Coventry residents involved in the Friargate project from its earliest stages were invited by the developer to be the first to take in the view from the very top of One Friargate.
Jeremy Thomas, Gary Maltby and Matthew Davies were all part of the Residents Liaison Group which was formed to help Friargate Coventry LLP – the developer behind the scheme – shape the plans for Coventry’s new business district.
They were joined by Project Manager Paul Kelly, from Bowmer & Kirkland, and Stephen Reynolds, from Friargate Coventry LLP, who talked them through activity on the site.
Stephen Reynolds said: “Local people have been key in helping us shape the plans for Friargate, and we have worked closely with the Residents Liaison Group. We felt it was important for us to recognise their involvement by giving members the first chance to climb to the top of One Friargate and take in the stunning view over the city.
“It also gives us an opportunity to showcase the progress we’ve made as we get closer and closer to completion.”
Construction of One Friargate has been particularly swift in recent weeks as the final concrete cladding panels, weighing around eight tonnes each, have now been craned into place. These have given the building, designed by leading architects Allies and Morrison, its distinctive red-brick façade which mirrors the traditional brickwork common in many of Coventry’s finest buildings.
After successfully completing the cladding TC2, the smaller of the two tower cranes, was recently removed from the site. This marked another major milestone as both tower cranes – the first taller than Coventry Cathedral – had become notable additions to the city’s skyline.
Paul Kelly said: “As we are on site every day sometimes we don’t fully appreciate just how much we have achieved. Seeing the project through the eyes of residents is always humbling, helping put One Friargate in its proper context.”
The Residents Liaison Group was established in 2010, effectively representing the local community throughout the planning and design stages of the project.
Sitting adjacent to Coventry Train Station and covering 37 acres, Friargate will create up to 15,000 jobs. Among the 25 new buildings to be delivered, will be 14 new office buildings, hotels, shops and restaurants in addition to new homes that will bring the community to life.