The Plaza

This residential tower will provide accomodation for students over 26 floors.

Data

No. of floors - 26
Height - 83m
Building type - Student Residential
Year of construction - 2005
Architect - Carey Jones
Location - Claypit Lane

http://www.leeds-cityscape.co.uk/plaza.jpg

If you're starting a new thread.......

Here's one taken at the start of june - expect it has come on a little since then. The element under construction is the lowrise bit towards the far right of the one image we've seen released by Carey Jones. We're hopeing the tower starts around December time.

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5923/img00779ch.jpg

If you're starting a new thread.......

Here's one taken at the start of june - expect it has come on a little since then. The element under construction is the lowrise bit towards the far right of the one image we've seen released by Carey Jones. We're hopeing the tower starts around December time.
Pity we had to start a new thread thanks to a malicious hacker, just when the old one was going well. But back to the Plaza, we're almost another two months down the line from that picture, and rather more should have been done on that site.

We're hopeing the tower starts around December time.

Is that from official sources or just speculation? I certainly hope that it does start this year, not least becuase it will help ease the shortage of key-worker accomodation.

BTW the tower is 83m tall

Unless I'm very much mistaken the tower is already under construction and is nearing its finished height! They seemed to just continue building upwards with the steel framing rather than using a core for construction.

I go past it most days on the bus so have been watching things closely.

Unless I'm very much mistaken the tower is already under construction and is nearing its finished height! They seemed to just continue building upwards with the steel framing rather than using a core for construction.

I go past it most days on the bus so have been watching things closely.

I think you are wrong. The tower comes in the second phase of construction. :)

Wow - in that case the tower will be pretty big if its to be taller than what they're building now! :)

Wow - in that case the tower will be pretty big if its to be taller than what they're building now! :)

Destined to be 26 storeys! Current blocks are around ten storeys.

Destined to be 26 storeys! Current blocks are around ten storeys.

Correct Mike they have'nt started the tower yet trust me i went for a start on there and where the tower will be is currently portkabins, nightmare to get access onto the site aswell

Edit as you can see in the pic above.

Going into town tonight along Claypit Lane, I noticed that Leeds Met are selling a large plot of land for development directly opposite the Plaza site. Just imagine what kind of introduction to the city centre a quality development there would provide.

Will the tower have started by the end of this year, and does anyone know its expected completion date? I expect it will be 2007. Will this also use concrete cores instead of steel framework? Can you imagine how many concrete cores will be on the skyline within the next few years!

Being on a hill will give this tower a massive effect. The lowrise already looks enourmous once past the Civic building or Merrion, whichever way you come. Providing the cladding is decent, this should be a stunning addition. Shame about the blue blade though.

That walk from Leeds Met to Leeds Uni should be damned interesting once the other efforts are built. I've noticed the BBC building etc is well under demolition.

yes i agree. i already thought the commie blocks gave quite a dense feel up clay pit lane.

more dense you say no.1. I think you may be right - car park was shut so had to get one shot from ground level. Remember this is the 'lowrise' 10-11 storey bit, the 26 storey tower will totally dominate the area.

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/374/img01507ov.jpg

more dense you say no.1. I think you may be right - car park was shut so had to get one shot from ground level. Remember this is the 'lowrise' 10-11 storey bit, the 26 storey tower will totally dominate the area.

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/374/img01507ov.jpg




Am I right in thinking these smaller lowrise buildings will go up to 13 storeys with 26 storeys for The Plaza tower?

Am I right in thinking these smaller lowrise buildings will go up to 13 storeys with 26 storeys for The Plaza tower?

yup - like I say its getting fairly tall, especially when coming down Chapeltown or Roundhay Roads. The tower will have a huge impact from pretty much all views. No idea what the covering will look like? Brick / metal cladding? Who knows, hopefully not cheap, because its a right plumb location.

Will this also use concrete cores instead of steel framework?

Steel framework and concrete cores can be used together. Going by what's already built it will be steel frame construction without cores rising ahead, but you never know. IMO concrete cores should be mandatory in this post 9/11 world.

I dunno, i have a feeling it will be concrete cores...

No idea what the covering will look like? Brick / metal cladding? Who knows, hopefully not cheap, because its a right plumb location.
Or more terracotta?

I dunno, i have a feeling it will be concrete cores...

Any basis for this LN1, or shall I henceforth refer to you as Mystic Number 1? ;)

nope, no basis what so ever. IMO concrete cores look better on the skyline...

Er....yeah they are beautiful aren't they? :?

Yeah well. Cores tend to be associated with taller buildings, so it makes the city look like its building lots of tall buildings, which could be a bad thing for some people...

I dunno, i have a feeling it will be concrete cores...

I'm sure the tower will be of reinforced concrete, as that is the near universal thinking for tall buildings these days. It is part economics, but mainly due to the fire resistance characteristics of reinforced concrete construction. This is not so critical for lower and mid-rises, as they have more integraty due to their smaller size. So Leeds No 1 will probably be proved right. (steel and concrete buildings go perfectly well next to each other and is quite common in construction).

Bit of news from Unite......... all financial, but a bit of a hint, sadly that the tower is not on its way just yet. The deal is for the 968 beds only (which is obviously 600 or so below the 1600 beds the Plaza was planning to develop.

My thought is tha Unite have sold half the scheme to Lehman Bros to get a bit of the construction risk off their balance sheet and thus free up capital for the remainder of the site which I guess is the tower and will hopefully will be the key sector working bit, hence 400-600 one and two bed flats in the second phase. Carey Jones always said it was a two stage build and I reckon they've split usage between the student element to be ready for Sept 2006 and the key sector tower bit for a year or two later.

Net yield of 6.9% is pretty damn good for such a low risk investment as this, from my perspective as a banker! Think of the 3 or 4% basic you get in a current account. This is immensely low risk (guaranteed income from the thousands of students wanting to live close to the city centre in a secured well located development).

We wait to hear more about phase 2 - its the one we're all interested in, but sadly the last to start!

Unite Group PLC - Re Joint Venture

RNS Number:8228P
Unite Group PLC
08 August 2005

Date: 8 August 2005
On behalf of: The UNITE Group plc ('UNITE')
Embargoed until: 0700hrs


The UNITE Group plc
UNITE CLOSES SECOND STUDENT VILLAGE JOINT VENTURE


The UNITE Group plc ('UNITE'), the UK's leading provider of student
accommodation, today announces the formation of its second joint venture with Lehman Brothers, the global investment bank, for the development and operation of a 968 bed student village in Leeds.

UNITE and Lehman Brothers will own 51% and 49% respectively of the equity in the joint venture, which is for an initial term of five years and will be deadlocked with each party having equal voting rights and board representation. The joint venture partners have each invested in a special purpose vehicle to acquire, develop and hold the student scheme, with UNITE having satisfied its consideration through the transfer of the development land into the vehicle and Lehman Brothers having satisfied its consideration with £3.4 million in cash.
The development land has been independently valued at £3.7 million and UNITE has therefore received £0.1 million in cash from the joint venture, resulting in its net equity contribution of £3.6 million. UNITE will also be fully reimbursed for all costs incurred to date on the development and will record neither a profit nor a loss as a result of the transaction.

The student village, which is in Leeds city centre, is ideally located for
students from both the University of Leeds and Leeds Metropolitan University as well as Leeds College of Music and it will offer a broad range of accommodation and facilities. UNITE's partner contractor, Carillion, is currently on site and building completion is anticipated in August 2006. The property is expected to be worth £43.2 million on completion and will be let directly to students, generating an annual rent roll of £3.9 million when fully stabilised which, after deducting expected operating costs, equates to a net yield of 6.9%. Senior debt for the joint venture is being provided by Fortis Bank.

In addition to its investment in the joint venture, UNITE will also retain
responsibility and receive a fee for the development and subsequent management of the property. It will also receive a 'promote fee' if, on termination of the joint venture, the actual returns achieved exceed targeted returns. The joint venture agreement contains customary exit provisions, which in the case of UNITE may be subject to shareholder approval at the time of exit where relevant.

The joint venture enables UNITE to further its strategy of growing its portfolio of owned and managed beds in target locations, whilst making the most efficient use of its capital. UNITE expects to maximise the return on its equity invested through the receipt of development, management and promote fees as described above in addition to the anticipated development gains.

Commenting on the transaction, Mark Allan, Group Finance Director for UNITE, said:

'This joint venture builds on our first transaction with Lehman Brothers, closed last year, and illustrates the continued investor demand in our sector. It demonstrates the strength of our relationship with Lehman Brothers and the successes of our first joint development in Sheffield, which will open in September this year. Leeds is an important market for UNITE and developing a further 968 beds in the city underlines our confidence in the strength of the local market and our long term commitment to the Universities and Colleges in Leeds.'

I think it was generally understood that the first phase would be complete to raise funds for the second phase, by complete meaning financially complete. Selling half of it off prior to completion should speed that process up. It is something that has happened with other developments, and has rewarded the brave by starting these developers who initially stuck their 'financial' neck on the line.

The first phase is still massive. Its very cleary visible when coming in through Chapeltown, and cuts out a big open space which was there previously.

Too right it's visible! I'm amazed by how much it's beginning to dominate the area:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/apm22/6%20Sept%202005/P1010060.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/apm22/6%20Sept%202005/P1010064.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/apm22/6%20Sept%202005/P1010066.jpg

I'm sure that's much bigger than anticipated, looks like 15 storeys. I'll have to go along and have a closer look. It is looking really good on the north city skyline now. It'll look big along the inner ring road now.

I'm sure that's much bigger than anticipated, looks like 15 storeys. I'll have to go along and have a closer look. It is looking really good on the north city skyline now. It'll look big along the inner ring road now.



You are right. I thought this part of the scheme only went up to 13 storeys- these are deffinately 15.

Already making a great presence from Inner Ring Road. Can't wait for The Plaza Tower to start- This will be a fantastic development

You are right. I thought this part of the scheme only went up to 13 storeys- these are deffinately 15.

Already making a great presence from Inner Ring Road. Can't wait for The Plaza Tower to start- This will be a fantastic development
And we wonder what is the likelihood of seeing a similar proportional increase in the height of the Plaza itself - from 26 to 30 storeys?

There are now renders up on the side of the Plaza of Phase 1.
They look different (and better) to the original render, so we can assume it all has been redesigned.

Here's one of the renders from Claypit Lane. nothing that special really - I think we're all waiting for the tower to start, but suspect that could a year or two until the first phase is completed and full of students.

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/4259/img03242zu.jpg

Bloody Hell! It reminds me of Leek Street Flats! Alright, not quite as grey but you know what I'm saying...

We'll be crying into our beers in 20 years time about early 21st Century building design. Cladding and finishes in particular IMO.

We'll be crying into our beers in 20 years time about early 21st Century building design. Cladding and finishes in particular IMO.

Looks like it. But a lot of the blame must go to the planning committees for allowing these monstrosities to be built. Also because they are student flats perhaps they think good design doesn't matter that much - but the rest of us have to live with them for years !

It's not that bad and it can't be of a really good design otherwise it would be too expensive for student accomodation.

Good design does not necessarily mean higher costs - it is possible to design decent cheap building.

Good design does not necessarily mean higher costs - it is possible to design decent cheap building.

I agree, Metrolink, but it appears that the people who matter do not know this !

I really don't think it looks that bad, it could be worse.

I really don't think it looks that bad, it could be worse.

You and Leeds no1 ought to shake hands - you seem to share a most uncritical attitude. Why settle for second best ? Not that any of us have any say in the matter.

It isn't bad at all.
The worst you could say about it is that it's mediocre.

I am quite critical about thngs, but I don't think there are that many projects I can criticise. Greengate in Manchester is terrible, so is canopus. Maybe those apartments next to the Corn Xchange (Forgotten their name now) aren't so good but they're grown on me... Some buildings along Briggate I don't really like but they aren't any particularly new buildings so... The Light is a great building but not much in it. St. John's Centre interior has improved...
Dortmund Square needs re-doing too IMO.

I am quite critical about thngs, but I don't think there are that many projects I can criticise. Greengate in Manchester is terrible, so is canopus. .

They are the same project........and aren't getting built.

You're quite critical.........if it's not in Leeds that is!

Yes I know, I was referring to each design. London's Beetham is also rubbish.

And on that note, things like Hardman Sq., Beetham and Great Northern are good, but rubbish designs which try to be unique but just don't pull the look off (like canopus) just ruin it. Why can't people just design normalish buildings, or at least buildings that look possible, and experiment with materials. I'm not such a fan of the Kite Tower actually... But I'm not too sure, not
been many renderings.

I quite like the apartments by the corn exchange, wouldn't live there though, it would make me mad looking at all the goths.

I quite like the apartments by the corn exchange, wouldn't live there though, it would make me mad looking at all the goths.

I criticised this building right from the start. The Civic Trust quite liked it at first but has now come round to my way of thinking. Though it might have been acceptable in another location, it does absolutely nothing to complement the Corn Exchange. Another architectural disaster for Leeds - though fortunatley not as big as some others.

It's not so bad really. I often go into the Corn Xchange, and therefore notice these- they're not that bad really. I'm not sure what other design they would have come up with...

It's not so bad really.


There you go again with your usual refrain Leeds No 1. Do you have to settle for mediocrity ? :)

That billboard render is hardly enough information to make a judgement. Has anydody read a description of the cladding panels?

Incidentally, could someone repost that pic where the foundations are being cast for the 15 storey bit. I seem to remember them being mass pad foundations. Hardly appropriate unless the soil is basically bedrock.

The day you can come up with a better design I'll listen to that. If there wasn't mediocre things we wouldn't know what good and bad was. It's only student apartments- and for student apartments its quite high quality, and hardly a bad development compared to the other buildings around Clay Pit Lane and Sheepscar.

The day you can come up with a better design I'll listen to that. If there wasn't mediocre things we wouldn't know what good and bad was. It's only student apartments- and for student apartments its quite high quality, and hardly a bad development compared to the other buildings around Clay Pit Lane and Sheepscar.

Stay with the plot Leeds No 1 - we are now discussing the building near the Corn Exchange. I am no architect and am only a layman - like you no doubt. We all have our likes and dislikes and they do say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Your view on this is just as valid as mine - except there are certain absolutes which the majority of the cogniscenti at least hold to.
I always ask myself "what will people in 20, 50 or 100 years think of the aesthetics of this building". Mind you I don't think it will last that long and one thing is pretty certain - the Corn Exchange will last a lot longer.

If there wasn't mediocre things we wouldn't know what good and bad was.

That's an interesting philosophoical argument. But it begs the question of what is mediocre, what is good, what is bad ? And who is the judge ?

I do't particularly think that any of these buildings will be anything special in the future, more like just normal buildings- such as just the normal sort of non ugly but nothing special type office/residential buildings. What will make a mark are things like Criteion Place, but smaller developments really show how cities are changing. What is being built now paints the future, rather than what we are living like now in that around 2010 many people will be living like this, and many city centres will have their modern, clean style. At that time however, more futuristic buildigns will be being built- so what is being built now is the future rather than what we are used to now. In other words, that means that all these sort of buildings are mediocre, but it doesn't matter too much really. Leeds is a pretty well-to-do city compared to its counterparts and does quite well nationally. Small developments like this will no harm the overall look of the place, and to be honest, not that many people actually will be looking at buildings.

What would really make Leeds is year round street performances and stuff, giving the city centre another side to just shopping (daytime) and entertainment (Evening/night). Current the sort of events that bring Leeds alive are only seen at Christmas, and often only in Millennium Square, such as the ice cube, christkindlemarkt...etc Rhythms of the City wasn't on this year so...

That's an interesting philosophoical argument. But it begs the question of what is mediocre, what is good, what is bad ? And who is the judge ?

i think you think that you are fred. you always seem to think that just because you don't like a particular building that it's a 'second best' development. a few people have expressed their like for buildings such as City Island and The Plaza and you accuse them for not being critical enough. well maybe you're just stuck in the past. i admitidly am not the biggest fan of either project but i can respect the view that others do without having to lower to your level

i think you think that you are fred. you always seem to think that just because you don't like a particular building that it's a 'second best' development. a few people have expressed their like for buildings such as City Island and The Plaza and you accuse them for not being critical enough. well maybe you're just stuck in the past. i admitidly am not the biggest fan of either project but i can respect the view that others do without having to lower to your level

Thanks for the kind (?) words Alexi. I accuse only those who make statements like' it's not too bad' and those who obviously are prepared to accept mediocrity and second best. I am not alone in my views on this thread, and Neilynoo and Stig282, and others, have expressed similar sentiments. Moreover, Metrolink, has quite rightly stated that good design is not necessarily more expensive. I previously stated that I thought that all opinions are valid, but that there are certain absolutes of design - not always definable- which exist. My first 'bete noire' in Leeds was the DHSS building or Quarry House of some 13-14 years ago. Fortunately, I was not the only one, and an architetectural journal described it at the time as "..an architectural disaster which should never be allowed to happen again". With luck it will be even more obscured from view by the impending Quarry Hill development. Another Leeds building at the time was similarly described as " a baffling exercise in controlled ugliness" a description which could fit many buildings going up today - and not just in Leeds ! :)

You and Leeds no1 ought to shake hands - you seem to share a most uncritical attitude. Why settle for second best ? Not that any of us have any say in the matter.


:D

:D


So ?

Despite the splitting effect that buildings like the LGI, University, ASDA HQ and Quarry House have, I like Quarry House. It is large and makes a focal point to The Headrow and sends a statement that it is a city. The Plaza also will give a city feel to the inner ring road and so will Mayfair. There are very few buildings that I think are bad. Most new builds I like, and espeically as a modern, clean standard. I like the use of contrasting colours too, and light. However, when available, I think the history should be restored, such as the Electric Press. I also like the extension, hope the big screen gets up soon!

sorry but Crown Street Buildings (by CornEx) is a crime of 'design' when placed in such close proximity to the Corn Exchange, particularly the coloured cladding.
The actual scheme has merit, just in the wrong location IMO.

sorry but Crown Street Buildings (by CornEx) is a crime of 'design' when placed in such close proximity to the Corn Exchange, particularly the coloured cladding.
The actual scheme has merit, just in the wrong location IMO.


Hear Hear !

What's baffling is i heard the Civic Trust had advised the architects on the one feature of the design i hate the most - the colour of the tiles facing Duncan Street; they're hideous.

What's baffling is i heard the Civic Trust had advised the architects on the one feature of the design i hate the most - the colour of the tiles facing Duncan Street; they're hideous.

Absolutely agree with you. I think the Civic Trust has changed its mind (=U turn) about the design of this building.

So ?

So? what?

So? what?

So you do have a critical attitude HOI, and you are an arbiter of good design ?


:)

The day you can come up with a better design I'll listen to that. If there wasn't mediocre things we wouldn't know what good and bad was. It's only student apartments- and for student apartments its quite high quality, and hardly a bad development compared to the other buildings around Clay Pit Lane and Sheepscar.
Sorry to interupt but.....c'mon Leeds No 1. The buildings near the Corn Exchange are hideous. I'd have chosen pretty much any design over the mini green monster that detracts from a (potentially) nice area.

yeah that was referring to The Plaza, not the CornX buildings.

yeah that was referring to The Plaza, not the CornX buildings.

OK but what about the new building near the Corn Exchange. Do you like it Leeds No 1 ? BTW, why should bad design be excusable for students. Remember, the students only live in them for a short time. We, good citizens of Leeds, have to look at the buildings and live with them for years and years.

Whilst I think the building could have been designed better, I still don't think its so bad. The trendy inside of the corn exchange does go well with the trendy outside of the the crown street building.

Well it's hardly one of my favourite buildings in Leeds, but it's not as bad as I first though. It is only small anyway. I don't think has much of an effect on the CornX or that area particularly.

Hello Chaps, ive been following this Leeds forum for some months since ive moved back to Leeds from being at Warwick uni and enduring the seriously below par City of Coventry. Ive finally managed to register on this forum, woohoo... you guys have done some fine work with all the news, opinions, photos etc.

Now can someone tell me what they plan on doing with the Hepworth building next to the Plaza because it looks empty? is that going to be the site of the Plaza tower or are they going to squeeze that in on the side next to the road leading into the Woodhouse carpark and keep the cheap looking (yet in some ways attractive) Hepworth building?

The Plaza is looking pretty big from the ring road now, i fear they may ruin it with some shoddy cladding though

Hello Chaps, ive been following this Leeds forum for some months since ive moved back to Leeds from being at Warwick uni and enduring the seriously below par City of Coventry.

Are you me in disguise?

Anyway, as far as i know, Hepworth House will form the tower of the Plaza. (that's the college of building? in the background left)

http://www.careyjones.co.uk/images/upload/arch_res_lrg/theplaza_410_01.jpg

Just trying to get this set in my head...
Is the viewpoint of this render as though outside of Halifax on ClayPitt Lane?

Do u partake in some studies at Warwick Uni? i used to live in Earlesdon... nice place, has a proper community feel to the area. Its just a shame Coventry City centre is mighty shabby, though i do have a friend that lives in them new apartments above the BBC thing and Prague restaurant etc. next to the sculpture of the two boomerangs. those apartments remind me of the Clarence Dock apartments only a lot smaller and no water. The interior of the apartments are very nice and a lot cheaper to rent than comparable ones in Leeds... but they are in Coventry.

As for the Plaza; they are converting Hepworth House and incorporating it into the Plaza? a fine idea as its looking very run-down.
I cant seem to get my bearings of that render, where is the Ring Road and the bridge over it leading to Aspect 14?

Do u partake in some studies at Warwick Uni?

As for the Plaza; they are converting Hepworth House and incorporating it into the Plaza? a fine idea as its looking very run-down.
I cant seem to get my bearings of that render, where is the Ring Road and the bridge over it leading to Aspect 14?

Ay, I'm an old duffer of a postgrad living in glorious Tile Hill.

I think this is pretty much the orientation for the rendering above (moved further back and over to the right)

http://www.leodis.org/imagesLeodis/screen/40/2002813_14286440.jpg

Too right it's visible! I'm amazed by how much it's beginning to dominate the area:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/apm22/6%20Sept%202005/P1010060.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/apm22/6%20Sept%202005/P1010064.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/apm22/6%20Sept%202005/P1010066.jpg


Just a refresher. Save flicking back through.

I think this is pretty much the orientation for the rendering above (moved further back and over to the right)

http://www.leodis.org/imagesLeodis/screen/40/2002813_14286440.jpg

Cheers DiLivio.

I really like this building - always have. I understand it is no longer structurally sound and is to be demolished. A shame as I find it oddly pleasing.
I don't think the new Plaza will be as architecturally stunning.

Thanks di Liv & Mr Stig. Do you know if they have started that cladding yet? i would guess they would have had to if they want to get phase one finished by Aug/Sept 2006. i hope they shift it a bit faster than it took to build West Point, is that nearing being ready for habitation yet?

A request to di Liv, do you have any pictures of Warwick uni? there was a lot of building going on when i was there and some looked pretty decent. have you any opinions on the architecture there? i lived in the monstrosity of Old Rootes in my first year

Agreed Stig, it does have an odd appeal to it, though close up it does look cheaply made and very run down. short of an expensive overhaul demolition is the best solution. shame they cant demolish West Riding House

Alot of these buildings look dated but I want them to stay because of their height. Despite the fact most the towers along Clay Pit Lane are commie blocks, they certainly make it feel quite dense, I'd hate to see them demolished or at least if they were, to be replaced.

In that render, it is done from outside the Halifax building. The small area of grass on the right is where the ring road goes under, and curves round under the multi storey you can just see popping up. The traffic that has stopped is the right hand lane that turns on to the ring road, and the left goes into the central zone- does that clear it up a bit?

A request to di Liv, do you have any pictures of Warwick uni? there was a lot of building going on when i was there and some looked pretty decent. have you any opinions on the architecture there? i lived in the monstrosity of Old Rootes in my first year

I haven't taken any photos myself, however...

Maths building
http://www.autarkis.co.uk/gallery/2004/June/warwick/images/3.jpg

Manufacturing Group building
http://www.warwick.ac.uk/media_library/images/webjpg/imc.jpg

Arts Centre
http://www.warwick.ac.uk/media_library/images/webjpg/artsc1.jpg

Rootes social
http://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/images/lukasmoj/2005/03/06/img_0614.jpg

Rootes
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/accommodation/studentaccommodation/all/images/ro2lg.jpg

Lakeside
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/accommodation/studentaccommodation/all/images/ls2lg.jpg

It's a nice campus mostly, the original 60s buildings have stood the test of time remarkably well, at least on the outside, and there's lots of open space thanks to good planning. The newer buildings like the Maths building are modern and clean-looking, nice to work in I'm sure, but very bland. The accomodation blocks are quite ordinary 'Leeds Look' constructions, again quite nice to live in (but not for £90 per week!)

There's a building going up on Gibbett Hill Road at the moment, not sure if it warrants its own thread as it's only three storeys.

Thanks di Liv, i miss the drunken stroles along the lakes wrestling with the geese and the high-brow cultural events at the Art Centre, esp the Cinema! particular favourite buildings have to be the Art Gallery by night and the Ramphal Building. and of course the Social Studies buildings with their courtyards, only because i spent most of my time between there and the library.

i didnt realise accomodation is so much now... i believe i paid £57 a week, but places like Lakeside and Arthur Vic were a lot nicer than where i lived, but im sure they were'nt as much fun

Hello Chaps, ive been following this Leeds forum for some months since ive moved back to Leeds from being at Warwick uni and enduring the seriously below par City of Coventry. Ive finally managed to register on this forum, woohoo... you guys have done some fine work with all the news, opinions, photos etc.

Now can someone tell me what they plan on doing with the Hepworth building next to the Plaza because it looks empty? is that going to be the site of the Plaza tower or are they going to squeeze that in on the side next to the road leading into the Woodhouse carpark and keep the cheap looking (yet in some ways attractive) Hepworth building?

The Plaza is looking pretty big from the ring road now, i fear they may ruin it with some shoddy cladding though

Welcome to the forum John! Always good to have another Leeds acolyte

I think its been said already, but yes the render is from outside the Halifax building and my initial thought was that Hepworth House was to be integrated to the back of the Plaza Tower as alluded to by di Livio. I think it must be the shorter red brick clad element farther down Clay Pit Lane. That's definately the Leeds College of Technology on the left.

I'm surprised they are talking about knocking it down as suggested by Stig282, primarly as they have done lots of preliminary works to the low rise Ventura call centre element nest door, and secondly that with students moving in for Sept next year it doesn't leave much time to clear it. I really don't think they'd be marketing flats with a huge demolition project scheduled for the same time as several thousand beer crazed students move in. That said, a construction site can't be much better, but I'll stick to my hunch that Hepworth House will be subsumed within the structure of the new Plaza Tower.

It will be annoying for the students that will be living next to a construction site. Just think how the noise will effect their lie-ins till 13:00 and im sure it wont assist their hangover recovery! Not to mention all the 'Men at Work' and other signs that will be stolen.

thats a bit stereotypical!

I Jest, when i was at uni i had to be up at 6.30 on the weekdays, but i did purloin a 'Men at Work' sign

http://www.careyjones.co.uk/images/upload/arch_res_lrg/theplaza_410_01.jpg

I purposefully drove past this this morning, the site on the corner of the ringroad slip road is big enough to accomodate the tower building but not big enough for the building renedered brick red.
As I see the render it looks far bigger than this existing Hepworth House, add that to the apparent derelict state of HH, i can only see it being stripped back to its core and re-built if not totally demolished.

I'm 99% sure that when this scheme was first proposed they said Hepworth House would be raised to the ground.

I think you might mean 'razed to the ground'!!

I think you might mean 'razed to the ground'!!


Yep!

[QUOTE=Stig282]http://www.careyjones.co.uk/images/upload/arch_res_lrg/theplaza_410_01.jpg

Are there any renders of this building from other angles? Seen this one plenty of times but it doesn't give you such a great impression of its impact on the local area/skyline.

Not seen any

Anyone taken any recent pictures of the site?

From what I remember, Hepworth House was to be retained, re-clad and was to become the office element. Don't know if that's still the case, but Ventura spent a lot of money moving out with a major refurb of the old building next door which became their new HQ recently. That has made Clay Pit Lane look a lot better already as I think the old building next door was attractive but rather derelict.

One of the two cranes has been taken down. With the current building phase drawing to a close, does that mean we can look forward to the tower starting next year?

i would imagine so, the way that stuff has been selling in leeds theyd be mad to not market soon. id expect them to start marketing in the not too distant future with intent to start construction when you have say 60% of units sold.

Im thinking March possibly for a start, although I really don't know. The footprint for it seems tiny! Then again so does the Venture and BWP footprints...

I'm new to the forum but thought I'd give you all an update to the planned start and finish dates for Plaza tower.

Start: August 2006
Completion: July 2008

I'm new to the forum but thought I'd give you all an update to the planned start and finish dates for Plaza tower.

Start: August 2006
Completion: July 2008
Welcome micro!

Umm, how did you be party to this information?

Ive said it before, but this project really dominates the skyline when entering the city center from chapeltown. Not to mention the tower hasnt even started yet!

I hope the external cladding (facing towards the north) is appealing, because if its tacky it wont look good on entrance to the city as like I said it totally dominates it.

Are there any renderings of the whole project? Not just the view from the College?

i would imagine so, the way that stuff has been selling in leeds theyd be mad to not market soon. id expect them to start marketing in the not too distant future with intent to start construction when you have say 60% of units sold.

goth, this one is a little different. Unite
Unite plc (http://www.unite-group.co.uk/) are a different kettle of fish to the mainstream residential developers we've seen so far. I've not seen any marketing yet, but presume that these apartments will be reserved for key sector workers (as is Unite's ethos), with the prices reflecting the 'affordable' trend, something we've not seen much of in Leeds.

I'm new to the forum but thought I'd give you all an update to the planned start and finish dates for Plaza tower.

Start: August 2006
Completion: July 2008

good stuff, welcome to the Leeds boards, and thanks for that. Any hint of an official source etc???? The Unite plc website (see previous post) doesn't have any info on the Plaza as yet, and the keyworker site is under construction. Any other tidbits would be welcome, but that news corroborates a few of our forumers' observations. Get the students into the first phase at the start of the 2006-2007 year, and then move on to phase 2, quite logical really. Wonder if Unite plc will go for another joint venture (as they did with Lehmann Brothers for Phase 1)?

Will get some snaps over Xmas when I'm home visiting rellies. It is indeed imposing already, the tower will loom over Claypit Lane!

Which is very good because the effect of going through the the tower blocks on clay pit lane already gives quite a dense feel. To follow this through along the inner ring road and possibly in towards the city centre would be great.

good stuff, welcome to the Leeds boards, and thanks for that. Any hint of an official source etc???? The Unite plc website (see previous post) doesn't have any info on the Plaza as yet, and the keyworker site is under construction. Any other tidbits would be welcome, but that news corroborates a few of our forumers' observations. Get the students into the first phase at the start of the 2006-2007 year, and then move on to phase 2, quite logical really. Wonder if Unite plc will go for another joint venture (as they did with Lehmann Brothers for Phase 1)?

Will get some snaps over Xmas when I'm home visiting rellies. It is indeed imposing already, the tower will loom over Claypit Lane!
I'm involved in the project. I believe the rendering will be amended shortly as various changes have been made due to discussions with planners. As for Hepworth House, there is no current plans for it to be demolished. Unite are in the process of selling the building for office use.

I'm involved in the project. I believe the rendering will be amended shortly as various changes have been made due to discussions with planners. As for Hepworth House, there is no current plans for it to be demolished. Unite are in the process of selling the building for office use.


Hi Micromagic. Any official news on The Plaza tower.

Is this due to start construction in 2006 as it will take 2 years to build?

Hi Micromagic. Any official news on The Plaza tower.

Is this due to start construction in 2006 as it will take 2 years to build?

Its all coming together..... marketing suite on its way now. I'd presume it would also cover the Phase 2 tower, with micromagic confirming construction to start in August (see 13th December). Maybe we'll see a model or new renders?

Application 20/544/05/FU
Received on 28/11/2005
Description
detached single storey marketing suite to flats development
Location
THE PLAZA CLAYPIT LANE LEEDS 3016-3431 LS2 8AE
Library

Let's hope so, looking forward to this one moving forward next year.

Entire building covered in scaffolding and white plastic so impossible to see what the finish will be like. Best I could do was a photo of the hoarding for the student flats. Self explanatory - and seems to be mixture of red brick and a sort of white metallic cladding. As with all Carey Jones designs, better wait for the real thing and its unveiling. By the way, both tower cranes have gone, the last was being packed away on Saturday morning.
http://img400.imageshack.us/img400/5992/img06146nd.jpg

Last week. Building materials appear to be bricks and mortar!! What a pleasant change from all the tiles and panels we've been getting recently.

http://members.lycos.co.uk/xapbpoh/photos/PLAZA063SMALL.JPG

Entire building covered in scaffolding and white plastic so impossible to see what the finish will be like. Best I could do was a photo of the hoarding for the student flats. Self explanatory - and seems to be mixture of red brick and a sort of white metallic cladding. As with all Carey Jones designs, better wait for the real thing and its unveiling. By the way, both tower cranes have gone, the last was being packed away on Saturday morning.
http://img400.imageshack.us/img400/5992/img06146nd.jpg#



.......we need some new cranes to replace those that are coming down. Which development should be raising new cranes next???

Plaza tower? Providence Tower? Clarence House further cranes? Quite like the mid rise element of The Plaza actually... hopefully the hi-rise part will compliment it.

There seemed to be a new planning notice outside the old Hepworth House. Anyone know what that's about ?

There seemed to be a new planning notice outside the old Hepworth House. Anyone know what that's about ?

probably regarding post 107 for a single storey marketing suite.

Hmmm - I'm confused about this. Seems that Bruntwood Property Developers have bought Hepworth House and are completely renovating it. New offices, Podium and external renovation to be open by the end of 2006. Does this mean the end for the Plaza Tower? Or is this next to Hepworth House?

Source - Evening Post 15/02/06

Hmmm - I'm confused about this. Seems that Bruntwood Property Developers have bought Hepworth House and are completely renovating it. New offices, Podium and external renovation to be open by the end of 2006. Does this mean the end for the Plaza Tower? Or is this next to Hepworth House?

Source - Evening Post 15/02/06

Saw a similar piece in this morning's Yorkshire Post. I think the Plaza tower is meant to be built next to Hepworth House. Reading the Civic Trust's objections to the design of the tower, they complain that it lacks the quality of design of the building (Hepworth House) it will stand next to and overshadow.

Yes it's planned to go next to it. The site of The Plaza is empty at the moment. Well it has loadsa portacabins on it (or it did when I last saw it)

I saw this, which is excellant news for the development, as it takes care of a 1/3 of the overall project. It may well speed up the progress of the Plaza tower, as it is the last major part of the scheme apart from the tower.

From YEP -

HEPWORTH House, the currently empty Leeds city centre office block once
occupied by call centre firm Ventura, has been acquired by property
developer Bruntwood.
The ten-storey, 45,000 sq ft office block, on Clay Pit Lane, is Bruntwood's
third office property acquisition in Leeds, following the purchase of the
WESTONE and West Gate developments in 2004.
Bruntwood's director of sales and development in Leeds, Chris Roberts, said:
"Hepworth House is a fantastic opportunity for us in Leeds.
"It's a great building, that is perfect for redevelopment.
"We're constantly on the look out for buildings such as this - however, from
an acquisition point of view, there have been fewer opportunities for us in
Leeds, but our determination to acquire again in the city has paid off."
Hepworth House, built during the 1970s, will undergo a complete
redevelopment at the hands of Bruntwood's in house building team. This will
include complete internal suite refurbishment, new lifts, comfort cooling, a
reception scheme and full external redecoration.
Mr Roberts added: "We're on schedule to complete the building ready for
potential customers to move in by the end of the year, if not earlier. Once
up and running, the building will benefit from our head office and on-site
customer service teams".
Jonathan Shires, from GVA Grimley's Leeds office, who helped to broker
Bruntwood's purchase of the building from previous owner Unite, added: "The
purchase could not be more timely for Bruntwood. Having fully let the 80,000
sq.ft West Gate and with 80 per cent of the 100,000 sq ft WESTONE now
occupied within six months of practical completion, Bruntwood are hungry for
more stock

I'm involved in the project. I believe the rendering will be amended shortly as various changes have been made due to discussions with planners. As for Hepworth House, there is no current plans for it to be demolished. Unite are in the process of selling the building for office use.

As micromagic said late last year, Hepworth House is to be sold for office space. That doesn't impact on the Plaza Tower, although I imagine it will be quite a canyon effect inbetween and I wouldn't fancy an apartment facing directly into the office block.

I think the tower will still go ahead, but whether it will look as we've seen it on the rendering is another matter entirely.

Not sure what it means for the cladding and outside of Hepworth House which is certainly looking fairly careworn.

I like canyon effect :) Makes it feel like a proper city! If all these things get built along the inner ring road it will be quite an exciting route through the city...

there's lots of those lovely gray plastic tiles going up at the moment that we all love.

[QUOTE=Stig282]http://www.careyjones.co.uk/images/upload/arch_res_lrg/theplaza_410_01.jpg

Are there any renders of this building from other angles? Seen this one plenty of times but it doesn't give you such a great impression of its impact on the local area/skyline.

No, no other renders from other directions. I will be doing another visual of the tower sometime, but not sure when.

Entire building covered in scaffolding and white plastic so impossible to see what the finish will be like. Best I could do was a photo of the hoarding for the student flats. Self explanatory - and seems to be mixture of red brick and a sort of white metallic cladding. As with all Carey Jones designs, better wait for the real thing and its unveiling. By the way, both tower cranes have gone, the last was being packed away on Saturday morning.
http://img400.imageshack.us/img400/5992/img06146nd.jpg

It's not white cladding, it's white/grey blocks.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/idenby/plaza2005.jpg

wow, they can build some really realistic things out of lego now..I'm supprised they have put windows in - must have cost a lot extra.

suprised even.

[QUOTE=Liam]

No, no other renders from other directions. I will be doing another visual of the tower sometime, but not sure when.

Oooh excellent - any news on whether it has changed height or its design very much. Micromagic (posted earlier) stated that the tower was due to start later this year and is different from the only render we've seen. Whenever you get permission to release it, it would interesting to see what has changed. Be a big brute on the skyline though.

White / grey blocks, hmmm, again, need to see it in the flesh. My dream of magnesium coloured panels is clearly dead, as would be the residents if they were made of magnesium.

Haven't been through all this thread, most of the sheeting is coming off now and you can start to see the brickwork.

Just wondered about the old white Ventura building. What is happening with this? Is it going to be demolished?

It's been bought for fast track develoment to office use. It was reported on this forum, can't remember where though.

You are right, it has been bought for development same building, new interior/exterior.

shocking weather - really couldn't make out much in the gloom, and the scaffolding is only just coming down from the top couple of floors. Anyway, this is the view of the new block from Queen Square:

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/3099/img07591es.jpg

Will be full of students by September.

Bruntwood have their logos all over Hepworth House and contracters are onsite inside. Hope they brush the outside cladding up a little, looking rather raggerdy. Can't remember his name, but one of the chaps who posted a couple of months back said the tower is expected to start in August. Bring it on!

I seriously hope so. We could have the Plaza tower, Mayfair tower and Granary Wharf tower all on the go by this winter ! We might then have a chance of catching Liverpool (with a 40, two 27s and a 20 under construction right now).

Whats that about Clarence House under construction too? Never! Well yeah, as well as the ones you listed not to mention The Gateway and Providence? as well as a nice new gleaming BWP. And soon following Lumiere.

Whats that about Clarence House under construction too? Never! Well yeah, as well as the ones you listed not to mention The Gateway and Providence? as well as a nice new gleaming BWP. And soon following Lumiere.

Ah, but we don't know when Providence will start yet as it appears that the smallest block is starting first, and Gateway hasn't applied for planning yet. Lumiere should make a full start early next year if things go to plan.

Well...so what! It doesnt mean we cant get excited!

We are, hence my post yesterday saying 'We could have the Plaza tower, Mayfair tower and Granary Wharf tower all on the go by this winter !'

lol what fun. This year starts to brighten up for today. despite the rubbish weather.

this building is the worst new build in leeds i have seen since living here the last 5 years - what were they thinking? Looks like eastern block secret police HQ, terrible choice of materials - lots of exposed breeze blocks

this building is the worst new build in leeds i have seen since living here the last 5 years - what were they thinking? Looks like eastern block secret police HQ, terrible choice of materials - lots of exposed breeze blocks

Aggred saw this a couple of days ago and even though part is still in scaffolding I can still see this as a piece of cack. Looks like in my opinion a Scandinavian Prision. Dread to see the results of the Plaza Tower as I really do not like the renders. Is it still looking like this?

Well its student accomodation; what do you expect really. The style of the tower looks different anyway and who knows, it might turn out to be a well liked style of architecture i nthe future.

Could someone in Leeds at the moment confirm this for me?

When I last saw it, the end nearest Woodhouse Lane seemed to be alarmingly missing any sort of cladding from the lower 5 or so floors. Is this still the case?

I share everyone's concerns about this. When the structure was going up we were all gleefully commenting on how big and imposing it was. That's now come back at us, as we're going to have a poor quality, poorly finished building that dominates the area and draws a lot of attention. I think the council have a made a real error of judgement in letting this go through.

I can confirm, I park in woodhouse car park and walk past it every day. The bottom half is totally exposed. Cladding seems to have stopped half way down?!?!?! They can't possibly leave it like this? Looks odd to say the least

Not seen it for myself but maybe this is where the tower will join on? Will the tower be one of the highest (not tallest) in Leeds centre? The site is uphill a bit from town?...
For example the white clock tower of Leeds Uni is really high on the skyline...

I noticed the odd cladding coming half way down a few weeks ago, it appeared that it was finished but with two cladding schemes (some kind of blockwork on the lower half), it doesn't seem to work very well at all. It is the opposite end to the tower and I don't think there is anything else to join on there, it just looks .. unfinished.

However, I don't share your pesimism about this block in general, it doesn't look bad in its finishes, just looks a little over-blocky in its overall shape and massing, the tower should help with this.

I noticed the odd cladding coming half way down a few weeks ago, it appeared that it was finished but with two cladding schemes (some kind of blockwork on the lower half), it doesn't seem to work very well at all. It is the opposite end to the tower and I don't think there is anything else to join on there, it just looks .. unfinished.

However, I don't share your pesimism about this block in general, it doesn't look bad in its finishes, just looks a little over-blocky in its overall shape and massing, the tower should help with this.

yup, a rather jaunty cladding type which terminates halfway up. Whatever will those pesky Carey Jones architect types think of next.

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9168/img08237fn.jpg

its sort of grey brick with more grey from this angle, but beige and red bricks from the Inner Ring Road and Sheepscar elevation.

Still portakabins on the tower site, hopefully will be underway later in the summer.

Will the tower connect to the wall with the funny cladding?

This was the Civic Trust's verdict on the Plaza (which got planning approval in December 2002):-

" Objection to this extensive and tall building which does not have the design quality of the building it will dwarf - Hepworth (Ventura) Tower - on a prominent site."

As for the students accomodation I'd say it looks not so bad. In fact, better than I thought it would. And way better than this checkered building near Gateway.

..

I think it looks awful - no style or character at all.
Even for student accomodation they could have employed an architect rather than a 5-yr old with duplo blocks!...

..

Yes I agree it is a classic example of constructing purely to create £ then a genuine high quality gateway development for this end of Leeds. It is very daft the style of cladding (which appears plastic) just ends abruptly in that the constructer has decided not to complete in that they were unsure of its consequences and am very disappointed by this development and am concerned by the outcome of Plaza Tower (when will this be starting?) as it seems to continue the poor quality style which is wrongfully justified just because it is to be occupied by students which is complete nonsence (the same argument applies on most of the student accomodation built along Kirkstall Road). Ventura Tower actually looks good on that picture though wonder what it'd be like if it was 20 storeys higher and I went past it lately and it says "Acquired for Leeds Metropolitan University". Is this to become part of LMU as opposed to offices as I read something that Bruntwood were to refurbish to keep as offices unless I am mistaken.

I was visitng LGI this afternoon and took the opportunity to wander up the road to look at the Plaza. I can honestly say I think it looks dreadful from that approach (coming up the side of the Civic Hall). The worst areas of the haphazard design are the grey and brown block walls (the stripey walls), and they look like they have been transferred from some sort of 1970's continental prison. Truly awful.
I have major reservations about the tower and hope it has changed dramatically from the design we have seen. I believe the blue blade has been removed from the design, and unfortunately this was it's only redeeming feature as it stood.

thought it looked quite good actually on friday; glistening in the sun :) It only becomes apparent from the ground how much free space there is up around there! You dont notice it from aerial images and maps.

..

are you sure that the cladding on that picture is not gonna continue all the way down to the bottom covering the stripey brick work ???


Well the scaffolding has come down, so I can't see why they would change what is already in place. I think it looks dreadful, like an unfinshed building. This development was all about keeping costs down without any care for its design.

The onlt redeeming feature for me is the towering effect it has when you drive past it on the IRR. Might look good if it is illuminated at night

are you sure that the cladding on that picture is not gonna continue all the way down to the bottom covering the stripey brick work ???

I think you've answered yourself, not much point varying brickwork for an effect if you're then going to put cladding over it. I think the cladding stops there. The bottom stripes wind round the other side of the building, whereas there aren't any thick stripes at the top. I think. Perhaps this is Carey Jones being 'jaunty' and 'off the wall'.

I hope the tower saves this otherwise we've got ourselves a boxy brick turd even worse than Lovell Park Road flats behind the Halifax Building.

@ Val Verde, I though Bruntwood had taken it to create flexible, short term quality office space like the old BT office block on Wellington Street? Perhaps not, Leeds Met seem to be expanding everywhere at the moment, interesting to see their application numbers, compared to the University, the Met is really expanding its campus down into the city centre (Portland Gate / Rose Bowl, Electric Press for the film school etc).

Visited site today and I must agree with those saying that it looks ugly. Cheap and very gloomy.

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/115/plaza8km.jpg

Another concern, they don't work together with Hepworth Building at all - too close to each other yet no attempts at linking them somehow. Speaking about Hepworth they were actively working on it today (Saturday). Two contradictory signs of Leeds University and Bruntwood - so who's it now?

Cheap and very gloomy.

However, it's more appealling for students than a grot-box in Hyde Park.

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=216933

However, it's more appealling for students than a grot-box in Hyde Park.

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=216933


That's as may be. But there is no reason why that and other student accommodation being built should not aim to be as visually atttractive as possible. After all it is the good citizens of Leeds who have to live with the buildings for more than the students' three years or so sojourn here.

However, it's more appealling for students than a grot-box in Hyde Park.

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=216933

Well of course it's got big beds and is just next door to Morrisons. But it still looks awfull :down:

just asking but is their any news on the taller tower of the two yet
if their is please post

As sourced from the council website by AlRP

CITY CENTRE PLANS PANEL 20 JULY 2006 REPORT OF THE CHIEF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES OFFICER WARD: City and Hunslet Application: Pre-application Address: Land at junction of inner ring road and Claypit Lane, north of Hepworth House, Leeds Applicant: Unite Group Proposal: Proposed 36 storey tower building RECOMMENDATION: The proposals are brought to Panel for information only. The developer will be asked to present the scheme to allow Members to consider and comment on the proposals.

Introduction: Planning permission was granted in August 2003 for a larger site, including the Ventura offices to the south, for 1,750 student bedrooms, 8,730 sq.m. of office floor space and ancillary shop/café uses. This was to be provided in 2 phases and phase 1 (987 bedrooms) is now nearing completion. Phase 2 comprised a 28 storey tower building at the junction of Claypit Lane and the inner ring road, an infill building next to Hepworth House, and conversion of Hepworth House to student accommodation. The form and appearance of the tower building was reserved by planning condition. However Hepworth House has now been sold on and is currently the subject of a planning application for a change of use to university teaching accommodation. The developer now does not propose to implement the consent for an infill building adjacent to Hepworth House and has been in discussion with Council Officers to redesign the form and appearance of the tower building prior to submitting a revised planning application for this corner site. Site and Surroundings: The site is open in nature and bounded by the inner ring road to the north and Claypit Lane to the east, within the northern city centre boundary. Immediately to the west are the new student housing blocks being erected by the Unite Group (13 to 15 storeys high), to the south is Hepworth House (vacant 14 storey office block) with the Ventura offices beyond. On the opposite side of Claypit Lane are Leeds Metropolitan University’s Brunswick site and a public surface car park, which is the subject of a planning brief advocating a 20 plus storey landmark building on Claypit Lane.

The site is in an elevated position highly visible from the south and north along a main vehicle route into the city centre. The surrounding area is dominated by university, office and commercial uses with the consented student accommodation adding to this mix.

The Proposal: The proposal is for a 36 storey tower building and would provide 557 student bedrooms (ranging in style from studios to 5-bed clusters) with ancillary ground floor retail floorspace of 409 sq.m. The previous planning consent and the Council’s designation of the site as a prestige development area support the provision of a tall building on this site. However the challenge has been to provide a calm but elegant building that is viable for the student housing end use whilst delivering the design quality demanded by the Council for such a prominent city centre site. The proposal seeks to provide a slender rectangular form with use of a limited palate of materials (dark and light zinc cladding, perforated aluminium panels and brickwork)

Issues: When a planning application is received the key consideration is likely to be the quality of the design and materials proposed and the impact on the city centre sky line. The overall student numbers will be reduced from the consented scheme and issues previously addressed by the transport and other statements such as noise and contamination should not be affected by the current proposals.

V. interesting - height increase and redesign, not yet submitted for planning, but the developer (Unite plc) is due to present next Thursday.

Wonder once this is done we might get a release of renders of the redesign. We have a man on the inside don't we Dibbers!?!

Maybe it won't be starting in August as we thought, but very much alive, and taller. 36 storeys of resi has to be pushing 100m. Hope its of better quality than the first phase which has turned out rather disappointingly.

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/6789/p10101083pb.jpg
This will have quite an impact on the skyline! On Phils pic you can see that the top Leeds Uni tower is only just lower than BWP on the horizon. As is the relatively short tower to the far right... Given the elevated position of the tower I think it may take 'highest tower' in Leeds. Higher than Lumiere possibly? Anyone care to add Lumiere & Critereon to this pic?

The initial presentation of the new Plaza Tower by Carey Jones and Unite was very impressive.

The tower design was received well by the panel, one or two really liked it. It is very different from the original; a complete re-design. I have to say, it does look good, very sharp. The north and south sides have a totally opposite appearance which looks novel, the view from the north has entirely dark 'graphite' smooth cladding with a light grey side core tower, the view from the south is the usual silver grey 'zinc' panels presumably to match the other Leeds talls. From the edge, the tower is very slender and the dark and light edge is visible in line with a small step in the buildig. Another good feature is a 17-18 storey high stepped block, in it's dark cladding this lookls a little 'Sears Tower' in appearance, a good feature designed to keep the upper parts slender. All in all a good crisp design, very good for Carey Jones.

The plan and a rough sketch from my notes (and memory) is attached below.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid210/p34e603f2941f295bf70c5f4303335b32/edea3483.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid210/p40131113732f130150f7294aede05607/edea22cd.jpg

There is so much going on in Leeds for us skychasers- I can't wait for the start of this and all the other new scrapers which should begin construction this year.

Because the design has changed so radically and it has grown by 8 storeys, will it need planning approval or will the original approval do the job so they can start on site very soon?

I don't think we will see the Plaza Tower starting this year, but it shouldn't be too far into next year. They still have to put in a full application, which may be a month or two away, this was just a first time presentation. However, I think Unite are keen to get on with it in the not to distant future so hopefully it'll keep moving forward now.

I don't think we will see the Plaza Tower starting this year, but it shouldn't be too far into next year. They still have to put in a full application, which may be a month or two away, this was just a first time presentation. However, I think Unite are keen to get on with it in the not to distant future so hopefully it'll keep moving forward now.


With it being student accommodation a deadline for completion will be the start of the academic year - probably 2009 or even the year earlier if we are very lucky.

Ooo... melikes this one. Mind you, from that sketch we could be forgiven for adding our own interpretation of it. But it does look very nice.

Now I hope they just get on with it!

Subliving.

The initial presentation of the new Plaza Tower by Carey Jones and Unite was very impressive.

The tower design was received well by the panel, one or two really liked it. It is very different from the original; a complete re-design. I have to say, it does look good, very sharp. The north and south sides have a totally opposite appearance which looks novel, the view from the north has entirely dark 'graphite' smooth cladding with a light grey side core tower, the view from the south is the usual silver grey 'zinc' panels presumably to match the other Leeds talls. From the edge, the tower is very slender and the dark and light edge is visible in line with a small step in the buildig. Another good feature is a 17-18 storey high stepped block, in it's dark cladding this lookls a little 'Sears Tower' in appearance, a good feature designed to keep the upper parts slender. All in all a good crisp design, very good for Carey Jones.

The plan and a rough sketch from my notes (and memory) is attached below.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid210/p34e603f2941f295bf70c5f4303335b32/edea3483.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid210/p40131113732f130150f7294aede05607/edea22cd.jpg

Thanks for this, Rob, especially for your drawing!! And thank goodness it will cover up a part of the disappointing Phase 1.

I had a quick go at it on MSPaint, again in-accurate because it is from notes and memory from a number of slides that were run through at high speed.

The elevation from the north is all dark smooth semi-gloss cladding (apart from the core tower), and from the south is all light metal panels. It has a striking resemblance to a playing piece from the 'Othello' board game, if you've ever played that game.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid210/peac20aed84b3ff11e9958ea622f3747e/ede877f7.jpg

They still have to put in a full application, which may be a month or two away,

Don't normally quote myself, but I'm genuinely surprised to see the full application is on this week's planning list ! so the initial presentation has coincided with the application, and full deliberation should now follow on in due course in the next few months, so approval may well happen this year. As I said before, the panel did like the overall appearance of the tower, there will only be details to sort out particularly around the ground floor retail unit.

Quite like it- simple. Its funny how radically this tower has changed from the initial plans! Good effort too for the Paint thing

Fantastic work in Paint there! I can see the Sears influence... or is that just me?

I think this building could finally have a design suitable for such a high-profile site!

Subliving.

The Sears Tower influence was more striking on the proper Carey Jones images. I think I have underdone how dark the darker cladding is.

I can see the Sears thing too- even so Im not really bothered whether it looks like it or not though.

The Sears Tower influence was more striking on the proper Carey Jones images. I think I have underdone how dark the darker cladding is.

Sounds brilliant! It's really going to show up on the horizon, far more than either Lumiere or BWP, so it really needs to be of top quality. From what you've said, it sounds like Carey are onto a winner here!

Subliving.

Rob, was it ever discussed how it happenned that the quality of the current phase cladding is so shite poor? Are they planning to do something about it?

That is, I am more than happy that a new tower will be nice and overshadow the smaller block.

I've had a quick go at your image, Rob. I hope you don't mind. I've Sears-ified it a little.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/Nicholas_Varley/Leeds/mine2.jpg

Hope it's a little closer to the real renders?

Subliving.

wow well done!

At least hopefully this should be better than the previous render for the Plaza Tower which I disliked but I will reserve judgement of this tower until more detailed renders are available. Does anyone know what the height of the building will be as it is 36 storeys as opposed to the original 26 storeys. Surely this would take the height above 100 m?

I think it'd be about 100m- BWP is 110m and about the same size (less floors, but some are office).

'dark graphite smooth cladding' and 'silver grey zinc panels'. I think probably aluminium- graphite? I doubt very much that would be used, and zinc is kinda reactive. Unless it was coated- I think Rob was only using those materials to describe what it was like rather than the actual materials; then again =/

I think it'd be about 100m- BWP is 110m and about the same size (less floors, but some are office).

'dark graphite smooth cladding' and 'silver grey zinc panels'. I think probably aluminium- graphite? I doubt very much that would be used, and zinc is kinda reactive. Unless it was coated- I think Rob was only using those materials to describe what it was like rather than the actual materials; then again =/



It may be the same height as BWP, but in elevation terms, the site must be at least 100m higher than BWP which means it will really dominate the city skyline

It may be the same height as BWP, but in elevation terms, the site must be at least 100m higher than BWP which means it will really dominate the city skyline

According to Google Earth, 110ft (approx 30m)

According to Google Earth, 110ft (approx 30m)


I stand corrected, but if you think of the increase in height from the River Aire basin where BWP, CP are sited, then I find it hard to believe the top end of town around the site of The Plaza is only 30m higher........

brilliant coverage of the new scheme Rob.

I think that this may still start rather soon. Somebody involved in the scheme (insider57 perhaps) stated that it was due to start in August. I'd suspect that once the 1st phase is totally complete and the portakabins are shifted off the tower's site, then they could crack on with groundwork almost immediately. PP should come (if supported) in 3-4 months I think, so they'd be well on with by Xmas.

Fred is right that they need to plan the project to hit the commencement of a new University year, so perhaps Sept 2008 is possible if they do indeed start before the end of this year.

Will reserve judgement until I see the new renders, but it looks less of the yellow / blue 'Leeds Look' style that plagued the first design (although the blue blade had several fans) and caused quite a lot of good natured discussion between forumers.

I liked the blade.. and elevation will make it look taller- but its not 100m higher- its not that steep to be fair from the canal basin up to the Plaza- 30m sounds about right.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/naminder/Skyscraper-buildings/Plaza.jpg

Bland to the extreme. They must be doing 4 hour days down at carey Jones.

Which eastern communist city was that photo taken in?
What aload of crap! words cant discribe how discusting that building is. It seems as though they tried to make this building look worse than the net door multistorey carpark!

If you liked that, then you will love this one. Just took it in the lovely sunshine

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/naminder/Skyscraper-buildings/Plaza2.jpg

It must take some real effort to produce something that ugly.

I know it's student accomodation, and as a result will have a pretty tight budget, but as we were discussing on another thread, so is the chessboard building. That had a tiny budget, yet they managed to produce an interesting and innovative building.

And just what were they thinking with the half finished job on the cladding on the left side end?? did they run out of pannels and not have enough money to buy any more?

I'm sorry but I really find it hard to be optimistic about the Plaza Tower when stage 1 of the same project is so dire. I can't see why they'd bother to use better materials/better standards of construction for a building serving exactly the same purpose. The mediocre designs we've seen don't exactly bode well either. Hope the council think properly about this.

I was parking in the car park behind the Civic Hall today and i noticed Hepworth House looks a bit different, has it had some half-assed reclad done to it recently or has it always been like that?

I was parking in the car park behind the Civic Hall today and i noticed Hepworth House looks a bit different, has it had some half-assed reclad done to it recently or has it always been like that?

i think hepworth house is being done up at the minute, i think?

At least hopefully this should be better than the previous render for the Plaza Tower which I disliked but I will reserve judgement of this tower until more detailed renders are available.


Watch this space! ;-)

I was parking in the car park behind the Civic Hall today and i noticed Hepworth House looks a bit different, has it had some half-assed reclad done to it recently or has it always been like that?

Yes Hepworth House has been reclad although all they seem to have done is repaint the dark brown wooden part of the building into a sort of red colour. As for the Plaza Tower Dibbers when will the renders be due to be released for the revised scheme that I am reserving my judgement for? Is this imminent or will there still be quite a wait. Also I presume the first students to occupy phase 1 of The Plaza will be moving in there at September?