Conservation architect Donald Insall Associates, M&E design engineer Max Fordham, and main contractor Krol Corlett Construction oversaw the £4.5m scheme, which involved roof repairs, environmental control upgrades, and ceiling restoration.

“The Walker Art Gallery is a Liverpool landmark, recognisable by its grand Neoclassical façade with Corinthian columns supporting the portico,” said Elgan Jones, an associate at Donald Insall. “Developing the designs alongside a passionate client team, specialist consultants, and contractors has been a true privilege.”

Simon Krol, director of Krol Corlett Construction, echoed Jones’ remarks.

“To have the opportunity to work on a building such as the Walker Art Gallery does not come along every day,” Krol said.

“I am extremely honoured and proud that Krol Corlett can be linked in some small way in the repair and restoration of the fabulous building, securing its future for our children and our children’s children for years to come.”

Regarding the refurbished galleries’ fit-out, National Museums Liverpool’s own Creative Studio led the effort. Erco was charged with light fittings, Meyvaert with display cases, Leach with graphics, and Bensons and Workhaus with setworks.

Work started on the Walker Art Gallery upgrades in 2021. Central government contributed £4m towards the project, as well as other schemes at National Museums Liverpool.

The Walker Art Gallery is celebrating the reopening of Rooms One to Four with a new exhibition. Credit: Peter Carr for National Museums Liverpool

With the completion of the scheme, the museum is once more able to display its collection of sculptures, jewellery, and other paintings in Rooms One to Four. These rooms were constructed in 1933 as an extension to the 1877 building.

Jones explained a bit more about the history of the extension.

“The 1930s wing, the focus of the recent work, was added to rival the rise in postwar popularity of ballrooms and cinemas which offered people vital and desired escapism and provided additional accommodation to display its collection,” he said.

“As such, its design reflected a more exuberant American-influenced interrelation of classicism, a symbol of modernism and new technologies. An important aspect of its design was the use of new scientific principles, particularly its heating and lighting.”

In the 1960s, suspended ceilings were introduced – and they were one of the first things removed during the renovation project.

“We sought to undo the unsympathetic 1960s changes and carefully repair the ornate plastered ceilings and the historic laylights,” Jones said.

“The main design challenge was developing a mechanical and electrical strategy around the historic fabric and interiors whilst providing the required environmental conditions to conserve the internationally significant collection and achieve appropriate lighting, heating, and ventilation conditions to support the visitor experience.”

Donald Insall Associates, Max Fordham, and Krol Corlett Construction were on the project team. Credit: Peter Carr for National Museums Liverpool

National Museums Liverpool is celebrating the reopening of the rooms at the gallery with a new exhibition, “Renaissance Rediscovered”, which features work by Titian, Lavinia Fontana, and Peter Paul Rubens. The exhibition is funded by Art Friends Merseyside, Henry Moore Foundation, Art Fund, and the Tavolozza Foundation.

“We are thrilled to be returning the rare and exceptional paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts from our Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque collections to permanent display in stunning, refurbished galleries,” said Kate O’Donoghue, curator of international fine art at Walker Art Gallery.

“Accompanied by new perspectives and fresh interpretation which breathes new life into a historic collection, this is a significant moment in the history of the Walker,” O’Donoghue continued.

“We are hugely grateful to the UK Government and our other partners, including Art Fund, for their support in creating these beautiful spaces and ensuring these works can continued to be enjoyed into the future.”

The Walker Art Gallery sits off William Brown Street in Liverpool. The museum is free and open to the public every day between 10am and 5pm during the school summer holidays.

Click on any image to launch gallery. All images by Peter Carr for National Museums Liverpool.

The Walker Art Gallery has reopened Rooms One to Four. Credit: Peter Carr for National Museums Liverpool

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]]> https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/gallery-inside-walker-art-gallerys-4-5m-refurb/feed/ 9 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/generative-ai-in-property/ https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/generative-ai-in-property/#comments Mon, 24 Jul 2023 08:00:40 +0000 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/?p=523848 Artificial intelligence is taking the world by storm, with almost every industry seeing new tools being created seemingly overnight. The built environment is no different, writes Claire Locke of VU.CITY.

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Claire Locke is commercial director at VU.CITY. Credit: via VU.CITY

Artificial intelligence is taking the world by storm, with almost every industry seeing new tools being created seemingly overnight. The built environment is no different, writes Claire Locke of VU.CITY.

Generative AI is the new hot topic but with so many new tools and the rapid pace of technological growth, it can be hard to decide what tools actually merit investment.

Generative design is software that uses computer algorithms and artificial intelligence to design and create products and solutions. In the built environment, it is being used to generate and explore a vast number of design options on a specific site, evaluating their performance against specified criteria, and iteratively refining the designs to achieve desired outcomes.

We are already seeing generative design technology playing an increasing role in the built environment, with big names like Clarion Housing investing in this technology to help streamline their processes, speed up site feasibility studies, and save money on costly last-minute design changes.

Change in any industry should bring both caution and excitement in equal measures. It can disrupt an industry in both positive and negative ways. Deciding whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing depends on so many factors unique to every business and person. VU.CITY seeks to support positive changes in the built environment using cutting edge technology to visualise accurate data for faster and better decision making.

How is generative AI being used in the built environment right now?

VU.CITY has leaped into the world of AI with our generative design tool called SiteSolve. Our platform leverages the power of algorithms and computational modelling to automate and enhance the design process on sites. Users can input certain goals or constraints that the software will try and meet and respect, designing out the site based on these metrics.

Users can also explore a wide range of possible design solutions and configurations to find the ones that best meet their needs. The technology is helping developers understand the potential of a site, architects are exploring thousands of design options and local authorities are using it to understand site capacity across their borough.

Professionals in the built environment are using generative AI in lots of different ways, but we’ve put together the top trends that we have seen below:

1. Feasibility studies

Feasibility studies have traditionally taken quite some time. Sourcing, aggregating, analysing, and contextualising data at scale and in context is often impossible. With VU.CITY and SiteSolve, users can run feasibility studies in less than an hour. They can explore thousands of design options and configurations and quickly decide if a site is viable.

2. Identifying targets

We’ve seen customers that have specific targets for their project, e.g. whether the main target of the scheme is maximising south-facing apartments, maximising net area or efficiency, or a combination of criteria. SiteSolve will generate designs based on these inputs and allow you to save multiple ideas for the site.

3. Working with generative design

One of the most interesting trends that we’ve seen is that professionals have used SiteSolve as a starting point, allowing the software to generate multiple options and then the user can edit or tweak the design, so rather than being replaced by generative AI, they’re working with it to create designs.

4. In-depth analysis

Professionals are using SiteSolve is to carry out a number of different analyses. Some of the most popular analysis tools that have been used are the primary views function, embodied carbon estimations, and cost data.

While SiteSolve has been a great tool for many, we understand generative AI is not for everyone. Looking more generally, I’ve drawn up pros and cons to help you decide on whether to take the AI plunge.

Pros

1. Increased efficiency

Generative design can help architects and developers explore a large number of design options quickly and efficiently compared to manual design iterations

2. Scalability

It can facilitate the creation of large-scale masterplans that can be adapted to various sites, as the design criteria is updated in just a few clicks

3. Improved Creativity

Generative design can help architects and developers imagine new and innovative design possibilities that may not have been considered using traditional design methods. New ideas can also be explored by pushing boundaries in a safe, cost-effective, and risk-free way – letting you see if an idea works well before any spades are put into the ground.

4. Customisability

Even after the initial designs have been produced by SiteSolve, architects and developers can provide the human element and customise them to a specific brief or site, respecting the cultural context, aesthetic appeal and the local community.

5. Optimisation

Optimise designs for specific goals or objectives, such as efficiency, primary views, or maximising dual aspect apartments to name a few. By analysing vast amounts of data, every design iteration is more tailored to meet these objectives, resulting in more effective and efficient building proposals.

6. Improved collaboration

Collaboration is key to the success of a project. SiteSolve can help architects, developers, and stakeholders visualise design options and variations and communicate clearly in a way that everyone can understand.

7. Better decision-making

Data-driven insights can help inform the decision-making process. This can lead to more informed and effective design decisions that are made quicker and easier.

8. Accessibility

The simplicity of the tools opens up the doors of usability to all, not just technologically advanced individuals.

9. Cost saving

Time is money. If a tool can imitate the built environment in a digital sphere, it can forecast the risks associated with building costs, overshadowing, and environmental impacts. Speeding up the early stage of a project will ultimately save you money.

Cons

1. Maintenance to keep up with building regulations

The output can only be as good as the data it processes, right? If AI algorithms produce similar outputs, the designs could be limited in their flexibility if not constantly updated to keep up with the evolving building regulations.

2. Lack of transparency

The algorithms used by generative AI are complex. This could make it difficult for built environment professionals to understand how the technology has reached certain decisions.

3. Limited contextual understanding

Generative design algorithms operate based on predefined rules and parameters. They do not immediately understand qualitative site constraints, including social issues such as how to preserve existing communities that influence the design.

4. Cost

The adoption of new technology can be expensive. It can mean a significant investment in tech, training, and infrastructure.

5. Ethical considerations

There are huge ethical concerns around issues such as job displacement. Will generative AI take jobs away from humans? Not only that, will it put people off training for jobs in the built environment?

Now you’ve seen some insight into how Generative AI is currently being used and the pros and cons, do you think the pros outweigh the cons? Or vice versa? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

• Claire Locke is commercial director at VU.CITY

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Eden is one of only two new buildings in the entire country to achieve that star rating from BRE, the other being British Land’s plot F2 at Canada Water in London. A NABERS Design for Performance target rating is determined through an independent design review. The highest possible score is six stars.

While Eden has a 5.5-star NABERS Design for Performance award, it will take a year for it to secure the same NABERS Energy Rating. That is because the building will have to be monitored over the course of 12 months to ensure it meets the performance standard.

The 115,000 sq ft Eden sits off Stanley Street in Salford’s New Bailey district and is being delivered by English Cities Fund, a joint venture between Muse, Legal & General, and Homes England. Coming in at 12 storeys, the Grade A office building will be capable of running completely on renewable energy when it is operational.

Other energy efficiency initiatives include lifts that add power to the building’s electrical grid whenever they are used, air-source heat pumps, Passivhaus standard insulation, and a series of prop-tech initiatives.

ECF is also at work reducing the embodied carbon of Eden. By using recycled steel and cement replacements, Eden’s embodied carbon footprint has been placed at 662kg/sqm of CO2. That is on the lower end of the embodied carbon scale, with the Institution of Structural Engineers estimating that embodied carbon for new office buildings is usually between 500kg/sqm and 900kg/sqm of CO2. The building also boasts a 43,000 sq ft living wall as its facade.

Bowmer + Kirkland is the main contractor for the Make Architects-designed project and is aiming for a late summer completion.

• READ MORE: Eden’s epic living wall is nearly complete – but how will it work?

Phil Marsden, director of project management in the North West for Muse, described how the 5.5-star NABERS rating fits in with Eden’s genesis.

“Eden’s creation was motivated purely by the ambition to build the UK’s most sustainable and environmentally considerate commercial building,” Marsden said.

“We are thrilled with the result and have learnt so much; learnings we look forward to sharing with our sector to help build a brighter future, together.”

The NABERS achievement was also welcomed by Mayor of Salford Paul Dennett. He said: “Our city has a proud history of innovation, from the first steamboat to the first swing aqueduct, and we are thrilled to add Eden to that list – a sustainable endeavour Salfordians will be working hard to add to for the benefit of our city and future generations to come.”

Prior to Eden, the building with the highest NABERS design score in Greater Manchester was NOMA’s 4 Angel Square, which has a five-star design rating from BRE.

Eden may be the first to crack the 5.5-star barrier, but it is unlikely to be the last. Bruntwood Works’ Ev0 in Didsbury is also aiming to secure the prestigious NABERS rating.

The post ECF’s Eden shatters NABERS rating record in North West appeared first on Place North West.

The other Northern project to secure a RIBA National Award was Hushh House in North Yorkshire, which was designed by Hexham-based Elliott Architects.

The £3.6m Manchester Jewish Museum is a Corten Steel-clad extension to a grade two star-listed former synagogue off Cheetham Hill Road. Built by H.H. Smith & Sons, the museum opened in 2021.

RIBA judges described the museum extension as “striking”, adding that it is a building that “both serves and celebrates the local Jewish community”.

Buro Happold was the structural, environmental, and M&E engineer on the scheme, as well as the acoustic engineer. Buro Four was the project manager and Appleyard & Trew was the quantity surveyor. Mary Nightingale was the project’s planting specialist, All Things the exhibition designer, and Smithers Purslow the conservation consultant.

In addition to winning a RIBA National Award and RIBA North West Award, Citizens Design Bureau was also awarded RIBA North West Project Architect of the Year.

Reflecting on the National Award winners, RIBA president Simon Allford said: “At this time, when building collaboratively and working towards a sustainable future are paramount, the 2023 RIBA National Award winners offer a rich source of inspiration. Each project looks, in its own way, to address both its client brief and the wider role architecture can play in serving society.

“Among the winners are a number of projects that offer a model for an architecture that is more widely responsible.  These buildings intelligently illustrate the potential of well-designed spaces to bring people together and, ultimately, architecture’s power to change our world for the better,” he continued.

• See the full list of 2023 RIBA National Award winners

Winners of the national award are also in the running to win the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize. The Stirling Prize ceremony will be held in Manchester on 19 October, a little more than a month after the shortlist for the award is unveiled on 6 September.

While Manchester Jewish Museum was the only North West project to claim a RIBA National Award, it was one of seven to be honoured regionally. Other North West Award winners included:

• Avro in Manchester, designed by Stephenson hamilton risley STUDIO for Urban Splash
• Cross House in Chester, designed by Scott Donald Architecture for Patrick Corcoran
• Manchester Metropolitan University of Digital Arts, designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios for Manchester Metropolitan University
• L’Ecurie at Dorfold, designed by ZOË POLYA-VITRY for Dorfold Hall Events
• Tower of Light and Wall of Energy in Manchester, designed by Tonkin Liu for Manchester City Council
• UCLan Student Centre at University Square in Preston, designed by Hawkins\Brown for University of Central Lancashire

L’Ecurie at Dorfold was also declared North West Building of the Year by the RIBA regional jury. It was one of multiple regional Buildings of the Year to be snubbed by the National Award list.

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Eden’s 350,000-plant living wall will be the largest of its kind in Europe, according to ECF. The wall is fast nearing its July completion date, with ECF chair Sir Michael Lyons and Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett attending a ceremonial “planting out” to commemorate the occasion on Wednesday.

“Eden has already become an icon for our city; an embodiment of creative strength and statement of positivity in a city with a proud heritage of innovation,” Dennett said at the time.

“More than that though, it symbolises everything we need to embrace going forward in terms of community and sustainability. We all need to do our bit to look after each other and the world around us.”

Resisting claims of greenwashing, ECF has touted the wall’s biodiversity, carbon storage, and insulation credentials. So how will this living wall work in practice – and how did it come about?

Place North West spoke with Eden’s living wall expert ANS Global and developer Muse, one of the three companies that make up ECF alongside Legal & General and Homes England, to find out more.

ECF chairman Sir Michael Lyons, Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett, and TLT partner Graeme Orchison were among those who attended the planting out ceremony. Credit: via RMS

The Eden dream

The £36m Eden, situated off Stanley Street in New Bailey, has been ambitious from the start.

“This place-changing building has been designed to push the envelope in terms of sustainable regeneration and highlight what can be achieved when like-minded partners work together to deliver something truly special for the benefit of everyone,” said Ella Woodward, development manager at ECF.

The office block is on track for a BREEAM Outstanding rating and a WiredScore of Platinum. ECF is also gunning for the project to secure a coveted NABERS score of 5.5 stars.

When it comes to wall, boosting biodiversity is one of the wall’s main jobs, according to Phil Marsden, a director at Muse who led the conception of Eden.

Accordingly, the living wall is more than just plants, it also contains bird boxes and bug hotels.

Marsden worked closely with Make Architects to craft the perfect design for Eden.

“When we were considering materials for the facade, the idea of cladding the materials in plants was discussed between myself and the architect,” Marsden said.

“When we looked at the research around the benefits of living walls, we were impressed with the benefits to air quality, reduction in urban temperatures, attenuation of water, noise reduction and improvements to the thermal mass of the building,” he continued.

“What better way to clad a building like Eden. Rather than using brick, stone or concrete, we could use plants grown in this country,” Marsden said.

Plant science

Each of the 32 species of plants on Eden was chosen to fulfill a specific purpose.

“Many years ago, a plant was a plant,” said Niall McEvoy, green infrastructure consultant at ANS Global. “All plants clean the air. All plants do this. All plants do whatever – but they don’t.

“Some plants are wonderful at creating biodiverse habitats,” McEvoy said. “Other plants are brilliant at absorbing carbon and producing oxygen. Other plants are phenomenal at trapping particulate matter.”

At Eden, biodiversity was one of the project’s main focuses. Many of the plants were selected for their ability to provide pollen for bees, nectar for birds, and habitats for insects. If all goes to plan, this will see a biodiversity net gain of 174%, according to ECF.

Plants chosen for biodiversity include cowslip, wild strawberries, St John’s Wort, and bluebells.

Others were chosen for their ability to sequester pollution, a task plants perform naturally through photosynthesis – a process that sees them absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Certain species of plants are particularly adept at absorbing and breaking down pollutants. At Eden, plants such as box, Sutherlandii, and snow-white wood-rush are being used for these purposes.

In the early days of living walls, the theory was that a plant would require less maintenance if its root system was restricted.

“That was proven to be wildly inaccurate,” McEvoy said. So the living walls of today, like the one found at Eden, opt for a different approach. Giving plants more room to grow strong root systems, which will enable them to be more resilient.

As for growing the plants themselves, it’s nothing new.

“A living wall is a method to allow plants to grow, like a flower pot is a method to allow plants to grow,” McEvoy said.

Maintenance

Some may argue that the energy costs behind maintaining a living wall the size of Edens’ negates the benefits. While McEvoy strongly disagreed, he did concede that there is no getting around the fact that maintaining a living wall – like maintaining a garden – requires effort.

Irrigation is the only part of the wall that requires power, McEvoy said. Eden’s system will run once a day on average for around five minutes per each of the wall’s 48 irrigation zones. On the hottest days, the system may run twice, while in the winter it may only run once every two or three days, according to ANS.

At Eden, most of the water for the plants will come from rainwater harvested on the roof. The irrigation system will also be backed by the mains in case there is a particularly dry spell.

Innovations in technology also allow for remote checks on the irrigation system to see if it is operational and running smoothly by enabling those monitoring to spot problems as they occur.

ANS will also do monthly visual health checks to make tweaks to the irrigation system, and then prune the wall back once a year. McEvoy estimates that pruning the wall could take more than two weeks given the façade’s size.

While he admits there is an energy cost, McEvoy contends it is worth it.

“There aren’t many items that we produce that give us as many benefits as green infrastructure,” he said.

Beyond the wall

The living wall aside, ECF has been ambitious with its vision for Eden. The 115,000 sq ft office block is to be powered completely by renewable energy – part of which will be generated on-site with solar panels.

Eden is meant to be operationally net zero when it comes to carbon emissions. Accordingly, the space will use air-source heat pumps to provide both heating, cooling, and hot water. Fittings have been installed that are geared towards low water usage and have leak detection technology. There are ventilation technologies that will help bring more fresh air into the offices.

Even the lifts will get in on the action, boasting regenerative tech that allows them to feed energy back into Eden’s power grid when the elevators are in operation.

The living wall, in ECF’s Woodward’s words, is just “the icing on the cake of the building”. It catches people’s attention and creates excitement – but it is not the entirety of the dessert.

“The building is so well designed,” McEvoy added. “It brings in all these elements around sustainability, however, you can’t see all of those items.

“You can’t see how well it has been insulated,” he continued. “You can’t see the CO2 sensors cleaning the area. But what you can see is the largest living wall in Europe…

“You take away the living wall and that building is still the model other buildings should adhere to. The living wall just highlights it.”

What’s next?

Main contractor Bowmer + Kirkland is on track to complete work on Eden in September.

Paul Sykes, regional director at Bowmer + Kirkland, noted that it had been a busy few weeks for Eden, adding that “we are now watching the building come to life”.

He added later: “It’s not very often that we get to build something that will continue to grow in front of our eyes and provide a home not only for the people working in the building but also a habitat for a diverse range of creatures.”

Law firm TLT is already signed on to take the top two floors of the 12-storey Eden, having signed a 15-year lease for 20,000 sq ft in January.

“Our Manchester team is very much looking forward to its move to Eden – a move which cements our commitment to the region whilst also representing our commitment to sustainability, and a people-first culture where employees have the space and support to produce their best work,” said TLT partner Graeme Orchison.

“Our values are very much reflected in Eden’s ground-breaking approach that will lead the way for the future workplaces that are both better for our people and the planet.”

The post Eden’s epic living wall is nearly complete – but how will it work? appeared first on Place North West.

Transport for Greater Manchester provided input on the CGI, which was created by Greig Penny Architecture for Manchester City Council.

It is hoped that the image will help strengthen the city council’s case against the government’s plans for an overground turnback station at Piccadilly. The image shows the public realm potential of the station, giving a taste of what the entrance of the station could look like for pedestrians. It is the result of an ongoing discussion between Manchester City Council and Bennetts on different station scenarios.

A potential vision for the station itself was developed by architecture firm Weston Williamson + Partners in 2020. Last year, the firm said that those proposals were “oven-ready” if the government wanted them.

The latest image release comes as Manchester City Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig prepares to speak in front of Parliament to advocate for a change in HS2 government policy.

Craig is expected to repeat her calls for an underground station, rather than an overground one, when she gives evidence this afternoon at Parliament’s High-Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill Select Committee.

An overground HS2 Piccadilly station would require the building of a concrete viaduct of up to six tracks wide. This viaduct would run from Ardwick to Piccadilly. This station would be at full capacity once Northern Powerhouse Rail services begin as well, according to Manchester City Council. It is also estimated to cost £5bn less than an underground station – and able to be delivered 13 years sooner, according to a report by HS2.

An underground through-station is the preferred design by the council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and the Northern Powerhouse Partnership. They argue that an underground station would enable substantial investment in the Piccadilly area that could create housing and green space and, ultimately, support 14,000 jobs. An underground station could result in a local economic uplift of £333m a year, according to the city council.

“We are urging the government to learn from mistakes elsewhere and build the right station for Manchester that will better serve us for the next century,” Craig said. “Our railway system needs investment now and for the future.”

She added later: “But the current plan for an overground station that travels into the city on concrete stilts, with limited resilience and likely to be at full capacity from day one, is the wrong one.

“It might be cheaper in the short-term but this penny-wise, pound-foolish approach will cost the city and the North much more in missed opportunities,” she continued.

“We need to ‘build it right and build it once’ with an underground station, which increases capacity and connectivity for the whole of the North, while providing a world-class welcome to the heart of our city-region…

“An underground through-station is the only way to deliver Northern Powerhouse Rail in full and, by having it underground, we get to create more jobs and put more money back into the Manchester and UK economy.”

Craig concluded; “It also means we avoid unsightly concrete viaducts, the height of three double-decker buses, cutting through communities and prime city centre development land being swallowed.”

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham voiced his support for Craig’s appeal to Parliament.

“Getting better east-west connectivity is the single biggest transport policy priority not just in the North of England, but the whole country,” he said.

“Government needs to look at the bigger picture here, because this is a decision which shapes our future and they are at risk of getting it seriously wrong.

“We stand shoulder to shoulder with Cllr Craig’s call for an underground station at Piccadilly because if we get the wrong solution, it will limit economic growth, limit opportunities for local businesses and people, and to leave us with the wrong railway for another century would be a hammer blow to levelling up our country.”

Parliament’s High-Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill Select Committee meets at 4pm. You can watch the proceedings live at parliamentlive.tv/Committees.

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In conversation with Place North West senior report Dan Whelan at UKREiiF, Purcell partner Jo Bartle and head of sustainability Laura Baron discussed the importance of getting to know a building intimately before any work takes place. 

This knowledge, they said, can prevent problems rearing their heads further down the line and ultimately keep costs down. 

“Some of these buildings have been standing for hundreds of years,” Bartle said. 

“They’ve stood because they’re well-built and well-understood. We want to make sure that that happens in the future.” 

The pair spoke about the biggest challenges that arise when working with heritage buildings, the role conservation can play in addressing the climate crisis, and pondered over whether a blanket ban on demolishing buildings should be considered. 

“It’s definitely the right conversation,” Baron said. “Whether or not it’s the right solution is still up for debate.” 

Watch the video at the top of this article, or on the Place North West Youtube channel, to listen in on the discussion. 

You can find out more about Purcell at purcelluk.com. 

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As well as being asked to note the scheme’s continued progress, the report’s recommendations include the agreement of £224,000 for works at the site. K2 Architects is the project designer.

Procurement for the construction works will be led by the local authority’s executive director of place Stephen Watson, in consultation with Cllr Paulette Lappin, cabinet member for regulatory, compliance and corporate services.

Located on Eastbank Street, the Enterprise Arcade will be Southport’s first digital incubator space for start-up businesses and entrepreneurs. Town Deal funding of £1.5m has been earmarked for the scheme as the council looks to provide a base for digital and creative start-ups and scale-ups.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, cabinet member for regeneration and skills, and member of the Southport Town Deal board, said: “By providing refurbished office workspaces for start-up, growing SMEs and co-working space for creative and digital tech businesses, the Enterprise Arcade will be a catalyst for creating a new digital eco-system in Southport town centre.

“Locating the new Enterprise Arcade in the Crown Buildings will enable us to breathe new life into currently unused town centre buildings and by managing the project in-house, we can ensure it delivers best value for Southport, its economy and its young entrepreneurs, in line with the Town Deal Funding objectives.”

The project is one of those accompanying the Marine Lake events centre which accounts for the lion’s share of Sefton’s Town Deal allocation.

Subject to approval, and to contractor procurement, refurbishment works will start late this year. The cabinet meeting takes place on 25 May.

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Artificial Intelligence in the Built Environment: Friend or Foe? is being held in association with Morgan Sindall Construction on 24 May at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Liverpool.

Artificial intelligence is already being used by innovative built environment companies to help transform the way we design, build, and operate buildings. As we go forward, the use of AI tools is only expected to increase – especially with the government investing £100m to create a taskforce focused on the subject.

But disruptive technologies are always a mixed bag. There are concerns about AI destroying jobs, with Goldman Sachs predicting the technology would make 300 million full-time jobs obsolete. There are other concerns about the AI field accelerating too quickly. So was Elon Musk right when he described the push for AI as a “dangerous” arms race? Or is AI a chance to address the skills crisis and construct our buildings more efficiently?

Artificial Intelligence in the Built Environment: Friend or Foe? will be exploring these questions. This free event will consist of keynote speeches and a panel discussion. There will also be plenty of opportunities for networking and knowledge sharing.

Confirmed speakers thus far include:

• Caro Ames, data science strategy lead at Arup
• Professor Samia Nefti-Meziani, the chair of robotics and AI at the University of Birmingham
• Owen Ashton, regional digital construction manager at Morgan Sindall
• Steve Nesbitt, chief technologist, Manufacturing Technology Centre
• Yazan Qarout, senior research engineer, Manufacturing Technology Centre

Register your interest by emailing events@placenorthwest.co.uk. Spaces will be limited, and you’ll be notified by the events team if you’ve been allocated a place.

The post REGISTER | Artificial Intelligence in the Built Environment: Friend or Foe? appeared first on Place North West.

The plans, from Adam Geoffrey Management, initially came forward and were approved in 2020, and involve the reconfiguration and further development of the warehouse complex, which has become a major events venue over the last decade.

Two main elements remain unchanged from that consented scheme: improving the existing on-site hotel offer in the eastern warehouse from a budget offer to a 200-bedroom facility with a rooftop bar extension; and introducing a seven-storey multi-storey car park with 183 spaces.

The most significant change to the plans is that where the extant application proposed office space on the second and third storeys of the western warehouse, this is now to be taken up by corporate events space with capacity for 2,000 guests.

A further change is the addition of a timber and glass structure at roof level of the western warehouse, in place of a running track and clubhouse.

Veritas Planning and architect Drinkwater head a professional team also featuring Stephen Levrant Heritage Architecture.

The 2020 iteration featured a running track at roof level, now taken up by events space. Credit: planning documents

Being so close to Manchester United FC’s Old Trafford football ground, Victoria Warehouse is a high profile site, bounded by the Bridgewater Canal to the south, Trafford Wharf Road to the north and Trafford Road to the east.

The approved plans include a new roof for the central arena building, which hosts concerts for up to 5,400 people. The site as a whole has an existing outline consent for 775 hotel bedrooms, with the existing hotel space only accommodating 42 rooms.

Drinkwater’s design & access statement said that “the addition of a function suite accommodating 500 people is an essential component of the hotel development”. Four floors of accommodation will house 50 bedrooms each below.

Furthermore, it said, improving the quality of hotel provision on-site is essential to support a blue-chip roster of exhibitions, with clients including names such as KPMG, Barclays, Jaguar Land Rover and the European Development Fund.

The plans have now been validated by Trafford Council, with the planning reference 110695/FUL/23.

The post Plans tweaked for Victoria Warehouse revamp appeared first on Place North West.

Leigh has joined MLA as a director. She has more than a decade of experience in designing interiors for workplace, life sciences, hospitality, and education spaces.

Leigh comes to MLA from Fairhursts Design Group, where she was the head of interiors for more than four years. Leigh has also worked for NCstudio, Richmond Square Group, CKDS Architecture, and John Barnes Architects.

As a director, Leigh is charged with growing and leading MLA’s North West team. Her appointment comes as the studio prepares to complete two large projects: the refurbishment of NatWest’s offices at 1 Spinningfields and the revamp of the historic Freetrade Exchange off Peter Street.

“We couldn’t be happier to have Stevie on board, and we’re confident that she’ll help us make a real impact in the Manchester community,” said Tim Griffin, chief executive of MLA. “So, if you’d like to find out more, or even just say hello, get in touch with Stevie at s.leigh@michaellaird.co.uk.”

Reflecting on her new role, Leigh said: “I am honoured to have been asked to lead the move to my hometown of Manchester and I’m looking forward to developing the team here in the North West — very exciting times ahead for MLA.”

In addition to Manchester, MLA has offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Recent projects for the firm include The National Robotarium and the Capital Square office of law firm Brodies, both in Edinburgh.

Brodies' Edinburgh office. Credit: David Cadzow

The National Robotarium. Credit: Keith Hunter

 

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]]> https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/mla-opens-manchester-office/feed/ 0 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/work-completes-on-5m-caernarfon-castle-revamp/ https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/work-completes-on-5m-caernarfon-castle-revamp/#comments Tue, 09 May 2023 08:29:33 +0000 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/?p=518027 A viewing platform and multimedia interpretations are among the new features at the 13th-century fortress’s principal gatehouse on the banks of the River Seiont.

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]]> A viewing platform and multimedia interpretations are among the new features at the 13th-century fortress’s principal gatehouse on the banks of the River Seiont.

Buttress Architects is behind the three-year conservation project, which sees the renovation of Caernarfon Castle’s triple-towered gatehouse.

Designed on behalf of the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, Cadw, the £5m project includes the creation of three new floors, featuring a café, gift shop, and reception area.

Perhaps most excitingly, visitors will find immersive multimedia interpretive areas throughout, which tell the stories of the people who built and ran the castle under King Edward I of England.

On the upper level, a viewing deck has been created in the castle’s battlements, boasting views that stretch out to the surrounding town.

Lift access has also been provided, enabling visitors of all abilities to access this part of the castle for the first time since it was built in 1283.

Stephen Anderson, director of Buttress, said: “The completion of this project marks the beginning of a new chapter in the castle’s history.

“The work has not only created world-class visitor facilities, but it has also made the castle more accessible and enjoyable for all – allowing more people to learn from and appreciate this fascinating historic site.”

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]]> https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/work-completes-on-5m-caernarfon-castle-revamp/feed/ 3 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/green-light-expected-for-73m-southport-marine-centre/ https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/green-light-expected-for-73m-southport-marine-centre/#comments Fri, 21 Apr 2023 09:36:57 +0000 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/?p=517293 Sefton Council planning officers have recommended councillors approve the Marine Lake Events Centre, which they estimate will attract 288,000 visitors a year.

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]]> Sefton Council planning officers have recommended councillors approve the Marine Lake Events Centre, which they estimate will attract 288,000 visitors a year.

The MLEC’s application will be voted on during Sefton Council’s planning committee meeting Thursday.

If approved, the £73m project will see the redevelopment of the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre site on Southport’s promenade. The centre will be replaced with a 103,000 sq ft event complex comprising a 2,400-capacity conference venue, a 1,200-seat theatre, offices, production facilities, ticket office, café, restaurant, meeting rooms, and a shop.

Kier is already lined up to build the venue, with a projected completion date of 2026.

One of the most exciting proposed features of the MLEC is the water and light show that would take place six times daily from 5pm to 10:30pm.

CBRE is the planning consultant for the MLEC project. Credit: via planning documents

Car access to the MLEC will be from the existing Promenade and Seabank Road roundabout junction. There will be 142 parking spaces for vehicles, including 15 designated accessible and 14 bays with electric vehicle charging points. There will also be 48 cycle spaces for visitors.

Planning consultant CBRE estimates that the MLEC will create 290 on-site and off-site operational jobs, helping stimulate the area’s economy.

The MLEC is designed by AFL Architects, who built upon original work by HOK. Gardiner & Theobald is the project manager and cost consultant for the scheme. Optimised Environments is the landscape architect.

The £73m MLEC project is funded in part by £33.3m from Sefton Council’s successful Town Deal bid and a £20m investment by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Sefton Council is expecting to borrow the remaining funds.

Sefton Council will vote on granting planning permission for the project next week. Credit: via planning documents

In addition to AFL Architects, CBRE, and Gardiner & Theobald, the project team for MLEC includes civil engineer AECOM, venue consultant IPW, transport consultant WSP, noise and air quality expert Hydrock, and daylight and sunlight guru GIA.

Tetra Tech is the project’s aquatic ecology expert, while Carcius is charged with the same task on land.  Tyler Grange is the arboricultural consultant.

Burro Happold is the waste management consultant and TEP is the visual impact assessor. Turley is assisting on community engagement. Also on the project team: Graeme Ives Heritage Planning, Cotswold Archaeology, Blue Sky Building.

If planning permission is secured for MLEC, ASM Global will operate the facility.

You can learn more about the plans for MLEC by searching application reference number DC/2022/01391 on the Sefton Council planning portal.

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]]> https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/green-light-expected-for-73m-southport-marine-centre/feed/ 9 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/castlefield-forums-roman-gardens-plan-resurfaces/ https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/castlefield-forums-roman-gardens-plan-resurfaces/#comments Tue, 18 Apr 2023 10:55:53 +0000 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/?p=517046 Six years since proposals to improve the area were given the green light by Manchester City Council, the custodians of the site have reapplied for planning permission for the project. 

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]]> Six years since proposals to improve the area were given the green light by Manchester City Council, the custodians of the site have reapplied for planning permission for the project. 

Castlefield Forum wants to transform Manchester’s Roman Gardens – thought to be where the original settlement of Manchester sprang from around 2,000 years ago – into an “inspiring new gateway to Castlefield”. 

The forum is working alongside design studio BDP to progress the project. Interventions at the site are aimed, generally, at smartening it up, and creating a more inviting and well-thought-out space for visitors. 

The Roman Gardens masterplan was first unveiled in 2014. At the time, the forum, established in 2010, said it was “one of the saddest and most unloved areas” in Castlefield. 

Two years later, the scheme was approved by the city council. Some improvement work has taken place in the intervening years and now the forum is seeking to carry out the scheme outlined in the original masterplan. 

To learn more, search for application reference 136246/FO/2023 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.

Plans to revitalise the Roman Gardens come hot on the heels of another public realm project close by. 

The 125-year-old Castlefield Viaduct was recently brought back into use as a garden and heritage attraction for the first time in 50 years. 

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]]> https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/castlefield-forums-roman-gardens-plan-resurfaces/feed/ 2 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/sneak-peek-inside-liverpools-municipal-buildings-40revamp/ https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/sneak-peek-inside-liverpools-municipal-buildings-40revamp/#comments Tue, 18 Apr 2023 10:53:35 +0000 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/?p=517055 Newly released CGIs give a taste of what Accor Group’s boutique MGallery hotel will look like when it opens inside the grade two star-listed building on 10 May.

The post SNEAK PEEK | Inside Liverpool’s Municipal Buildings £40m revamp appeared first on Place North West.

]]> Newly released CGIs give a taste of what Accor Group’s boutique MGallery hotel will look like when it opens inside the grade two star-listed building on 10 May.

Singaporean developer Fragrance Group is the mastermind behind the £40m project to transform the former Liverpool City Council offices into a luxury hotel, to be operated by Accor.

The Municipal Buildings date back to 1868. Sitting off Dale Street, the building comprises 183,000 sq ft. Fragrance Group acquired the historic property in 2017.

The Municipal Liverpool – MGallery, as the luxury hotel will be known, was drawn up by architect Falconer Chester Hall, with Koncept ID as the interior designer. Russell WBHO is the main contractor for the project.

When the hotel opens in May, it will comprise 179 rooms across four floors. Rooms will range from doubles to suites and each will boast bathroom amenities from lifestyle brand Culti.

Guests will be able to enjoy a series of wellness amenities, including a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, and fitness area. There will also be a Laconicum (a dry sweating room), treatment rooms, salon, and spa.

Inside one of the future guestrooms for the hotel. Credit: via Carousel PR

Capable of hosting corporate meetings, The Municipal Liverpool – MGallery will also boast five boardrooms named after a district in Liverpool: Ropewalks, Baltic, Cavern, Waterfront, and Georgian Quarter.

The Palm Court bar and lounge will provide carefully crafted cocktails and, on select days, live music. The hotel will also have a Botanic Tea Room to provide customers with drinks, patisseries, and afternoon tea.

Fans of the historic building’s original clocktower will also see it restored to working order.

RBH Hospitality will manage the hotel for Accor.

Hotel general manager Deirdre Billing said: “I am delighted to write a new story for the Municipal building, bringing back its local heritage into a hotel and introducing the luxury brand MGallery to Liverpool.

“It has been a joy to see this iconic building brought back to life and we can’t wait to welcome guests into the space and experience its charm for themselves. The hotel is an invitation to change the pace, take time and have a real break!”

The professional team for The Municipal Liverpool – MGallery included specialist heritage architect Stephen Levrant and structural engineer Curtins.

Click any image to launch the mini-gallery. All images courtesy of Carousel PR

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]]> https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/sneak-peek-inside-liverpools-municipal-buildings-40revamp/feed/ 12 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/lake-district-unveils-design-code/ https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/lake-district-unveils-design-code/#comments Tue, 18 Apr 2023 09:59:58 +0000 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/?p=516999 New developments should “enhance local distinctiveness, sense of place, and respond to the climate emergency and biodiversity challenges of today,” according to a draft guide drawn up by the national park authority.

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]]> New developments should “enhance local distinctiveness, sense of place, and respond to the climate emergency and biodiversity challenges of today,” according to a draft guide drawn up by the national park authority.

The local authority is seeking public feedback on the draft design code, with a consultation running until the 15 May.

Environmental consultant LUC is working with Lake District National Park on the regulatory document.

The design code seeks to reinforce the area’s unique heritage by providing direction for building, conversions, and alterations.

Local grey slatestone is a dominant building material. Credit: via Lake District National Park Authority

Proposals focus on more than just appearance. Future projects should also aim to reduce carbon emissions and enhance biodiversity.

The guide focuses on four development types to guide decision-making on planning applications:

• New homes: Must be constructed of local building materials, with slatestone being the most dominant. Each town has its own distinct character, but common characteristics include slate roofs and water-tabling
• Conversions: Must consider the impact on heritage assets. When converting a traditional building, the original plan and massing must be maintained
• Extensions or alterations: Existing green features such as hedgerows and ponds must be retained
• Shopfronts: Frames and signs must be made from a selection of materials, including timber and terracotta. Avoid thick and bulky window frames.

All design and access statements must also include a context study of the site. This includes natural features such as local habitats, common architectural details, and the function of the site within its wider context.

• READ MORE: Lake District Design Code

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]]> https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/lake-district-unveils-design-code/feed/ 5 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/gallery-nml-unveils-liverpool-canning-dock-proposals/ https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/gallery-nml-unveils-liverpool-canning-dock-proposals/#comments Thu, 06 Apr 2023 16:31:15 +0000 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/?p=516210 The oldest visible part of the city's dock system will be transformed to showcase the city’s rich maritime history under plans revealed to the public this week by National Museums Liverpool.

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]]> The oldest visible part of the city’s dock system will be transformed to showcase the city’s rich maritime history under plans revealed to the public this week by National Museums Liverpool.

Designed by architect Asif Khan and artist Theaster Gates, preliminary proposals for the city’s Canning Dock include a pedestrian footbridge and an experiential installation on the South Dry Dock.

The dry docks were constructed in the 1760s, and designed for the cleaning and repair of ships. Historic stone coursing, barrel runs, mitre gates, and iron fittings remain on the site.

Created with community partners 20 Stories High, Squash, and Writing on the Wall, the proposals seek to better reveal the significance of the docks through sensitive intervention.

Liz Stewart, Canning Dock lead for National Museums Liverpool, said: “Working with local community arts organisations, we have a unique chance to really enhance people’s experience of this space.

“As well as creating an overall cohesive visitor experience, we’re determined to truly represent the profound historic significance of the site.”

The Royal Albert Dock will be linked with Canning Quayside through the introduction of a pedestrian bridge. This path will provide better connections to the surrounding International Slavery Museum, Maritime Museum, and the Museum of Liverpool.

The South Dry Dock will house a space for contemplation and reflection. Credit: Asif Khan Studio

An area dedicated to contemplation and education will be featured on the reimagined South Dry Dock. The stone and glass structure will sit at the base of the sunken dock and will carry the same dimensions as a typical slave ship, reminiscent of the many based there 250 years ago.

The contemplation space is meant to “play host to stories of the past, life of the present, and dreams of the future, with no chance of being washed away”, according to the consultation.

Architect Khan said: “It is an idea about how complex history can be told, the spaces in which we tell it, and the power it has to bring us together.”

Artist Gates added: “The opportunity to work on the Canning Docks Project has allowed me to connect with the complexity of Liverpool and its history and to engage that history, knowing that there’s healing for the future.

“The community of creative organisations and individuals who have worked to make this project possible are the lifeblood of Liverpool.”

Illustrative plan for the proposed changes to Canning Dock. Credit: Asif Khan Studio

Notably absent from the Canning Dock consultation are Sir David Adjaye and Nigerian architect Mariam Kamara, who were originally part of the project team. Both have departed from the scheme after having worked on its early stages.

“Once the direction of the project was established, the collective agreed that Khan and Gates would take the project forward,” an NML spokesperson told Place North West.

They emphasised that Sir David Adjaye’s company Adjaye Associates was still involved in the broader Waterfront Transformation Project, a scheme that includes the Canning Dock revamp, the International Slavery Museum expansion, and the redevelopment of the Maritime Museum.

The Canning Dock project will be funded with a contribution from the government’s £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund, supported by a £120,000 grant from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Race Equality Programme.

The wider design team for the project includes Plan A Consultants, Prior + Partners, The Place Bureau, Hara Design Institute, AKTII, Arup, Donald Insall Associates, and Bureau Veritas.

National Museums Liverpool is inviting the public to view the full proposals and share feedback, in person at the Museum of Liverpool or online. The consultation will run until 23 April.

A full planning application will be submitted to Liverpool City Council this summer.

Click any image to launch gallery.

Night-time view of the South Dry Dock. Credit: Asif Khan Studio

Interior view of the contemplation space. Credit: Asif Khan Studio

Stairs will enable visitors to descend into the South Dry Dock. Credit: Asif Khan Studio

A closer look at the future stairs leading to the South Dry Dock. Credit: Asif Khan Studio

A wider look at Canning Dock. Credit: Asif Khan Studio

An aerial view of the project, including the bridge to the right. Credit: Asif Khan Studio

The pedestrian bridge could be raised to allow ships to pass. Credit: Asif Khan Studio

Neil Tague contributed to this report.

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