BDP goes shopping in Leeds
DESIGN practice BDP’s Manchester studio has won the brief to lead a multi-million pound refurbishment at the Merrion Shopping Centre in Leeds, known as the New Front.
Listed property investment and development company, Town Centre Securities have appointed BDP’s Manchester Studio to redevelop 80,000 sq ft of retail space into a lively leisure destination with bars, cafes, restaurants, and a gym along Merrion Way and Wade Lane.
The transformation of the development include the creation of an outdoor area designed to promote continental-style café culture, with increased retail frontages, new trees and high quality external finishes.
Ian Purser, an architect director at BDP Manchester, will lead a team including architects, sustainability engineers, lighting designers and landscape architects to deliver the project.
The New Front scheme, which was approved by Leeds City Council last week, will consist of seven new units ranging from 30,000 sq ft to 420 sq ft, including existing tenant, 1st Bowl.
The scheme will use low energy LED lighting to deliver a state-of-the-art car park along with a façade lighting installation featuring colour changing LEDs.
An improved car park will feature new energy-efficient passenger lifts, wider parking bays and an intelligent management system, including Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and bay monitoring technology to signify available spaces.
A wide range of low energy electrical systems will also be incorporated into the plans, along with natural ventilation and state-of-the-art charging bays for electric vehicles.
Work on the New Front scheme will commence next year and be completed in 2013, to coincide with the opening of the 13,500 capacity Leeds Arena, based opposite the centre.
Ian Purser, said: “This scheme will create a new destination in an area of regeneration for Leeds city centre, effectively opening up a new front to the Merrion Centre with highly sustainable and market leading proposals.”
Helen Beckett, associate director at Town Centre Securities, said: “Working with BDP has allowed us to create high quality designs that will not only transform this side of the Merrion Centre but will help regenerate this part of the city. Our ambition is to deliver a new vibrant leisure destination, with improved public realm and up-graded car parking.”
