Building briefs: Green light for Lancaster arts centre; Knight Frank at Lancaster Buildings

LANCASTER University has won planning permission for The Lancaster Institute of Contemporary Arts (LICA). 

Located on Lancaster University’s Parkland Campus, the 3,000 square meter building will provide the university with event and performance space as well as offices for post-graduate research and administration.

Designed by Manchester-based architecture firm Sheppard Robson, the building will be the UK’s first education project to achieve the “BREEAM Outstanding” target. 
 
James Jones, project architect at Sheppard Robson, said: “Securing planning consent is great news for Sheppard Robson. We have designed a building with the very latest environmental credentials and now have the chance to raise the standard of sustainable design in the education sector.”
 
“We are hoping that the building will attract attention from across the country and internationally which will help to transform the Arts in the North West.”

::

PROPERTY agent Knight Frank has taken space at Lancaster Buildings, on Deansgate in Manchester.

It has taken 3,129 sq ft on the second floor of the refurbished building at 77 Deansgate, which is owned by Maple Grove Developments.

Knight Frank, which is one of the joint agents on the scheme alongside Edwards and Co, will join existing tenant Made to Order Limited.

Richard Dinsdale of Edwards & Co said: “Lancaster Buildings differentiates itself from the competing buildings in the area, as it’s succeeded in incorporating a blend of high specification office space with original character features, including exposed brick walls and galleried meeting areas, thus providing a unique and functional working environment which is conveniently located in the heart of Manchester’s city centre.”