The tallest light steel frame in the UK has reached its full height this week. The construction company working on the project, Robertson, have celebrated this milestone with a topping out ceremony which took place on the highest roof of the building.

The project is being undertaken by Kier Property and the finished building will serve as a student accommodation scheme. It is thought that the building will stand at 12 storeys tall and will, when finished, become the tallest light steel frame structure in the UK. The building is being constructed for Kier and will form one of three ongoing developments for the company that will go towards Student accommodation. This means that the company has an expanding portfolio of student accommodation that now stands at more than 1,000 beds.

The new record breaking building can be found opposite the listed John Dobson House, which is on New Bridge Street in Newcastle. This project will offer 329 bedrooms that, when completed, will be a combination of studio and cluster flat accommodation. The topping out ceremony of the building marks a significant step forward in the development process.

Also involved in this project is the architectural firm, Ryder and the engineering and M&E consultancy company, Cundall. These two companies have helped to design a building that is of high quality while maintaining high levels of best practice when managing the design.

The lightweight steel frame idea was put forward by Robertson. Originally the building was going to have a concrete frame system. The lightweight Kingframe that was used on the project is thought to improve the programme and the buildability of the structure. This alternative also lowered the overall pile foundation loading’s by around 40% in certain parts of the building. Robertson also offered a modular bathroom pod solution that has led to a lower carbon footprint of the building as well as reducing the levels of waste as well as fewer deliverables and lowering the fuel consumption and disruption on site.