57,000 sq ft ‘landmark’ building for creative industries tipped for approval

Plans for a “landmark” 57,000 sq ft Art & Design building from Nottingham Trent University have been tipped for approval when Nottingham City Council’s planning committee sits next Wednesday (October 20).

The 9-storey building has been designed by Hawkins Brown and promises to create “a new landmark building for the creative industries” on the corner of Shakespeare Street and North Sherwood Street in the city centre. A revised design of the building was recently submitted to the city council.

The building will bring together film, animation, UX design, gaming design, graphic design and illustration. The innovation lab enables collaborations with industry and a space to showcase the talents students work. The new building will also provide dedicated spaces for Visual Communication, Moving Image and Digital Screen Arts disciplines.

A planning statement adds: “It will also enhance the school’s desire for more inter-disciplinary collaboration, social learning and celebration of work in progress as well as finished pieces.

“Acting as a welcoming gateway to the NTU City Campus, the new building will create an active and exciting ground floor to attract the passers-by and maximise connections with other buildings on the campus.”

A public park will also be incorporated to the rear of the building.

Michael Marsden, executive dean for the School of Art & Design, said: “The new development at 42 Shakespeare Street is not only an architecturally significant building for Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University but one which will see the school of Art & Design becoming the leading art school for the creative industries.”