Crestron Installation — Beetham Tower Penthouse, Manchester

Crestron in Manchester’s Beetham Tower Penthouse

Our work on the penthouse of the iconic Beetham Tower in Manchester is one of our highest-profile installations. Commanding the entire two top floors of the 168.87m tower, the highest living space in Europe at the time of installation, this is a penthouse like no other. The installation won Custom Controls the Crestron Integration Award in 2009 and became an official Crestron Digital Media Case Study.

Building Management Control

The biggest challenge was not distributing audio and video around the apartment but controlling all the building management systems within it. Our Crestron installation controls every aspect of the environment: underfloor heating, ventilation, swimming pool temperature and the olive grove irrigation system. The client has a 4,000 square foot garden at the very top of the tower, with olive trees craned in during construction. Crestron 6-inch touchpanels throughout the apartment allow temperature setpoints to be adjusted room by room with a simple scroll and tap interface.

Bringing these systems under one controller means the client never deals with a separate thermostat, pool controller or irrigation timer. Heating, ventilation, pool and garden sit alongside the audio, video, lighting and security in the same interface. Every one of these systems is reached from the same touchpanels, so the whole penthouse is run the same way.

Multi-Room Audio Video

Full audio video distribution throughout the apartment allows centralised Sky HD receivers and a Kaleidescape DVD and music server to be enjoyed anywhere, across eight audio zones and four video zones. The Kaleidescape system stores the client’s DVD and CD collection, allowing several different films or albums to be enjoyed simultaneously in different zones. An FM tuner provides radio throughout, particularly popular in the his-and-hers bathrooms. Because every source is centralised, the living spaces stay free of equipment, and the same library of films and music is available in every zone.

Crestron Lighting Control

A full Crestron lighting control system across 60+ channels provides pre-set scenes for any activity, and the client can adjust and save scenes from the touchpanels at any time. Twenty-five lighting keypads give direct scene recall around the apartment without reaching for a touchpanel. Lighting is written into the same programme as the audio, video and climate, so a single scene can set the whole apartment for the evening.

CCTV and Security Integration

CCTV and security are fully integrated into the Crestron system, allowing the client to view cameras on touchpanels throughout the apartment, including the private lift lobby. All cameras record on a rolling basis with easy viewing via the client’s computer. A fully monitored alarm system notifies the apartment concierge and client immediately should an alarm trigger. With the security system in the same interface as everything else, there is no separate panel to learn.

An Official Crestron Case Study

This project became an official Crestron Digital Media Case Study, one of a small number of international studies featured on Crestron.com. It is one of the five consecutive Crestron Integration Award wins, a record unique in EMEA. Crestron’s case study recognised the building management integration as much as the audio and video, delivered across the top two floors of what was then Europe’s highest residence.

Frequently Asked Questions — Beetham Tower Penthouse

How was an olive grove irrigated at the top of a tower?
The penthouse’s 4,000 square foot rooftop garden — with olive trees craned in during construction — has its irrigation system fully integrated into the Crestron control system, alongside underfloor heating, ventilation and swimming pool temperature, all managed from touchpanels throughout the apartment.

What made this project an official Crestron case study?
Crestron selected this installation as an official Digital Media Case Study, featured on Crestron’s own website, in recognition of the building management integration achieved — uniting audio, video, lighting, climate, irrigation and security control across two full floors at the top of a high-rise tower.

What was Europe’s highest residential living space?
At the time of this installation, the Beetham Tower penthouse — at 168.87m and commanding the top two floors of the tower — was the highest residential living space in Europe.

How is the lighting controlled?
A full Crestron lighting control system runs more than 60 channels, with 25 lighting keypads and pre-set scenes for any activity. The client can adjust and save scenes from the touchpanels at any time.

How is security handled in the penthouse?
CCTV and a fully monitored alarm are integrated into the Crestron system. Cameras, including the private lift lobby, can be viewed on touchpanels throughout the apartment, and an alarm notifies the apartment concierge and the client immediately.

Crestron Home Automation → · Kaleidescape → · Whole-Home AV → · Climate Control → · Home Security →

Project Gallery

The images below show the Crestron system in use across the penthouse. The first shows a touchpanel set into the kitchen wall, with dedicated buttons for TV, DVD, music, radio and CCTV, and the others show the wireless touchpanels in the living area, study and dining space. From the dining table, the view across Manchester shows just how high above the city the apartment sits.