Verto nearing completion in Reading….

CNM Estates redevelopment of the disused King’s Point office building at 120 King’s Road is a focal point on the sky line and is symbolic of the transformation of Reading with the arrival of Crossrail in 2020.

The 103 apartment development is the tallest residential building in Reading and is just a block away from Manhire Associates’ Q2 residential development on Queen Street, which was completed by Crest Nicholson in 2007.

Working closely with Henry Construction, Manhire Associates overcame a number of engineering challenges with a high ground water table, a small confined site, the presence of obstructions in the ground as well as the limitations building next to the River Kennet.

Experience gained from the Queen Street development was invaluable, and enabled Manhire Associates to not only provide initial guidance on the appropriate bearing pile design and secant wall design, but to also develop and optimise the foundation solution with the supply chain. 

The relationship between the external wall and the building frame was also a key consideration in the design, and Manhire Associates worked closely with Geraghty Taylor to develop proposals for the ‘crisp’ façade to be more ‘sympathetic’ and more compatible with the supporting structure. The ‘jointing’ of the façades was critical to create bands of anodized bronze panels with thin stone transoms. 

The building is impressive with cascading roof gardens and canal frontage, as well as providing new public realm in Reading.