to address the challenge of achieving seamless continuity between concrete pours. PERI designed and supplied customised FERBOX continuity strips for the suspended reinforced concrete (RC) and post-tensioned (PT) slabs to align with the structural design provided by WSP. The careful design of the FERBOX units is vital for preventing water and concrete ingress, which can otherwise compromise the structural integrity and long-term performance of the building.
“We have a well-established relationship with PERI, and in our opinion, they are the market leaders when it comes to formwork. Any opportunity to reduce hook time was always going to be a huge benefit for us and the programme. With hydraulic climbing, we have been able to progress the core at a faster rate and cycling the formwork has been a smoother process.”
