Opal Tower (Leeds)

Arena Village / Opal 3, Leeds
Arena Village / Opal 3, Leeds
	Opal 3
General information
Status	Completed
Location	Wade Lane, Leeds, England
Coordinates	53°48′11″N 1°32′28″W / 53.803°N 1.541°W
Construction started	2006
Completed	2008
Height
Antenna spire	90 metres (295 ft)
Roof	82 metres (269 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	26
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Morrison Design
Developer	Opal Property Group
Main contractor	Ocon Construction Ltd

Opal Tower (officially known as Opal 3, Leeds) is a 25-storey building in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.

It serves as student accommodation for 542 students, and is close to the City campus of Leeds Beckett University and the University of Leeds.

As of 2018, it was the fourth tallest building in Leeds.^[1]

Construction

The initial planning application for this site (previously occupied by the Londoner pub) on Jacob St, Leeds city centre, was submitted in July 2005, for a 23-storey student apartment block. This design was later altered after initial approval and permission was granted in December 2006 to build the current 25 storey tower.

Construction work began in early 2007 with an expected completion date of September 2008. The building was designed by Morrison Design and was developed by Opal Property Group, with the site contractor being Ocon Construction. Construction was completed on time, with the development opening to its student tenants between the 15th and 20th. The development is the fourth tallest building in Leeds, after Altus House, Bridgewater Place and The Plaza Tower which took Opal 3's title as second tallest approximately a year after its completion.

Accommodation

Opal 3 features cluster flats for up to 6 students, with single en-suite rooms being the bulk of accommodation, complemented by deluxe rooms (which have a double bed), and a small number of studio flats on the higher floors.

Reception

A 2008 article in Building Design said that "Morrison Design's Opal Tower is nearly as tall and as mean as Sky Plaza, again for the city's ruthlessly exploited student population, but is more clunky than horrifying."^[2]

References

^ Johnson, Kristian (17 November 2018). "Take a look at the huge student flat developments taking over the city skyline". LeedsLive. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
^ Hatherly, Owen (2 October 2009). "URBAN TRAWL: WEST RIDING – Northern exposure". Building Design. p. 8. ProQuest 274578573. Retrieved 15 June 2024 – via ProQuest.

External links

[1] Johnson, Kristian (17 November 2018). "Take a look at the huge student flat developments taking over the city skyline". LeedsLive. Retrieved 15 June 2024.

[2] Hatherly, Owen (2 October 2009). "URBAN TRAWL: WEST RIDING – Northern exposure". Building Design. p. 8. ProQuest 274578573. Retrieved 15 June 2024 – via ProQuest.

[1]

[2]