Feilden Clegg And Bradley's Observatory Gets The Green Light

Feilden Clegg and Bradley presence in the north of england has exploded over the past few years. They seem to be first choice for universities, which is unsurprising as Broadcasting Place, which they designed for Leeds Metropolitan University, recently won a regional RIBA award. Other projects in and around Manchester include the new Business School and an extension to Chatham, neighbouring MMU buildings.

News appeared in the month of march about a new visitor centre designed by FCB at the University of Manchester's Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire. The design looks to create a new tourist hotspot in the countryside. Already a world famous observatory, the visitor centre hopes to generate £26 million over the next decade in the area. Initial funding has now been granted by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and the Northwest European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), a further £600,000 has been added by the University Of Manchester. Now that funding is secured work plans to start immediately, and is pencilled in for a 2011 finish.

A relatively minimal design with regards to the complex mechanical radar dishes in the vicinity, but overall a complimenting idea. FCB presence in the UK is becoming a formidable force, a welcoming sight as their quality and fresh designs help to elevate architecture in the country.

all images copyright of Feilden Clegg and Bradley

Fancy Being The Head Of The Manchester School of Architecture?

Manchester Metropolitan University is currently advertising for a new Head of School position. The Manchester School of Architecture is a joint vision by both of Manchester's leading Universities (MMU and UofM). Colin Pugh has temporarily occupied David Dernie’s, the old head of school, position for the past year, but a permanent individual is now required. MMU are looking for a candidate who has vast experience in sustainable urbanism, and a diverse range of management skills, whilst also offering great communication skills to help follow on the tremendously friendly environment currently in the school of architecture.

The job offers a fantastic opportunity over the next few years. As Feilden Clegg Bradley's new School of Art (see previous article) building begins construction, the architecture department will inherit new space, giving it the chance to expand and create a remarkable studio atmosphere. The new Head of School will have a huge chance to bring new ideas for the studio spaces and help make the MSA an even more phenomenal school of architecture.

Interested applicants can contact Mrs Julie Butler, Secretary/PA to the Human Resources Director, The Manchester Metropolitan University, All Saints, Manchester M15 6BH. Tel: 0161 247 1562; j.butler@mmu.ac.uk quoting reference number JB19. Or apply online via http://www.mmu.ac.uk/jobs/ .

Image Copyright to Jack Penford Baker

MMU Business School

Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios is the architectural firm leading the development of a new Business School for the Manchester Metropolitan University. The school is projected to cost £ 54,000,000 and is due to be completed September 2011.

The 20,000 sq metre building will host a new faculty as well as facilities for 5,000 students and 250 staff including student services, catering, learning zones and IT drop-in spaces.

This vibrant and environmentally friendly scheme contains two cool and calm atria for social activities; both spaces contain bridges and balconies connecting buzzing human traffic across the building.

As part of an ongoing University project to develop low energy buildings, the school will be incorporating energy saving tactics such as thermal massing, natural day lighting, controlled ventilation, some energy generation features and ground coupled cooling.

Images courtesy of Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

Initial Concepts for New MMU Building Revealed

Manchester Metropolitan University's Faculty of Art & Design was recently granted a £30M budget for "an extensive reorganisation of it's estate." Work has already begun on the project with the Chatham Tower currently being refurbished and expected to be completed by September 2010. One of the most significant changes planned is the demolition of the Chatham Undercroft building with a new building planned to open in 2012. Stirling Prize winning architects Feilden Clegg Bradley were recently appointed as architects for the new building and after the initial consultation phase the first images of the new building have been released.

The first images reveal plans to create a new entrance to the tower as well as links to the upper floors by a circulation and atria space. A roof garden can also be seen in one of the visuals and model.

More information on the project can be found at the MMU website here.

Whitworth Art Gallery Shortlist Unveiled

The shortlist for a competition to design an internal overhaul and extension to the beautiful Grade-II listed Whitworth Art Gallery on Oxford Road, Manchester, has been revealed and the biggest surprise is that Zaha Hadid and Feilden Clegg Bradley have missed out. 139 practices had originally expressed an interest in working on the project, from which a longlist of 10 practices were selected for interviews by a jury panel. The full longlist was as follows: Amanda Levete Architects, Dixon Jones, Edward Cullinan Architects, Eric Parry Architects, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Haworth Tompkins, MUMA, Stanton Williams, Stephenson Bell with Carmody Groake, Zaha Hadid Architects.

Originally the longlist drew attention for being headed up two 'starchitects' both of which are female (Zaha Hadid and Amanda Levete) as well as featuring last year's Stirling Prize winners (Feilden Clegg Bradley) and current nominees for the UK's top Architecture prize (Eric Parry). Local practice Stephenson Bell, whose work has included a reworking of Piccadilly Plaza and the Aeroworks building, had teamed up with Carmody Groake (architects of the 7/7 Memorial in London) and it is unfortunate that they didn't make the shortlist as the 2007 YAYA winners have showed in the few completed projects in their portfolio that they have an ability to craft original and thought provoking buildings. The fact that Feilden Clegg Bradley also didn't make the shortlist is a surprise as they seem to be the darlings of the Universities at the moment, with their new Business School for Manchester Metropolitan University and the new building planned for the Manchester School of Art, not to mentioned muted plans for the soon-to-be-former BBC site on Oxford Road.

The shortlist in the end is comprised of Amanda Levete Architects, Edward Cullinan Architects, Haworth Tompkins, MUMA and Stanton Williams. Amanda Levete perhaps the best known left on the list, famed for her work with the late Jan Kaplicky at Future Systems and brings with her a reputation for pushing the use of new materials in construction and creating iconic forms.

Image above: Amada Levete Architects, Corian Super Surfaces

Each of the shortlisted practices now have until mid-September to work on concept designs for the Gallery before they go on public display in October and a winner is announced in November. Look Up will be following closely as the competition progresses and will bring details of the public display when they are announced.