BDP - Offices Development - Bootle, Stanley Road
Date: 05 Aug 2003
BDP has been commissioned to create a stylish new landmark building to house the South Sefton Investment Centre at the northern gateway to the developing masterplan for Bootle, in Merseyside.
The building, won against strong competition, will provide start up space for small businesses in the area. It will be 'anchored' by a Local Authority department occupying approximately 30% of the footprint. The operation of the building will be self-financing.
BDP’s design concept generates 75m of new frontage onto Stanley Road, presenting a highly modern and efficient image to the High Street. The proposed design will create a total of c.30,000 sq ft (net) accommodation in a building of 4-5 storeys, with surface car parking for 59 spaces within the site curtilage. The linear floorplate will provide a ‘central’ core zone with flexible office accommodation to the north and a mixed use area to the south which will include a c.2,500 sq ft café space, smaller office ‘penthouse’ suites and meeting room facilities.
The design concept is a direct response to the brief, site context and a reflection of the environmental conditions. The building form addresses the street with an active but friendly transparent façade along the eastern edge. A new colonnaded walkway is proposed and the publicly accessible café will create a focal point to the south. In contrast the western façade has a solid form addressing the car park aspect and prevailing cross winds.
The form of the building section embodies a sustainable approach through the proposed use of natural stack effect ventilation. To address the height of the adjacent Triad tower, a local landmark, the building massing gently increases to the south. This will also provide greater emphasis to the transparent corner, where views through, towards the brightly coloured service core ‘drum’, create an exciting focal point to the development. The drum will become a landmark in its own right, both day and night. The building finishes will be bright, practical and robust, recognising the need to create a stylish but practical working environment as an investment for the future.
Terry Davenport, Project Director at BDP’s new Liverpool office states - “We are delighted to have won the competition for the South Sefton Investment Centre against strong regional and national competition. It’s particularly pleasing that the design won such strong public support during the period of the public exhibition. BDP Liverpool office sees the project as a significant opportunity to design and deliver a new striking building within the emerging Bootle Town Centre Masterplan.”
BDP is architect, structural and building services engineer. QS/programmer is DL&E. The £4m project is expected to start on site next spring with completion due mid 2005 to be £4m with start on site next spring.
The BDP team beat off strong competition from Austin Smith Lord, Stephenson Bell, Ahrends Burton and Koralek, Brookes Stacey Randall Architects and Mblc Ltd to win the new gateway proposal.
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