Blind centre plan for ex-newspaper office
THE Frank Whittle Partnership (FWP) and Wayne Hemmingway’s design firm have been hired to turn the Morecambe Visitor’s former office in to a centre for the blind.
Galloway’s Society for the Blind has bought the 14,000 sq ft office on Victoria Street from newspaper group Johnston Press which has moved the newspaper to Northgate.
Preston-based FWP is masterplanning the project in collaboration with Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway’s company HemingwayDesign.
The idea is to create a centre where blind and partially sighted people can access information, advice, guidance and support.
Neil Ainsworth, Partner at FWP, said: “The building has massive potential for the charity and we’re looking to create a development that will greatly add to the service provided by Galloway’s. We will ensure the building not only conforms to good practice but Galloway’s wants to ensure the building is as user friendly as possible for blind and partially sighted people.
He added: “We’re looking to give a bold graphic quality to what is an iconic building in Morecambe. Everyone knows the Visitor building and we are working to ensure it has a bright future in its important new community role.”
Wayne Hemingway said: “Galloway’s will have a very special building that is fit for purpose, embraces the latest thinking in the sector gleaned from proven precedents from around the world.
“As someone who was born in Morecambe I am delighted to be working with a charity that has put so much into the community and has such ambitious plans to do even more.”
