Demolition specialist Cantillon is now onsite bringing-down an old Job Centre at 60 Commercial Road.
It will be replaced with a 19-storey tower containing 417 student rooms with a 25,000 sq ft office building behind.
Sources close to the project confirmed the construction contract value for both buildings as £25m and a winner will be announced in October.
Completion of the office building is expected in late 2014 and the student accommodation building in summer 2015.
