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Hadrian's Tower
In response to increasing demand for functional city-centre living, FaulknerBrowns envisioned Hadrian’s Tower: Newcastle’s tallest building and the hallmark of a new architectural typology for Newcastle.
Summary
Private rental sector accommodation
Location
Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Client
Citygrove Securities and Stonegate Developments
Size
12,500m²
Completion
2020
Hadrians tower newcastle upon tyne closeup of prefabricated facade panel 10x11
Vision
The tower provides 162 private rental apartments for local citizens. Nestled between the city’s central conservation area and the developing skyline of the west end, the design of the building is concordant with its surroundings while also being distinctly modern.
Hadrians tower newcastle upon tyne relationship to surrounding buildings g
Three distinct forms

At the base of Hadrian’s Tower, solid columns clad in handmade bricks give you a sense of human scale and proportion. As you look up, the building’s middle section mirrors the height of the listed Victorian printworks across the street. The tower reflects the skyline, using a fine grain of vertical glass and bronze-coloured metal elements.

The stepped composition allows sunlight to reach neighbouring buildings, respecting their “right to light”. The shifting geometries were influenced by medieval grain, and the building is angled to align with the historic street geometry—it sits in line with where Hadrian's Wall once stood.

Hadrians tower newcastle upon tyne citys tallest building 3x4
"We designed a stepped series of volumes to mediate between the different sizes and ages of surrounding buildings and respect the scale of the street. The composition successfully enhances the quality of the streetscape whilst making a positive and powerful contribution to the city’s skyline."
Paul Rigby
Partner
Hadrians tower newcastle upon tyne closeup of different materials 3x4
Hadrians tower newcastle upon tyne closeup of facade with newcastle skyline in background g
Modular construction

Sensitive to reducing disruption in the constrained city-centre site, we designed a unitised façade system that could be prefabricated offsite, streamlining installation time. The full-height glazing offers sweeping views across the city from the tower’s new homes and top-floor restaurant.

Hadrians tower newcastle installation of pre fabricated panels mmc 3x4
Hadrians tower newcastle upon tyne floors during construction looking up 3x2
Hadrians tower newcastle upon tyne detail drawing of entrance modularity with background 3x2
Hadrians tower newcastle upon tyne entrance 3x2
83m
tall, the tower is an elegant addition to the city’s skyline
162
new homes in an iconic part of the city
27
storeys offering breathtaking floor-to-ceiling views of the city
360°
vistas of the city’s historic axes
Hadrians tower newcastle upon tyne citys tallest building at night 3x4

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