ISG’s towering student accommodation build in Cardiff hits the headlines

ISG’s work on a 26-storey student accommodation block in Cardiff – one of the tallest buildings in the Welsh capital – has hit the headlines in top trade publication, Construction News.

The article explores the use of slipforming techniques, which has seen the core of the 26-storey North Tower soar into the sky at a rate of 1.7 metres a day – which is around the average height of a door.

The slipform system allows for the pouring of quick-setting concrete into a continuously moving form, and has seen ISG complete the core in only 16 weeks.

The building – which will house 675 bedrooms – is scheduled to be completed in time for its first intake of students in September 2019.

ISG’s senior project manager, Ian Packer, discusses the innovative approach ISG has taken in delivering such an important scheme for the city, and its logistical challenges.

“There is very little space,” Ian said.

“The combination of a slipformed core for the North Tower and a precast concrete frame for the lower blocks made more sense.”

The use of precast concrete frames and innovative engineering techniques has helped to speed up the project and the safety of the team working on site.