A stunning 40-metre tall ‘Tower of Light’ close to Bridgewater Hall is taking shape and is due to be completed by the end of the summer. The structure, designed by London architectural firm Tonkin Liu will be part of Manchester’s Civic Quarter Heat Network, providing low-carbon energy to several key buildings in the city centre.

The £18 million structure is designed to provide the Civic Quarter Heat Network’s key buildings, including Bridgewater Hall, with clean, low-carbon, efficient and reliable energy, and will save more than 31,000 tonnes of carbon emissions during its first five years of operation, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The buildings to be supplied are Manchester Central, the Town Hall Extension, Heron House, Manchester Art Gallery, Central Library, the Midland Hotel, the Bridgewater Hall, and One St Peter’s Square. Of these, Manchester Central, the Town Hall Extension, the Bridgewater Hall, and the Midland are all due to have an electrical connection.

The ‘Tower of Light’ is sited next to Manchester Central, and is designed to encase dispersion flues from the combined-heat-and-power centre, that will be located under the Metrolink arch at the junction of Lower Mosley Street and Great Bridgewater Street, and will be a striking feature from the Bridgwater Hall’s Charles Hallé Restaurant and the Stalls Cafe Bar.

A Manchester City Council spokesperson said: “The Civic Quarter Heat Network is a long-term project which will reduce the city’s energy costs and carbon emissions, improve our air quality, create new jobs and ultimately pay for itself through its operations.”

If you’re looking for event venues in Manchester to start planning an event, get in touch with the Bridgewater Hall team to find out more about the spaces we have available.”