The Story of Liverpool Steel
19 August 2026
When it comes to steel, Liverpool's most distinctive legacy is architectural. The city was an early adopter of steel-frame construction techniques, most notably in the Tower Building on the Strand, built opposite its sister structure, the Royal Liver Building.
This reflected Liverpool's confidence and wealth at the height of its commercial power, as merchants and shipping magnates embraced new building technologies for their waterfront offices. Here, we zoom in on some of this historic city’s most important Liverpool steel construction projects.
The Tower Building
One of the earliest steel-framed buildings in England, The Tower Building was designed by architect Walter Aubrey Thomas and located on the Strand opposite the Royal Liver Building. Built in 1906, it is now Grade II* listed and is of historical significance as a pioneer of steel-frame construction in the city.
Today, that legacy continues in a different form as Liverpool's docks are a hub for the export of recycled metal, and steel construction is central to the city's ongoing regeneration, from hospital rebuilds to waterfront towers.
Royal Liverpool University Hospital
The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is a major teaching and research hospital for student doctors, nurses, dentists and allied health professionals. One of the largest hospitals in the north of England, it recently went through a major rebuild where structural steelwork played an important role in the redevelopment work.
The largest steel element is the five-storey Clinical Support and Services Building and its two link bridges, requiring more than 900 tonnes of structural steelwork.
Looking at Liverpool’s Future
Liverpool Waters
A vast £5.5bn regeneration scheme proposed by the Peel Group in the Vauxhall area, making use of derelict dock spaces at Central Docks and encompassing around 21 million square feet of commercial and residential floor space. It has been described by the city’s mayor Steve Rotheram as, “one of the UK’s most dramatic renaissance stories of the 21st century”.
Steel-framed towers within the masterplan (including the 31-storey tower currently under construction and the proposed Shanghai Tower) make it one of the most exciting ongoing steel construction programmes in the city.
The Kings project tower
A 70-storey tower forms the impressive centrepiece of the £1bn Kings waterfront scheme, comprising a five-star hotel and luxury residences. The project is set to span eight acres of prime city centre real estate with waterfront views. The masterplan brings together a five-star hotel, Grade A offices and luxury residences, alongside cafés, bars and restaurants.
At 727ft, it is set to surpass the current tallest building, the West Tower (459ft), by some margin, making it potentially the tallest steel-framed high-rise project yet proposed for the city.
Order Steel for Your Liverpool Project Online Today
If you’re looking for steel beams in Liverpool, Buy A Beam provides a fast and simple way to order structural steel online. Our platform allows builders, contractors and DIY customers to quickly source the steel sections they need for construction and renovation projects across Liverpool and Merseyside.
Our customers across Liverpool regularly order products such as Steel Beams, Steel Channels, Steel Angles, and Flat Bars for a wide range of building and fabrication projects.