St Francis Court, residential in Ipswich, England
St Francis Court is a tall residential tower with a simple, box-like structure made of concrete in the center of Ipswich. The building has sixteen floors with approximately eight apartments on each level and contains about 116 rooms throughout.
The tower was built in the early 1960s as part of the Greyfriars development project by architect Edward Skipper & Associates to provide homes for workers. It was originally called Franciscan Tower before being renovated and recladded in the 1990s, when it received its current name.
The name St Francis Court references the Franciscan order that once had a presence in this area. Today, the building reflects how residents live in the heart of Ipswich, moving through its central location as part of their everyday routines.
The building sits centrally on Franciscan Way, offering residents and visitors quick access to shops, cafes, and other places in the town center. Two elevators serve the tower to help people reach the upper floors.
The building experienced a major fire in 2001 on the seventh floor that required 70 firefighters and 12 fire engines to control, though no one was seriously hurt. This incident revealed ongoing safety concerns related to the flammable cladding material added during the 1990s renovation.
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