Every tall building begins with a bold idea - but it’s the expertise, collaboration and problem‑solving behind the scenes that turn the ambition into something tangible. At Ridge, our teams have helped shape skylines across the UK by delivering solutions that respect context and push technical boundaries. This showcase brings together a selection of those projects, each one a testament to what’s possible when design and delivery come together.
The Lexington, Liverpool Waters
The Lexington is a 34-storey, £85 million development by Moda Living that provides 304 apartments in Liverpool’s regeneration area. Drawing from the city’s transatlantic connections, it houses a residents’ lounge, gym, terrace, and cinema room – proving the Private Rented Sector has matured into a genuinely design-led model. We provided full BIM coordination services throughout the project.
Viadux Phases 1 and 2, Manchester
Viadux is ambition at 76 storeys. Developed by Salboy and designed by Simpson Haugh, Viadux’s Phase Two will become the tallest building in the UK outside London – housing a Nobu restaurant, 160-bed hotel, and 452 Nobu residences. The complexity? It rises directly beside the Grade II listed Castlefield Viaduct.
We have delivered Building Services Engineering, Sustainability and Lighting Design across both phases, implementing zoned pressure circuits capable of serving the tower’s extreme height while the Victorian arches below remain untouched. Luxury wellness facilities – pool, jacuzzi, sauna, gym, nestle discreetly within the listed structure, with every lighting fixture and service run designed to reveal rather than conceal the original brickwork.
Circle Square, Manchester
On the former BBC site, Circle Square created two towers, 15 and 35 storeys, delivering 683 PRS (Private Rented Sector) apartments with a construction value of £139 million. Developed for Affinity Living, the scheme demonstrates how tightly constrained city centre plots can unlock significant residential capacity while integrating the amenity spaces, bike storage, and landscaping that make high-density living genuinely liveable. We acted as Principal Designers on the project.
The Clayton Hotel, Portland Street
Not every tall building houses residents. This 17-storey, 329-room hotel for Dalata Group replaced a dated 1960s office block in central Manchester. We delivered MEP design meeting strict brand standards while achieving BREEAM ‘Very Good’ certification. Mitsubishi VRV hybrid systems provide efficiency and flexibility, climate change adaptation studies future-proofed the design, and our Sustainability Consultants stayed involved from concept through completion – proving environmental performance and commercial viability are natural partners.
Cardiff’s rising skyline
Cardiff is reaching upward. We provided civil and structural engineering for Gramercy Tower’s 188 build-to-rent apartments, while Harlech Court – currently an office block and 83-bed hotel – has planning approval for transformation into a 30-storey, 340-apartment Build-to-Rent scheme that will rank among Wales’ tallest buildings. Two different projects. One clear direction: up.
