York’s Rialto House tops out
Working for Olympian Homes, GMI Construction is on track to deliver the £50m student accommodation development in time for the academic year beginning in September 2025.
The PBSA project is being built on the site of York’s former Rialto cinema and Mecca bingo hall. The four-storey development will offer 275 bedspaces.
Amenities will include a gym, cinema room, yoga studio, games room, co-working spaces, group dining areas, integrated cycle parking, and landscaped courtyards.
Rialto House is located in Fulford, a 10-minute walk from the historic city centre and seven-minute bus ride from the University of York.
The GMI team on-site. Credit: via Recognition
William Sharpey, senior construction manager for Olympian Homes, said: “Reaching the topping-out stage on time and within budget is a major milestone, and perfectly positions us to focus on achieving practical completion by June 2025.
“Rialto House is set to raise the bar for student living. In a market with a significant undersupply of PBSA, it will provide students with an exceptional living experience, helping them thrive both academically and socially.”
Ed Weston, GMI’s commercial director, said: “The topping-out of Rialto House is a testament to the seamless collaboration between GMI and Olympian Homes. It signifies the progress we’ve made in bringing this project to life, balancing and blending a modern design with the site’s historical legacy.
“We’re proud to deliver a sustainable, best-in-class accommodation that addresses York’s critical need for high-quality student housing, while also enhancing the area’s unique character and community.”
The Rialto cinema first opened in 1913, with the site more recently used as a car park following the building’s 2003 demolition.
