not sure where this original thread is? Hope it is ok that I start a new one?

latest pictures of the site.

http://tinypic.com/9ux0k3.jpg

http://tinypic.com/9ux0xs.jpg

all they need do now is design a tower on par with Albany for the site behind this where the tacky white block is and the dirty grey brick building beside it.. Then we'd it would aid tie in Picadilly plaza with Picadilly station towers and voila.. We would have a really kick ass area (Then Victoria station area will copycat and we'll rule the skies)

..edited

Couldn't agree more though. That ten-storey concrete block in the middle of that second pic (which is part of the University, no?) is absolutely the most ghastly building in the whole of the city centre in my opinion. If I could demolish just one building in Manchester it'd be that one, no hesitation. At least the Piccadilly Place developments will hide it from anyone emerging from the station.

How tall is this one gonna be?

This is 6 buildings.

Varying from 8-15 floors. The most advanced one is a 12 storey hotel for City Inn which looks a bit shite.

Heres Piccadilly Place frome another angle ,from last sunday,,,this is shooting up,,,and the soon to be demolished site for Albany Tower in the background


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/piccadillyplace.jpg

im a bit woried about the quality of the buildings at pic place, they look crap. its a pretty rank collection of unassociated buildings really they cud have done much better with this peice of land, personaly i think that a large portion of it should have been left open for some sort of plaza, like teh amphitheatre next to bar 38 tipe thing

The Aytoun Building which belongs to Manchester Met is bad, inside the layout is confusing and it also needs modernising.

When they built the Business School (the white building) they should have knocked down that tower and built a better building to link the business school to.

It also brings the University down a bit considering the amount of money they've spent on the John Dalton Building entrance, John Dalton Tower, A new I.T block, and new All Saints West Building.

Piccadilly Place will definitely improve the area.

I,m studying at Aytoun at the moment and I gather the place is to be demolished in 2008 and the business school relocated to Oxford road.

I gather the only building to remain will be the library facing on to Whitworth St.

The tower and all surrounding buildings including Minishall on Chorlton will go and the space redeveloped.

With London gaining several 1000 ft towers its time Manchester thought along the same lines.

It would be great to have some form of tiered gardens along the canal a few storeys up and then a glass tower rising up to around 1100 ft but stepped so it does not overshadow canal street too much.

The though of that vile building being demolished as just brought a smile to my face,,cheers Mr Bloke

How sure how up to date this is, but here is the masterplan for MMU's All Saint's campus. The estates strategy tells us that by 2010 the university will be condensed onto three site (All Saints, Didsbury and Crewe). Elizabeth Gaskell, Aytoun and Hollings will be sold on to developers to help fund the new buildings seen below. I think there was also an aspiration to leave the Didsbury campus, but this would be a long term thing outside the scope of the current strategy which runs to 2010.

I remember that there was some minor excitement on this forum about 18months/two years back about the prospect of a 15 storey 'tower'. Somehow it now feels, I don't know .... er .... unworthy of a post.

http://www.austinsmithlord.com/data/uemuas1l.jpg

On that site there's a image of the buildings in 3D but when I click on the thumbnail it brings up a 2D overhead. I'm sure that the Loxford Tower Building will be done up at least with the plans.

Some good things on that website to look at including some Warrington projects like the new A&E and new Bus Station.

I know we're going off on one bout MMU but, my engineering lecturer told me they we're simply converting Loxford tower into student accommodation.

To be fair, I thought the All Saints plan had bitten the dust.

And by no means is it unworthy Mr Tates. The All Saints area really need sorting out and bringing back into the public "arena", if you will. The place feels so closed off and as if you're not allowed to go anywhere. And the state of some of the buildings (that one opposite the Footage and Firkin, I think it's a drama school) could desperately do with a revamp.

Anybody else noticed how quickly the newish redbrick building opposite the pool and UMIST business school is aging? They're going to regret the God-awful landscaping all around that building. It's something I find could make or break the building, and the current use of 1/2 bricks turned at a silly angle (to break your ankles, obviously) is outrageously daft. Honestly, the road is bland enough after the museum. At the very least, have some interesting grass work with trees on the far edge at least to break up the monotony of the Uni shopping centre, the RCM and the drama school. By the eck, I tell thee.

Oh, I'll tell you the best thing about All Saints. The fruit and Veg stall (if he's still there). The city centre needs so many more individual produce shops it's untrue. Having a good local butcher and grocer and other local community shops could really make an area like Ancoats for instance. More guff like that's needed.

Bitch over.

3rd crane going up today,,,

DEL

whats that
crane
n.

A machine for hoisting and moving heavy objects by means of cables attached to a movable boom.






You might have one in Birmingham eventually... :laugh:

http://img170.echo.cx/img170/9481/wanker9kr.gif :jk:

For those who haven't seen this 3d rendering of City Inn and Piccadilly Place before!(if you have, 'DON'T TELL ME!' :) )

Gives a relatively good impression of how Piccadilly Place will/might eventully look!

Click portfolio, UK map, Manchester dot, City Inn Manchester!

http://www.weintraub.co.uk/site/weintraub.htm

Thanks jrb, never ever seen those before ;)

*cough*

This thread need renders anyway. Thank god they aren't doing it in that sickly yellow, but still, not great.

Don't be so dismissive Caw. The more insightful forum member will have learnt something new from JRB's link. Although it's not yet active the 'MacDonald Hotel' link will surely be the redelopment of Telecom House. Macdonald will be the operator of the hotel, operating under it's Holand House (http://www.hollandhousehotel.co.uk/) brand. That makes it a website to keep an eye on, as we are yet to see renderings for this development.

Don't be so dismissive Caw. The more insightful forum member will have learnt something new from JRB's link. Although it's not yet active the 'MacDonald Hotel' link will surely be the redelopment of Telecom House. Macdonald will be the operator of the hotel, operating under it's Holand House brand. That makes it a website to keep an eye on, as we are yet to see renderings for this development.

Exactly Pots! :applause:

You'll learn one day Caw! :wave:

This thread need renders anyway. Thank god they aren't doing it in that sickly yellow, but still, not great.

Will it be yellow? Will it be terracotta? or will it even be...... b-b-b-blue? :runaway:

http://www.cityinn.com/wmslib/Manchester_Promo_Images/Manchester1_web.jpg
http://www.cityinn.com/wmslib/Manchester_Promo_Images/Manchester2_web.jpg

Who knows what it will be. By virtue of its position directly outside Piccadilly station, Phase 1 Piccadilly Place will feature some of the most well known buildings in the city (sadly). Lets hope whatever material they chose it will sit well alongside the reconstituted stone and concrete cladding of the new GMPTE office block, the beautiful Malmaison and the other buildings within phase II because this hotel looks to be by far the weakest building of the lot.

After the 1 Piccadilly Gardens fiasco, Argent can scarcely afford another such eyesore to tarnish their reputation still further.

Couple of shots of the Piccadilly Place site

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/mancpics15thaug011.jpg



http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/mancpics15thaug014.jpg

Today

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/mancpics18thaug005.jpg

LOL! Almost didn't recognise the place what with City tower being different, I could of easily been fooled into thinking this was..somewhere in Brussels with that pic, superb.

Here she is again a few feet from highriser's last pic...

http://eb.cx/q2/2005-08-20/picc-place.jpg

Taken yesterday!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture013.jpg

nice pic; i am right in thinking that from that viewpoint eastgate will appear taller than the red crane in the foreground currently is (if u see what i am sayin - i.e. towering over it)??

This morning.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/pookey1967/picplace.jpg

..edited

Today

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/tuesday29aug007.jpg

Very little about this scheme has ever inspired me. Just looks very architecturally mediocre. They do seem to be cramming a lot onto what seems like a very small site, however

We could've had a tower to go with the anticipated Piccadilly cluster. I know there is one, of sorts, it could do with being a little taller (111 Piccadilly height?)

I know, the Crown Building will be right next door.......some people are just never happy!

Only a matter of time before we cross paths highriser!
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2560TwoPiccadillyPlace_pic2.jpg

hehe,,,ive been taking my camera in town most days just lately cos im job hunting,if you see me say hi,i promise i'm not a nutter :)

have we seen this render of 3 picadilly place?

http://www.lightwell.co.uk/folio/zoom/pic_ext1_max.jpg

Yeah we found that mate a few months ago,this is the phase of PP im looking forward to seeing,3 PP is a lot better fronting on to London Rd though

aye, i'm looking forward to this one too. Looks about as tall as 111.

That render looks like its as tall as the office section of CIS building! Wish it could be that big.
Roll on 3PP, Sarah Tower, Crown, Eastgate! I cant wait to be there when its all finished, and there's a few more 150m cranes getting chucked up.

Hey, that's nice (3 Picc Place). Never seen that before.

I think this scheme is easily underestimated.

It was severely critisised by the civic society (one of the few times they have been proactive and brought about real improvements) and phase 2 was put out to an architectural competition. The results were as follows

Phase 2 masterplan - Austin Smith Lord (Rylands Library Extension, Museum of Science and Industry)

3 Piccadilly Place - Glen Howells architects (Timber Wharf, Burton Place

4 Piccadilly Place - Austin Smith Lord architects

5 Piccadilly Place - Hodder Associates (Aurora office block, Princess St)

6 Piccadilly Place - Glen Howells Architects



Alas, all this was too late for phase 1 which is underconstruction at the moment.

1 Piccadilly Place - Weintraub associates

2 Piccadilly Place - Weedon Partnership.

In my opinion, 1 looks terrible, 2 is reasonable 3, 4, 5 and 6 are all pretty good and a vast improvement on what was originally proposed.

Maybe the Civic Society has redeemed itself

I joined them years ago, and once went a meeting/talk. Realised very quickly I had no business being there. At the time, it was full of the old Didsbury/Hale Barns brigade.

The chairman (woman whose name I forget) was DEAD against any large towers and office blocks in Manchester, of any description. I assume everything had to look like the Free Trade Hall, luverley as it may be......

Having said that, is it such a bad thing that the hotel extension to the Free Trade Hall is quite significantly shorther than the original....?? Now we've got the view of Beetham instead

And the base of a crane is in place on the 3 Piccadilly Place site.

Now this is interesting highriser. Would they need a tower crane to construct the 3 level basment carpark or are they actually making a speculative start on 3 Picc Place or again, are they merely putting in the foundations for all the phase 2 buildings rather than actually constructing them to completion?

Yep thats what i thought,but i was upstairs on the bus and a crane base is slap bang in the centre of that huge hole on that side of the PP site

Now this is interesting highriser. Would they need a tower crane to construct the 3 level basment carpark or are they actually making a speculative start on 3 Picc Place or again, are they merely putting in the foundations for all the phase 2 buildings rather than actually constructing them to completion?
Ey Sleepy, if 3PP is about to start,could it be because they have a substantial pre-let (Barcley Card) it is on there short list?

Or maybe they've seen sense, grown some balls, and are gonna whack the things out speculatively. They'd take 2/3 years to open, plenty of time to secure some lettings in the current space-starved market.

Massive tower crane going up at 3 Piccadilly Place today,,
like Sleepy mentioned last week do they need a crane of this size for the underground carpark?
3PP must be going ahead, do we know exactly how many floors it is?

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/6september007.jpg

I think this crane is for the tower itself or perhaps one of the smaller buildings. You would tend to use mobile cranes for a basement carpark over a large area. Maybe they will build the carpark in phases to match the building section above - a tricky logistical operation.

This view'll be a bit different in a few years............. :yes:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b292/caw1234/P9080001copy.jpg

And it cant come soon enough, the old employment building (Albany site) is looking worser every time i see it,the sooner that get's demolished the better.

Today

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/9september006.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/9september005.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/9september003.jpg

..edited

yipee big cranes :)
size queen :laugh:

..edited

today from gateway

http://tinypic.com/dnj993.jpg

Whats with the beetham ghost on the far right?? Hehe..

I never noticed that Ferge. My God, you really get a good impression of the huge size of Beetham on that pic.

I haven't used Picc station since about January. I really hope you can see it (Beetham) when you exit the station onto the approach rd.

Makes a bit of an impression, but it's going to be pretty much blocked when PP goes up fully.

Took a few photos today

You can see where the new bridge will connect
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2560TwoPiccadillyPlace_pic3.jpg

Down London Road
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2560TwoPiccadillyPlace_pic4.jpg
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2830ThreePiccadillyPlace_pic3.jpg

hehe ,you can see the office for my new job in that first pic (Westminster House),the only sore point is my veiw is the front entrance to Hotel Piccadilly :puke:

It's a shame this will close in the view from the station, but after thinking about the cladding on the GN tower, I'm thinking this is going to look beautiful. Well, I hope so.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/images/2004/08/25/piccadilly2_150x180.jpg

After the 1 Piccadilly Gardens fiasco, Argent can scarcely afford another such eyesore to tarnish their reputation still further.

Is that the one they put in that nice public green square, and runined it?

Is that the one they put in that nice public green square, and runined it?
Yes.

That was the council's fault. Selling off part of a park to refurbish what's left. Over time such a policy would end up bacon slicing open spaces until there's nothing left. And to build that stupid awful Berlin Wall? Duh. I feel it's especially wrong since they're chipping in £7m to smarten up the Ramada. What sort of signal does that send out? Let your buildings get run down guys, and we'll pay you money. Guaranteed to result in dirty buildings all round.

Sounds like most or all of phase II will be speculative development:

Argent to speculate on Manchester offices
Property Week
16.09.2005

Argent has submitted plans for the largest speculative office scheme in central Manchester for 25 years at its mixed-used development Piccadilly Place.


Well we know a crane went up on the phase II part of the site recently but being quite a small one I assumed it was constructing only the underground car park. To be the largest spec office scheme for 25 years you would have to assume they are constructing all three phase II office buildings totalling some 30,000 sq m. Fantastic news.

Phase II Images




Masterplan
http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk/images/Masterplan.gif




Three Piccadilly Place (to the left)
http://www.austinsmithlord.com/data/aeppmm1l.jpg



(rear view)
http://www.lightwell.co.uk/folio/pic_ext1.jpg





Four Piccadilly Place
http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk/images/piazza.jpg




Five Piccadilly Place
http://www.hodderassociates.co.uk/images/portfoli/large/picc.jpg




Six Piccadilly Place (resi)
http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk/images/residential.jpg

Northern section of plaza and tramlines
http://www.anderson-terzic.co.uk/gallery/main/178piccadilly.jpg

That crane sure is big.

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/824ManchesterSkyline_pic1.jpg

That same view will be DENSE come Eastgate, Albany, Sarah, PP and would you see owt of Chapel Wharf from that view (That is NT shining at the side of 111 aint it?) Will be proper bo

Three Piccadilly Place (to the left)
http://www.austinsmithlord.com/data/aeppmm1l.jpg



Have we figured out why this one is 12 floors from this view yet 15 from this one?
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2830ThreePiccadillyPlace_pic2.jpg

They are both 15

..edited

What cunt told me that was 12 then? :? :crazy2: :hammer:

What cunt told me that was 12 then? :? :crazy2: :hammer:
I don't know, but I heard he has a melon fetish.

Well, its actually more like 17 stories. The ground floor is double height and there is an enclosed plant floor at the top. I estimate it to be around 67m to the top of the lift core.

I weren't expecting 3PP to be so tall? thought it would be more 55m mark, lol.. Well hopefully it does reach that 70ish m level.. Would give a refreshing 'plateu' effect for a future skyline to develop on, giving hope for a cluster to emerge between the gaps and voila.. whoever said it couldn't be done in Manc?? :D

It might top 111 Piccadilly. The curvy night render shows it smaller than 111, but in this it looks bigger:
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/331EastgateTower_pic5.jpg

Dunno how accurate that is though.

http://www.provanandmakin.com/PROJECTS/1009PICTRIANGLE/picctrian.html

check out the Beetham style - pic place runner up - couldnt get the big pic 2 cum up..

http://www.provanandmakin.com/PROJECTS/1009PICTRIANGLE/LondoNRdEleSMLL.jpg

http://www.provanandmakin.com/PROJECTS/1009PICTRIANGLE/ELE.jpg

To be honest, I'm not sure whether that is better or worse.

aye.. big tall LSD fella right in the centre of manc would prob not go down to well..

Hey, is this picture of Piccadilly Plaza really going to come to fruition, it would look so much better if it does. http://www.manchestercivic.org.uk/forum/35/F35_05.pdf

Verty, seein as the tower is well into its black-cladding refurb.. I highly doubt it..

Hey, is this picture of Piccadilly Plaza really going to come to fruition, it would look so much better if it does. http://www.manchestercivic.org.uk/forum/35/F35_05.pdf
That's similar to what they're actually doing. The only difference is that the white panels on the facade are actually black.

Piccadilly Place not Plaza!

Piccadilly Place not Plaza!
:laugh: Leave the poor guy alone!

Oops sorry, have I got the wrong thread? - There's not a Piccadilly Plaza thread though is there? Anyway thanks for the answers ;) Still prefer white than black though.

Oops sorry, have I got the wrong thread? - There's not a Piccadilly Plaza thread though is there? Anyway thanks for the answers ;) Still prefer white than black though.
It's the Sunley/City Tower thread. :)

Argent to speculate on Manchester offices Property Week | 16.09.2005 Argent has submitted plans for the largest speculative office scheme in central Manchester for 25 years at its mixed-used development Piccadilly Place.


At last! We can finally see what the designs are like! :)

Don't all rush down at once to the planning office with your cameras, the staff might get suspicious?

^^ I posted that yesterday. Which is why I also reposted the phase II images which is surely what they will look like.

Phase II Images




Masterplan
http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk/images/Masterplan.gif




Three Piccadilly Place (to the left)
http://www.austinsmithlord.com/data/aeppmm1l.jpg



(rear view)
http://www.lightwell.co.uk/folio/pic_ext1.jpg





Four Piccadilly Place
http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk/images/piazza.jpg




Five Piccadilly Place
http://www.hodderassociates.co.uk/images/portfoli/large/picc.jpg




Six Piccadilly Place (resi)
http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk/images/residential.jpg

Northern section of plaza and tramlines (Phase I, background).
http://www.anderson-terzic.co.uk/gallery/main/178piccadilly.jpg

^^ I posted that yesterday. Which is why I also reposted the phase II images which is surely what they will look like.

Phase II Images




Masterplan
http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk/images/Masterplan.gif




Three Piccadilly Place (to the left)
http://www.austinsmithlord.com/data/aeppmm1l.jpg



(rear view)
http://www.lightwell.co.uk/folio/pic_ext1.jpg





Four Piccadilly Place
http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk/images/piazza.jpg




Five Piccadilly Place
http://www.hodderassociates.co.uk/images/portfoli/large/picc.jpg




Six Piccadilly Place (resi)
http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk/images/residential.jpg


Are you 100% sure though Sleepy!?

There could be a few surprises down at the planning office! Designs always change before submission! I'll have a look next Thursday!

Piccadilly Place today,,base of another crane in place behind the digger

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/22sept001.jpg

and the other side of the tracks

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/22sept002.jpg

From this morning

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/pookey1967/piccplace2409.jpg

A 5th crane as gone up today , it looks like crane city now around Piccadilly :)

yep, been watching that 5th crane go up, interesting how they build it!

http://tinypic.com/e197xh.jpg

Just read a snippet from Property Week mag , and it says Argent are going ahead with its speclative Piccadilly Place development, the largest office scheme to be built in Manchester for 25 years,

I would have thought Spinningfields was bigger.

Just read a snippet from Property Week mag , and it says Argent are going ahead with its speclative Piccadilly Place development, the largest office scheme to be built in Manchester for 25 years,

I would have thought Spinningfields was bigger.

Spinningfields was constructed on the premise of a pre-let and is therefore not speculative office development.

Edit: I see what you mean as it is not worded correctly. I think it means largest speculative office development.

Highriser - Sleepyone already said, just up the page mate!

Oh i , stupid me :)

Am I right that this will approximately be the final height? Another three floors. A lot bigger than I thought.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y66/cottonopolis/e197xh.jpg

Superb render that :laugh:

haha - thanks

But anyways is this the fianl height?

Scaffolding is going up facing Piccadilly Place site, looks like they are preparing to start on the bridge that will connect the site to Piccadilly station.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/piccplace.jpg

I walked down that road yesterday, I thought I was going to get robbed by someone.

It's not that bad around there Andy. Though the Store Street tunnel looks awful on the best of days.

There are some concrete columns rising out of the 3 Pic Place footprint which are at ground level now, the leftmost portion of the building on this:
http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk/images/Masterplan.gif

I walked down that road yesterday, I thought I was going to get robbed by someone.


Stop being a drama queen :)

I had to walk down Travis Street through that long dark tunnel, scary stuff.

They've had a couple of tower cranes on the site of the hotel (number 1 Piccadilly Place) for a long time now but nothing seems to heva been built. Wonder if they are having problems there. Number 2 is racing ahead.

I saw some workmen walking along the boom of one of the white cranes the other day, it looked very precarious! They might have had a problem with it?

Foundation work does look very busy though, I think the GMPTE(2 PP) had a bit of a headstart.

Been meaning to ask this but does anyone think that the PP devlmt will mean the old London Road fire station finally gets re-developed?
This has been one of the great mysteries of modern Manchester - a glorious Edwardian pile next to the main railway station and on one of the main gateway roads into the city centre - totally abandoned for years - unreal. Probably the main reason that the road feels intimidating.
Also any thoughts on the rather shitty Monroes Hotel block between the two.

It's a common misconception that it's totally abandoned, walk past and look through the railings, it's used as storage for the emergency services(I think), there are always vans in there.

Ive never really been 'fired up' (ho ho) by the London Road fire station. I suppose its attractive enough and I do like its neat triangular footprint but Ive always felt its somewhat overrated. Maybe the increased land values as a result of nearby development such as Piccadilly Place will make its restoration or it being sold on that much more likely.


Restoration drama

09 September 2005



http://www.bdonline.co.uk/Pictures/web/d/d/v/oldfirestation.jpg
Edwardian fire station
The magnificent Edwardian fire station on a valuable site in Manchester city centre, currently used for storage



The former fire station on London Road in Manchester has been owned by hotel magnate and millionaire Alex Langsam for more than five years. The Edwardian building — with elaborate terracotta and brick mouldings on the large facade — is on a prominent corner site in Manchester, opposite the recently refurbished Piccadilly station.

The local council is privately concerned the prominent building is falling into disrepair and is frustrated that an 18-month-old agreement with the owner to fix damaged gutters, windows and terracotta tiles remains unfulfilled. The council is also worried the building will blight the area and undo the good done by the dramatic regeneration of the station across the road.

The council is tight-lipped about the neglect, but local heritage campaigners are able to speak more freely.

Former Manchester Civic Society chair Ray Makin said: “The Manchester Civic Society has campaigned for years to have something done with this. Any letter to the owner is just ignored. He is very thick-skinned. It is a tragedy because it is a lovely building and has been neglected for years.

“It is a horror. They have no reason to restore the building and are sitting watching the value of the land rise to ever-greater heights. Spending money on the building will not improve the value of the property. Because the owners are already hugely wealthy there is no pressure to make them do anything else.”

Parts of the large building are used for offices and storage space by the hotel chain owned by Langsam, Britannia Hotels.

Langsam, who is estimated by the Times Rich List to have a personal fortune of £62 million, was unavailable for comment, as he was on holiday. No one else at the company was prepared to talk about the building.

Sleepy i disagree with you totally, the London Rd fire station is an absolute gem.
The owner's of this building need fucking with Martin G's french stick for letting it get in the state it's in now, there should be a law for these rich twats to sell these building's after a certain amount of time ,if they dont do anything to them.

It like that Tory snob that owned the building where Aroura is being built, he left that to such an exent is was nearly collapsing, until the council put that much pressure him to sell, they dont give a fuck about how bad these building's get into,there living in some Cheshire mansion counting there pennies.

So what are the options?
Hotel? - Owned by 'hotelier' but wouldn't stack up commercially - nothing HAS happened
Resi? - Probably make a good up market development. Actually would need to be 'up market' due to high capital costs involved. But that courtyard would make an ace urban garden.
Office / commercial - No chance
Demolish it and sell the land ? Can't see it myself.
Carry on watching it rot for another decade or two? If we're not careful - by which time the options will be diminished.

It would make a fantastic hotel/apartments development.
But i honestly think it will stay like it is for a few more years unfortnatly ,Piccadilly will take off as an area if the developments in the pipeline get built in the near future, then the farts that own it will sell it for a healthy profit (twats)

Think you're right, plus it's still blighted by the Monroe Hotel shite block and the Berlin Wall of the Picc Stn Undercroft. Even if it was a resi, who'd want to stare out of their bedroom window at that?
There's also the crap just the other side of the pub on the corner of Whitworth St - been in millions of times but always too pissed to remember what it's called.
That whole area has got a long way to go so PP -despite slightly cheap looking renders and still nervous it's Argent- is the best thing that's happened in that area of town for a long time.

Lookin up,,,, Monroes is actually an ok building, as for the side of Piccadilly station facing the fire station not much can be done about that i would have thought,,,while i was around there today though i did think that ,that paved bit of land underneath where the PP bridge will go should be landscaped.
I have really high hopes for Piccadilly , lets just hope it all comes off

From todays applications, 3 Piccadilly Place


City Centre Ward 076918/FO/2005/C3 07/10/2005 3 Piccadilly Place City New office building (part 8 storeys, part 14 storeys) to form building 3 of the Piccadilly Place Development with commercial space at gound level for use classes A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, and B1.
City Centre Ward 076920/MO/2005/C3 07/10/2005 Piccadilly Place City RESERVED MATTERS APPLICATION relating to external courtyard landscaping (Phase 2.1) approved under outline permission 067273/OO/CITY3/03

Maybe the old Fire Station would make a good casino. Or somesuch other entertainment venue.

Masterplan

http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk/images/Masterplan.gif



3 Piccadilly Place (to the left)
http://www.austinsmithlord.com/data/aeppmm1l.jpg

(rear view)
http://www.lightwell.co.uk/folio/pic_ext1.jpg


So its official. There's the planning application for 3 Piccadilly Place - good spot Highriser and we know Argent are building speculatively here so its all systems go. Brilliant. A 14 storey office building will be pretty tall. Glenn Howells are quality architects so we are in safe hands I think.

Finally, piece by piece Manchester is getting the gateway it deserves. I still worry about the phase I GMPTE office block and the City Inn hotel not coming up to scratch though.



Wonder if we will see the other phase II office buildings in next week's planning applications? The Property Week headline stated Argent are planning the largest speculative offices scheme in Manchester in 20 years. Surely they are building all the phase II offies in one go?

A photo from about 10 days ago; the foundations going in there fit the footprint of 3 Piccadilly Place
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2830ThreePiccadillyPlace_pic4.jpg
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2560TwoPiccadillyPlace_pic5.jpg

And from this morning.... Sunday 16th.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/pookey1967/piccplace1610-1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/pookey1967/piccplace1610-2.jpg

Couple of pics of the new City Inn from www.cityinn.com .. One thing I did notice is that 3 Piccadilly Place looks a little different from other renders we have seen.

http://www.cityinn.com/wmslib/Manchester_Promo_Images/Manchester1_web.jpg
http://www.cityinn.com/wmslib/Manchester_Promo_Images/Manchester2_web.jpg

Looks crisp.

Hmmn. Shame though that all this is fairly dense and fairly low rise. Fills its plot. Claustrophobic.

looks like they are starting on the bridge. They have scaffolding on the station side and starting it off.

If i owned this building i would make it into a casino/hotel or move the shops from Afflex there... trez chic!

yeah the fire station i mean...:) my bad!

The Piccadilly Partnership website is showing a slightly different Phase II masterplan. 3 & 5 Piccadilly Place look to have grown in size and taken over number 4. Whether this is the current, latest masterplan or an earlier one is unclear. I guess we will know by the floor plan of 3 PP as it begins to rise.

http://www.piccadillymanchester.com/images/masterplan.gif (http://www.piccadillymanchester.com/images/masterplan_large.gif)

Thank you to you know who!

New application being submitted for approval and available for viewing!

Building No3!

Will be 14 storeys High! :) (not bad!)

Eastgate and Crown applications are still live! :) (For those who are worried by lack of news!)

Thank you to you know who!

New application being submitted for approval and available for viewing!

Building No3!

Will be 14 storeys High! (not bad!)

Thanks to Highriser, this was posted barely 10 posts ago and was again referred to even at the top of this page!

What would be useful to know is what it actually looks like as it appears there may have been an amendement to the masterplan. By the looks of the foundations I think 3 PP now has larger floorplates as #129.

Thanks to Highriser, this was posted barely 10 posts ago and was again referred to even at the top of this page!

What would be useful to know is what it actually looks like as it appears there may have been an amendement to the masterplan. By the looks of the foundations I think 3 PP now has larger floorplates as #129.

There you go again Sleepy! Its starting to become a habit! Hopefully pics will be posted on Thursday!

Excellent, I look forward to your pictures jrb. :master:

Did it look impressive from what you saw?

Excellent, I look forward to your pictures jrb. :master:

Did it look impressive from what you saw?

Only spoke to the planning officer! He told me the height, it was due for approval and the plans were available to see!

I'll go and have a look on wednesday or Thursday with my friend! :wink2:

I fished a bit and asked him if he'd heard about any new towers apart from Eastagate, Crown and Sarah? He said there were a few rumours, would'nt expand, but said there was nothing concrete at the moment!

That'll be because it's a steel frame. Ho ho.

Just got back from town!

Got some juicy stuff! :wink2:

I'll get it up loaded as soon as possible!:)

Mint. Today is going to be pics galore.

The back of Building No3(14 storeys) and Piccadilly Place!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture0699.jpg

More pics to come!

I'm happy the change has been made. The tall black service tower of the old design presented a quite ridiculous blindspot, what with the close proximity of the tram tracks. Not even Spiderman and his tingly senses would save him from certain death if he was rushing through the square over the tracks and a tram was plodding along from Piccadilly Station.

Hmmm, very interesting. Some funky looking cladding going on there. Much larger footprint thank I expected but it does seem to mach the concrete columns going in at the moment. Also it has less of a look of a tower, than a very large building owing to the uniform height along its London Road frontage.

Looking good though. Looking forward to seeing more renders.

yeah I like that look of that funky cladding

Taken today! Renderings to follow! Work has startd on the walls!(London Road) Yellowish bricks!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture026.jpg

The gas contractors are nothing to do with Albany, Crown!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture006.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture027.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture029.jpg

Renders for Building No3!

Looks very similar to Mib!(design/windows) Nice coloured bricks/cladding!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture056.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture057.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture058.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture059.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture060.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture062.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture063.jpg

Probably the earlier design, being compared to the final design?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture064.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture066.jpg

Note the bridge across London Road!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture061.jpg

Looks like a massive version of the Westside extension in Brum. Of which I don't approve and this looks awfully similar. We need more info about this. The "extension" of the tower section looks like an afterthought, just plonked for the obvious office space demand. It's bland shiteness as it stretches down London Road and just ends abruptly and pointlessly, as if terrified by the tiny Hotel. I presume brickwork, looking at the 5th render down.

This doesn't fill my heart with glee. More pisses on my chips if anything.

The bridge looks different too. It's now a butterfly whereas before the too curves were disjointed.

Some more!

Note the comparison again and a closer rendeing of the bridge!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture0656677888.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture07166789.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture070907643.jpg

Fantastic! Looks excellent - very imposing indeed. Very excited about this. Manchester has been crying out for such a building for a long time. It has a lot of the strength and solidity and refinement of 1 City Square in leeds. Glenn Howells architects never disappoint.

Leagues better than the original design too. What a fantastic entrance to the city we'll have in a few years.

Notice the outline of the Albany tower in the background of your last-but-one render there. Notice also the outline of the podium to the tower in your third render. But never mind that for now, this building looks excellent. Im so pleased.

The only reservation I had was the potential clash of two primary colours - that of the apparent vivid red of 3 Piccadilly Place and the vivid yellow of the 2 Piccadilly Place. Thankfully the close up renders indicate the red, at least on the London Road frontage is actually a more muted browny red.

that bridge is actually a really good idea.

I really think the cladding is a big improvement. But I must admit that I like the shape of the earlier version (or "comparison shot") alot better. I like the step effect to it´s lower neighbour. And since this is skyscrapercity I prefer something that´s 15 - 16 storeys rather than 12.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture064.jpg

I think it looks really good from this angle. But not nearly so good from other angles. IMHO the south side of number 3 should be curved too. And it looks like it's all going to be a bit fill-yer-plot claustrophobic. Shame there isn't a bit more height somewhere back aways and a bit of open space fronting the station.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture059.jpg

I really dont like how it just stops at monroes. Maybe even an exterior elevator (like in Leeds City Square) would improve things?

I think a balance has to be struck between paying deference to adjacent, older buildings and striking out a confident new form. Too much of the former and you can end up with a complete dogs dinner of a building such as Wilson Bowden's Belvedere House proposals. Too much of the latter and you can completely destroy or degrade the character of a particular area such as at Piccadilly Gardens and Market Street.

Whils I like both versions of 3 Piccadilly Place, I much prefer the very solid, refined look of the new version as opposed to the messier 'stepping down' look of the previous... to a building that frankly doesn't merit it (Monroes). The previous looked compromised wheras the new version looks refined and deliberate yet still works within the context of the area.

Ditto.

That stepped-down version looked silly for no good reason. Like it was paying so much respect it was afraid to stand up straight.

:( The new render of 3PP has gone , can i have a quick look jrb pleeeeease :)

:( The new render of 3PP has gone , can i have a quick look jrb pleeeeease :)

?

All the renders of Piccadilly Place are still there Highriser!

You've exceeded your bandwidth jrb, so the pictures arn't coming up for us.

You've exceeded your bandwidth jrb, so the pictures arn't coming up for us.

I see!

I'll upload one or two now via another site!

Good man jrb.

If you've already viewed them you can still see them if you paste the url (eg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture059.jpg ) into a new window. Otherwise all jrb's pics arn't loading properly for the moment.

http://www.imagethrust.com/imageuploader.php?action=images&ids=47602;47603;47604;47605;47606;

Click on link for 5 images!

Cheers Jrb,

Has anyone noticed how eastgate is on this render?

http://i33.imagethrust.com/i/47603/picture058.jpg (http://www.imagethrust.com)

i love that, the fact that all the develpers include each others developments on their images.

Cheers matey, it's very different to the original but i like it , it reminds me of that proposal in Brum (The Cube ?)

How shit did this site look a year ago! Curry house and all!

What a difference Piccadilly Place will make!

http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/manchester/dc42.htm

The twin of MIB!

MIB 2!

http://www.mib.ac.uk/Overview/images/head.jpg

How shit did this site look a year ago! Curry house and all!

What a difference Piccadilly Place will make!

http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/manchester/dc42.htm

Yes it was a right mess, the little park wasn't too bad when I sat there a couple of times to eat my lunch but the rest of the site was in a right state.

I didn't know the hotel was 13 storeys.

http://www.contractjournal.com/home/Default.asp?type=2&liArticleID=48331&liSectionID=4&liDF=1

Norwest Holst wins Manchester hotel deal

Norwest Holst Construction has won a £20m contract to build a 13-storey hotel for City Inn at Piccadilly Place in Manchester.

The hotel will have 284 bedrooms, including six suites, event and meeting facilities, lounge bar and a 120-cover cafe with an alfresco terrace. It will be City Inn's fifth hotel and will open in 2007.

The project team includes: architect is Crerar & Partners; consulting engineer Buro Happold; M&E engineer Faber Maunsell; and QS Gleeds.

Sorry if it's old news. I used to work for Norwest Holst.

These buildings are bigger than I thought. No wonder that crane over number 3 is so tall.

http://www.cityinn.com/wmslib/Manchester_Promo_Images/Manchester2_web.jpg

Ooooh, they should make quite an impact then.

should i be pleased or freaked that my girlfriend took these??!
sorry about the size fella's
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/jcg/Rainbow3.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/jcg/Rainbow2.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/jcg/Rainbow1.jpg

i think she may have been taking pics of the rainbow, lol

that rainbow coming from Canal St? oooo gay pride lol

As Manchester Airport's medical drop-in centre closes, the finishing touches are being added to a brand new drop-in GP centre at Piccadilly Station. The new centre is set to open at the end of the month.

Bosses are disappointed that the centre was not used by local people and that after a centre opened in Wythenshawe fewer people used the service.

Richard Desir, head of nursing for South Manchester PCT, said: "It is clear that our staff and resources can be better deployed at the Walk-In Centres based in areas of Manchester where the local population can easily get to them."

"No WIC staff will be made redundant - they will work in rotation at the other South Manchester WICs."

The new centre at Piccadilly will be run by private company Atos Origin. NHS patients will be able to see a doctor or nurse without an appointment.

A spokesman for the Strategic Health Authority said: "We expect great things of this centre, based on the figures from other centres around the country. The staff have already been allocated and are ready to move in there later this month."

The 5,000 sq ft centre will be staffed by experienced nurses a GP, and expects to see 150 patients everyday when it opens from 7am to 7pm.

People enjoying Manchester city centre's lively nightlife will have a new place to 'go' at weekends from Friday, 4 November – toilet units in Piccadilly Gardens.

Temporary portable urinals are being installed in response to concerns raised by businesses and residents about people urinating in the back streets around the square.

In the past six months alone the police have issued 124 people with £80 fixed penalties for urinating in city centre streets.

With impending changes to licensing laws meaning that many pubs, bars and clubs will be open for longer hours, the City Council is funding this pilot scheme to ease the problem.

The facilities, which have been successfully used in other parts of the country including Westminster, will be provided in Piccadilly Gardens every weekend until April 2006. Their success will be reviewed at the end of this trial period.

Councillor Paul Murphy, Executive Member for Direct Services, said: "Manchester has a vibrant night-time economy of which we are justly proud. We are keen to do everything we can to ensure people's experience of a night out in the city centre is as pleasant as possible, and that there is even less excuse for people to act in a thoughtless and selfish way."

Paul Rice, Chief Executive of Manchester City Centre Management Company, said: "Piccadilly Gardens has had an amazing transformation over recent years, but we aware of problems caused by the lack of public toilets in this area. The units will be put in situ every Friday evening to try to address this indirect consequence of our thriving night-time economy."

Two toilet units (each unit containing four urinals) will be located near the Queen Victoria statue in Piccadilly Gardens and a further two units close to Piccadilly Bus Station.

Thanks for that info marky.

Hmmn. A very expensive revamp of Piccadilly Gardens. A major public square. Which used to have toilets. Now it gets some sort of pissy weekend portacabin. Doesn't sound too good.

They should install public toilets in one of the Garden-facing units of 1PG.

I wonder how long those would last. :rofl:

Think it's time for a dedicated Piccadilly Gardens thread.

Nice idea, as long as it isnt started by liverpolitan this time round lol.

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2830ThreePiccadillyPlace_pic5.jpg

3PP.

It's well motoring on this site now, the application only went in a couple of weeks back , they must be very certain it's going to get approved :)

Thats the basement for the entire southern half of the development. I'd say the buildings will rise concurrently, or at very least consecutively.

pictures from 7th floor gateway house this morning:

Tent for the bridge consruction?

http://tinypic.com/fteg52.jpg

http://tinypic.com/ftegc5.jpg

http://tinypic.com/ftegc5.jpg

Woah

pictures from 7th floor gateway house this morning:

Tent for the bridge consruction?

http://tinypic.com/fteg52.jpg

http://tinypic.com/ftegc5.jpg

Can't see the pics, so don't know if they show it, but the tent has "Piccadilly Place" on it, so it's deff something to do with PP (think the railings behind the tent have been removed, so maybe it is the bridge).

yeah guys -
Today, Wednesday 16 November, sees developer, Argent Estates; launch their 250,000 sq ft office building - Three Piccadilly Place - as part of their mixed used Piccadilly Place development in Manchester. The launch will be celebrated this evening with a theatrical display of fireworks and lasers on Piccadilly Station Approach.

its the launch party.

/\ i must say that sunley, portland and beetham all look fab :cheers:

oh, and pp is coming on nicely too. ;)

Like that photo. still unsure about Portland but the new greeny-gray cladding on city tower is vast improvment.Come on bruntwood get the sides done.

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/2830ThreePiccadillyPlace_pic6.jpg

It's very Leeds.

am gonna be speaking to the architect tomorrow, anyone got any questions they want me to ask him?

Fabulous render Caw. Is there a similarly quality render available of the front of the building?


Gothic - the architects are Glenn Howells are they not?

Id like to know what the cladding material is?
Id like to know whether indeed this building has (as it seems) grown to absorb 4 Piccadilly Place and whether Glenn Howells are still designing 6 Piccadilly Place (the residential portion of this development).
Are Glenn Howells involved in any more schemes in Manchester?
Id like to know how their design for 3 PP has evolved - what has influenced it

And why it appears that none of the architects have given any consideration to the design of the other buildings when designing their own... :runaway:

ask if that´s that pinky reddy tarmac stuff round the base? I fucking hate that.

sleepy, the architects are glenn howells and austin smith lord. the architect i will be speaking to is from austin smith lord. he sent me the rendering earlier that caw has posted. i will ask about a front image.

the cladding is tecu brass, thats cuzn-15grade copper and zinc if you know what i mean!

any other questions?

sleepy, the architects are glenn howells and austin smith lord. the architect i will be speaking to is from austin smith lord. he sent me the rendering earlier that caw has posted. i will ask about a front image.
That would mean 3 and 4 have become one building then. Those two were designing different buildings to start with.

Who took responsiblilty for designing the presumably shared basement carparking levels? Is it difficult to work so closly to another practice and were there separate structural,mech and elec engineers? Any special details used to minimise the disturbance from trains passing literally 10ft away from the building?

I kinda like that, a little Postdamer Platz.

An interestint tidbit about the facade:

''It is the first building in the UK to be clad in TECU® Brass, a CuZn15-grade copper and zinc alloy that has been specially designed for use on façades. Weathering changes the original reddish golden colour of the surface in a very lively manner, with each façade developing its own unique characteristics. ''

I quite like it.

just got home, and there is shit loads of firworks and laser's at PP , big square light thingy hanging from a crane , looks great , the Manc revolution is rolling on baby :)

Gothic!

You have a PM!

Can you ask them about the pedestrian bridge over London Road and if they will release any other renderings of it?

Can you also ask them why they decided to build the whole of Piccadilly Place in one go, instead of waiting for prelets before starting construction?

have written all your questions down

Ok, so it seems to co-incide with the launch they have also relaunched the piccadilly place website which explains some of the mystery.

http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk

Glenn Howells were originally to design 3 PP and 6 PP but with an amendment to the masterplan it seems there are now 2 office buildings in phase II rather than 3 smaller ones.

Austin Smith-Lord seemingly designing the phase II masterplan together with 3 Piccadilly Place.

Hodder Associates designing 4 Piccadilly Place

Glenn Howells designing the residential, 5 Piccadilly Place.






MASTERPLAN
http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk/img/plan/the_plan_zoom.gif




PHASE I (North of tram tracks).
The first phase will be completed in 2006:

One Piccadilly Place – pre-sold to City Inn Ltd

Two Piccadilly Place – pre-let to GMPTE

The Link Bridge from Manchester Piccadilly Station – Designed by Wilkinson Eyre.

The Northern Piazza and Secure Car Park – a new piazza north of the tram tracks and three levels of basement car parking over the whole of the southern portion of the site. This will provide 590 car spaces, including cycle racks and motorbike parking, with 24 hour secure manned CCTV coverage and topped by a level podium.


FUTURE PHASES (3 PP and 5 PP under construction; 4 PP to await a prelet?)
Future phases of Piccadilly Place include:

Three Piccadilly Place – 200,000 sq ft office building designed by Austin-Smith: Lord (including up to 8,300 sq ft retail / restaurant use).
To be completed 2007.

Four Piccadilly Place – 120,000 sq ft office building designed by Hodder Associates (including up to 11,000 sq ft retail/restaurant use).
To be completed 2008.

Five Piccadilly Place – 157 apartments over convenience retail and
a neighbourhood centre, designed by Glenn Howells Architects.
To be completed 2007.









3 PICCADILLY PLACE (Austin Smith Lord)
http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk/img/plan/pp_3_pic.jpg
200,000 sq ft OFFICE SPACE

Three Piccadilly Place will be the largest speculative office building in Manchester for 30 years. The lower six floors will offer c.20,000 sq ft floorplates of Grade A office space with a further six floors above at c.12,000 sq ft each. Designed by Austin-Smith: Lord as an iconic gateway structure, Three Piccadilly Place will be the most prominent building on arrival at Manchester Piccadilly Station. The ground floor can house independent receptions for office occupiers and will offer prime retail/restaurant units overlooking London Road/Manchester Piccadilly Station to the east and the bustling public piazza to the west.



4 PICCADILLY PLACE (Hodder Associates)
http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk/img/plan/pp_4_pic.jpg
120,000 sq ft OFFICE SPACE

Four Piccadilly Place will complete the western edge of the new Piccadilly Place piazza and front on to Aytoun Street. Designed by Hodder Associates, the upper floors will be c.16,500 sq ft of Grade A office space and the ground floor has dual permission either for more offices or retail/restaurant outlets opening onto the spacious new public realm.



FIVE PICCADILLY PLACE (Glenn Howells)
http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk/img/plan/pp_5_pic.jpg
157 residential apartments

Five Piccadilly Place will be a rare opportunity to live in the city in a range of studios and 1 and 2 bedroom apartments. Residents will never have to rush for the last train home or get up early in order to catch the fast train to London.

Residents will enjoy easy access to Manchester's lively clubs, bars, restaurants, theatres and more, 24/7. They won’t have any parking problems as they are housed above three levels of secure parking. The spacious apartments designed by Glenn Howells Architects, will be in one of the safest and cleanest places to live in Manchester.

Ill repost this so as we have a nice summary at the top of the page. So it seems to co-incide with the launch they have also relaunched the piccadilly place website which explains some of the mystery.

http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk

Glenn Howells were originally to design 3 PP and 6 PP but with an amendment to the masterplan it seems there are now 2 office buildings in phase II rather than 3 smaller ones.

Austin Smith-Lord seemingly designing the phase II masterplan together with 3 Piccadilly Place.

Hodder Associates designing 4 Piccadilly Place

Glenn Howells designing the residential, 5 Piccadilly Place.






MASTERPLAN
http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk/img/plan/the_plan_zoom.gif




PHASE I (North of tram tracks).
The first phase will be completed in 2006:

One Piccadilly Place – pre-sold to City Inn Ltd

Two Piccadilly Place – pre-let to GMPTE

The Link Bridge from Manchester Piccadilly Station – Designed by Wilkinson Eyre.

The Northern Piazza and Secure Car Park – a new piazza north of the tram tracks and three levels of basement car parking over the whole of the southern portion of the site. This will provide 590 car spaces, including cycle racks and motorbike parking, with 24 hour secure manned CCTV coverage and topped by a level podium.


FUTURE PHASES (3 PP and 5 PP under construction; 4 PP to await a prelet?)
Future phases of Piccadilly Place include:

Three Piccadilly Place – 200,000 sq ft office building designed by Austin-Smith: Lord (including up to 8,300 sq ft retail / restaurant use).
To be completed 2007.

Four Piccadilly Place – 120,000 sq ft office building designed by Hodder Associates (including up to 11,000 sq ft retail/restaurant use).
To be completed 2008.

Five Piccadilly Place – 157 apartments over convenience retail and
a neighbourhood centre, designed by Glenn Howells Architects.
To be completed 2007.









3 PICCADILLY PLACE (Austin Smith Lord)
http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk/img/plan/pp_3_pic.jpg
200,000 sq ft OFFICE SPACE

Three Piccadilly Place will be the largest speculative office building in Manchester for 30 years. The lower six floors will offer c.20,000 sq ft floorplates of Grade A office space with a further six floors above at c.12,000 sq ft each. Designed by Austin-Smith: Lord as an iconic gateway structure, Three Piccadilly Place will be the most prominent building on arrival at Manchester Piccadilly Station. The ground floor can house independent receptions for office occupiers and will offer prime retail/restaurant units overlooking London Road/Manchester Piccadilly Station to the east and the bustling public piazza to the west.



4 PICCADILLY PLACE (Hodder Associates)
http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk/img/plan/pp_4_pic.jpg
120,000 sq ft OFFICE SPACE

Four Piccadilly Place will complete the western edge of the new Piccadilly Place piazza and front on to Aytoun Street. Designed by Hodder Associates, the upper floors will be c.16,500 sq ft of Grade A office space and the ground floor has dual permission either for more offices or retail/restaurant outlets opening onto the spacious new public realm.



FIVE PICCADILLY PLACE (Glenn Howells)
http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk/img/plan/pp_5_pic.jpg
157 residential apartments

Five Piccadilly Place will be a rare opportunity to live in the city in a range of studios and 1 and 2 bedroom apartments. Residents will never have to rush for the last train home or get up early in order to catch the fast train to London.

Residents will enjoy easy access to Manchester's lively clubs, bars, restaurants, theatres and more, 24/7. They won’t have any parking problems as they are housed above three levels of secure parking. The spacious apartments designed by Glenn Howells Architects, will be in one of the safest and cleanest places to live in Manchester.

More detail on 3 PP from the ASL website.


Three Piccadilly Place, Manchester

http://www.austinsmithlord.com/data/ca3pp2s.jpg

Following the competition winning appointment as masterplanners for the £150m central Manchester commercial and residential development, Austin-Smith:Lord has been appointed for the design of the £28m Three Piccadilly Place office building. Sitting over three levels of basement car parking, the 14 storey building provides 200,000sqft of net office space immediately outside Piccadilly Station, Manchester.

Traditionally, the most important civic buildings use stone as an expression of authority, wealth and civic pride. Equally there is a strong tradition of mercantile and commercial buildings in Manchester following the prosperity of the industrial revolution that aspire to some level of civitas through the use of high quality materials to convey a sense of quality, solidity and permanence. A copper zinc alloy fades from an initial brass colour to a bronze lustre, responding to the rhythm, scale and colour of the adjacent Fire Station and University buildings.

http://www.austinsmithlord.com/data/ca3pp1s.jpg

A stone clad circulation and service acts as an axle around which the facades of the building respond to the varying demands of orientation, view and aspect. The progression from high levels of solid to void allow the completed façade design to anticipate the next generation of carbon performance standards.




VIEW FROM OUTSIDE PICCADILLY STATION (seems somewhat distored to me)
http://www.austinsmithlord.com/data/ca3pp1l.jpg



OVERVIEW OF 3PP AND THE REST OF THE DEVELOPMENT
http://www.austinsmithlord.com/data/ca3pp2l.jpg







Looks superb. Very happy with this building and its great that its such a large, speculative building, quality materials and in such a prominent position too. Lookng forward to seeing this rise immensly.

Apologies to ASL as I had assumed it was Glenn Howells. Nevertheless Gothic, Id be interested to know generally about ASL's approach to the masterplanning and their concept for this building. Id also like to know how they see this part of Piccadilly developing in the future and the role their design will play in it.

Their a bit slow with those renderings! :wink2:

shame they couldn't double the height of 3pp, how cool would that look?!

never-the-less, wonderful development,

oh, and if you click on the link for the city inn (on the site sleepy posted) you'll see a new render of the crown building, with pp of course.

The following image demonstrates how the masterplan has changed - with 3 PP and 4 PP both growing in size to swallow up the previous 4 PP.

4 PP has increased from 100,000 sq ft to 120,000 sq ft and increased its frontage to Aytoun St....

Four Piccadilly Place

OLD
http://www.hodderassociates.co.uk/images/portfoli/med/picc.jpg

NEW
http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk/img/plan/pp_4_pic.jpg


jrb - by the way I dont this building is within the current phase of construction. They may wait for a prelet or until 3 PP has been let until starting work here.

Info from Glenn Howells website.

Five Piccadilly Place

http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk/img/plan/pp_5_pic.jpg

Project: No 5, Piccadilly Place, Manchester
Client: Argent Estates Ltd
Status: Outline planning received

No 5 Piccadilly Place is a limited competition winning scheme providing ten storeys of private residential accommodation above ground floor commercial units. Designed to take full advantage of its prominent corner site, the elegant simple sweep of façade is intended to create a landmark and important edge to the Manchester Piccadilly Place development.

A flexible range of apartment types will be created, providing single bed units through to two-bed and larger three-bed units. The apartments will be provided with subterranean parking and with access from both street level and a new internal landscaped courtyard. The position of these entrances will encourage pedestrian flow from the street and through the new public spaces created within the master plan.

Looks good, thanks for all the pictures caw, sleepy.

Tecu brass, I like the sound of that.

''responding to the rhythm, scale and colour of the adjacent Fire Station and University buildings''.

Christ..don't architects talk bollocks
Nice scheme though

thats not the architect, thats the press release copyrighter. architects dont write press releases.

I work with architects, trust me that is exactly the kind of stuff they spout on a pitch. It makes me cringe listening to it.
As soon as they drop the selling mode and take the 'vision goggles' off, they always turn out to be quite normal and you can have a proper conversation.

Anyway the architects sign off the press release don't they?

''responding to the rhythm, scale and colour of the adjacent Fire Station and University buildings''.

Christ..don't architects talk bollocks
Nice scheme though

Erm what's wrong with that description? I agree some architects can talk flowery nonsense at times but rhythym, scale, colour, (I'll add texture, massing) are all well used and recognised terms within architecture, planning and urban design.

I'm with looking up here. It's unneccesary crap used to pad out a sales pitch for a building (i.e. Planning apps). Tell me how a stationary, silent building can have rhythm.
And in this instance, if it were a valid term, they are complete liars because this building is out of scale and colour with the adjacent buildings.

why didnt the developers by the international hotel? it makes the developent look stupid!

I'm with looking up here. It's unneccesary crap used to pad out a sales pitch for a building (i.e. Planning apps). Tell me how a stationary, silent building can have rhythm.
And in this instance, if it were a valid term, they are complete liars because this building is out of scale and colour with the adjacent buildings.

Rhythym refers to the repetition of vertical and/or horizontal emphasis of a building's elevation (it could be windows, set backs, balconies, use of different colours and textures etc) - its nothing to do with sound in this context. Every profession has words or phrases that sum up a concept/approach so that others can quickly understand what you're going on about without resorting each time to a lengthy description.

I'm not sold. Your explanation means that every pattern or shape has rhythm. It is as useless an adjective as "organic" when describing a building. And why doesn't the automotive industry use such drivel?

who knows, but the fact is press releases are never written by the architects themselves. the chances are the p.r got his hands on some notes and just started to write it. press release writing is normally contracted out to a freelance copyright or agency.

I'm not sold. Your explanation means that every pattern or shape has rhythm. It is as useless an adjective as "organic" when describing a building. And why doesn't the automotive industry use such drivel?

Look all I'm saying is that its a term well used and understood by those in the planning/urban design world. Following is from Croydon UDP but it could come from pretty much any authority's plan:


4.1 The key characteristics of a design statement should include the following:

a) A short written statement accompanied by illustrative material relevant to the type and scale of the proposal.
b) A demonstration as to how the proposal is based on an analysis of the adjoining townscape, highlighting features relating to architectural style, massing, height, rhythm and other special characteristics.
c) It should show how the design solution is a result of the site appraisal and the application of appropriate design principles.
d) Where appropriate, demonstrate how the landscape proposal has evolved as an integral part of the design process.

Anyway I'll shut up now as this is off topic.

Well thats even worse if certain council's planning depatments encourage such page-skipping dross.

At the end of the day, they need images, site plans, elevations, materials description and samples to approve the overall look and visual impact of the building, not generic nonsense that they put in to try to convince the gulliable planner that what they are getting is better than what they can see in the drawings.

I dont see whats so offensive about what are relatively straight forward descriptive terms - terms which are entirely appropriate to a profession which marries the technical and the artistic.

Good buildings work for a variety of reasons. One of those reasons might be how they relate to a neighbouring building. Such a building, like the old fire station might appear stylistically very different but it is still possible for it to be an influence nevertheless and be referenced in subtle ways.

As such, describing how a design has evolved or has been influenced by this building cannot easily be done in concrete terms. Using terms such as rhythm in an abstract sense might not be the easiest thing to perceive but it is probably the best way of describing an abstract influence such as Criag has described.

This building should have a guest spot at Matt & Phreds one Firday evening.
Chick Corea cladding.

I dont see whats so offensive about what are relatively straight forward descriptive terms - terms which are entirely appropriate to a profession which marries the technical and the artistic.

Good buildings work for a variety of reasons. One of those reasons might be how they relate to a neighbouring building. Such a building, like the old fire station might appear stylistically very different but it is still possible for it to be an influence nevertheless and be referenced in subtle ways.

As such, describing how a design has evolved or has been influenced by this building cannot easily be done in concrete terms. Using terms such as rhythm in an abstract sense might not be the easiest thing to perceive but it is probably the best way of describing an abstract influence such as Criag has described.

Well, if it helps people like you to be convinced by the aesthetic merits of a building, when all the important information is on a drawing, then all power to them.

I talk from experience of the building industry, as does looking up, and some of the breath wasting shite that some architects come out with is laughable, and as such I am not exclusively talking about this press release or the term "rhythm"

......like the old fire station might appear stylistically very different but it is still possible for it to be an influence nevertheless and be referenced in subtle ways.

Subtle as a breezeblock. It is sharp and angular, about 60% taller and clad in a copper alloy.

Well, if it helps people like you to be convinced by the aesthetic merits of a building, when all the important information is on a drawing, then all power to them.

I talk from experience of the building industry, as does looking up, and some of the breath wasting shite that some architects come out with is laughable, and as such I am not exclusively talking about this press release or the term "rhythm"

People like me? Ouch, no need to get personal because I can go down that road too you know.... How do you know what kind of person I am? Just because abstract concepts are alien and uncomfortable to the mind of a dour structural engineer doesn't make them invalid to a profession which necessarily has to deal with the abstract sometimes. :) :)

Agreed some of the language used can sometimes be unnecessarily florid and pretentious but why pick up on a few terms which as Craig has clearly demonstrated are accepted, relevant and commonly used descriptive terms in the field - in the same way as apparently impenetrable terms as the second moment of interia might be in structural engineering.

But the second moment of area is a neccesary principle to establish other scientific truths, not a fluffy load of bollocks used to impress the impressionable.

And I wasn't trying to insult you by saying "people like you". I just meant people with similar outlook and views to you (and i appreciate your time and effort in expressing them on this forum). Admitted it reads very patronising.

...but why pick up on a few terms which as Craig has clearly demonstrated are accepted, relevant and commonly used descriptive terms in the field.

Posted before the above;

...and as such I am not exclusively talking about this press release or the term "rhythm"

But the second moment of area is a neccesary principle to establish other scientific truths, not a fluffy load of bollocks used to impress the impressionable.

And I wasn't trying to insult you by saying "people like you". I just meant people with similar outlook and views to you (and i appreciate your time and effort in expressing them on this forum). Admitted it reads very patronising.

Fair do's Jerv. I guess one man's fluffy bollocks are another man's truths. Or something. We'll leave it at that.

I'd prefer it if the prose was more focussed on particulars, and was crystal clear to the man on the street. But I don't really mind the "fluffy bollocks" provided it's in line with the actual plans and the building looks OK.

The problems start when the buzzwords are at odds with the plans and/or the building doesn't look OK. There's a sliding scale of subjectivity here that makes it difficult to call, but if we're talking about some pink teddy bear of a building, flowery phrases come over as condescending arrogance, and are unacceptable.

In other words, it's not the words themselves that matter, it's whether they paint a true picture.

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/759.$plit/C_17_Articles_184390_BodyWeb_Detail_0_Image.jpg

A MIGHTY 200,000-sq ft office block is to be built at Piccadilly Station in a bid to tempt international companies to Manchester.

The London-based developer Argent is to go ahead with the speculative building as part of its ambitious Piccadilly Place scheme. It is one of Manchester's largest-ever speculative office developments.

The decision to build the scheme before tenants are found comes after Argent missed out on a number of potentially big lettings. This month it emerged that Barclaycard had rejected moving to Piccadilly Place for a new call centre in favour of Spinningfield, Deansgate.



However, the firm has been more successful nearby at No 1 Piccadilly Gardens, where its new office block won international tenants including the Bank of New York. Work on the office building will be completed by 2007. Argent is already developing a 55,000-sq ft office block on the site for the Greater Manchester passenger transport executive. A new hotel and 600-space car park are also under construction.

Argent's deputy chief executive David Partridge said: "We want to create a building with large, 20,000-sq ft floors because we know that's what all the occupiers really loved about our development at Piccadilly Gardens. But we realise too that there won't be any rival new buildings completed between 2006 and 2008 - so we're aiming to fill that gap year.

"A stunning new building will be what the city needs. I think we'll be aiming it at newcomers of the kind we've already spoken to in visits to America - as we showed when we secured a letting to Bank of New York at Piccadilly Gardens."

Thanks marky. Gotta be good stuff if they're building 200,000 sq ft on spec.

http://www.egi.co.uk/webpics/cmspics/30606.JPG

Developer Argent has released new images of its speculative Three Piccadilly Place scheme in central Manchester.

The 200,000 sq ft building, designed by Austin-Smith:Lord and launched last week, will be completed in 2007.

Agents said the developer will be hoping to cash in on latent demand to fill the building, which also contains 30,000 sq ft of retail space.

Halifax Bank of Scotland, Pinsent Masons and Grant Thornton have outstanding city centre office requirements totalling more than 100,000 sq ft.

Argent is also planning a 120,000 sq ft office building known as Four Piccadilly Place to be completed by 2007 and a residential-led building called Five Piccadilly Place for completion in 2007.

Two Piccadilly Place, a 55,000 sq ft prelet to Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, is close to completion.

Earlier this month, Estates Gazette revealed that Allied London had submitted a planning application for a huge 460,000 sq ft building at Spinningfields, known as HQ.

It is expected to fulfil a 160,000 sq ft requirement by Barclays, which had earlier ruled out the Argent scheme.

Wow. Nice. 21st century clean lined sleek beautiful elegance. Thanks again Marky.

PP today

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/23nov004.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/23nov003.jpg

This one's starting to look good.

Nice work today highriser, i appreciate the updates :okay:

2 PP can't be far from topping out now. Is that the final storey they are constructing now?

Interesting article there marky. Particularly this bit.

Argent is also planning a 120,000 sq ft office building known as Four Piccadilly Place to be completed by 2007 and a residential-led building called Five Piccadilly Place for completion in 2007.

which suggest the whole of phase II is entirely speculative.

There's a larger version of that render markydeedrop posted on the official site now >>> http://www.piccadillyplace.co.uk/

i did a screen dump and edited the contrast so we could see it better

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/richardjamesbrowning/PP2.jpg

and a brighter version

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/richardjamesbrowning/PP1.jpg

Nice pic cheers. I count 8 storeys so 1 more to go..

The great news about all of this is that it will be completed by 2007! (with Eastgate and Albany not far behind) :cheers: . Class!

Argent's 'world class' 200,000sqft speculative gateway office scheme next to Piccadilly Station.
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1162TheBridge_pic6.jpg

Persimmon Homes's dissapointing 12 storey residential block next to the Lowry Hotel at Chapel Wharf.
http://www.austinsmithlord.com/data/ca3pp1l.jpg

:runaway:

Totally different Caw!

Try MIB instead!

Get to the opticians that man!

Obviously you didn't see my tongue sticking through my cheek, but look at it. Windows all wavy, vertical line down the middle, similar in tone. Same family tree.

Obviously you didn't see my tongue sticking through my cheek, but look at it. Windows all wavy, vertical line down the middle, similar in tone. Same family tree.

Only time will tell Caw!

Always hated that pile of shite next to the Lowry! How the F*** did that get PP? One step forward, two steps back!(for Salford)

soz if these have been posted...

http://www.austinsmithlord.com/data/ca3pp2s.jpg

http://www.austinsmithlord.com/data/ca3pp2l.jpg

http://www.austinsmithlord.com/data/ca3pp1l.jpg

Taken today.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture333.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture336.jpg

Gothic - when are you due to upload the Austin Smith Lord interview? (Cant find it on sn.com if its already there).

Aerial view of Piccadilly Place, Eastgate site, Crown site, Issa Quay site and the obscured Sarah tower site

http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/gallery/d/1633-1/CRW_8667+_1_.jpg

New picture of 3 Piccadilly Place

http://www.austinsmithlord.com/data/ca3pp1s.jpg

Interview with someone from Austin Smith Lord is now online:
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=507

Thankyou caw.

I saw that Tecu-Brass is... an active material, it quickly oxidizes from a bright brass colour to a satin brown

And satin brown looks like dark brown. Tut.

http://www.goldenclay.com/satinglazed_tiles.html

Interview with someone from Austin Smith Lord is now online:
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=507

Cheers Chris/Goth. It seems all of my questions were asked.

This is an interesting one:

Skyscrapernews.com - And finally, what's your favourite building going up or proposed in Manchester outside of the Piccadilly Place masterplan?

Not a building unfortunately, and Piccadilly Gardens is still part of the Piccadilly area. The newly landscaped gardens have revitalized the heart of Manchester city centre and proven to be a catalyst for regeneration through the creation of One Piccadilly Gardens and continuing high quality re-imaging of existing buildings such as Sunley Tower (now City Tower). The Gardens demonstrate how high quality public urban spaces create the environment that makes great cities

Seems that although I'm in the minority on this forum, I'm not alone when it comes to the fellow pro's.

Sleepy will go nuts regarding that!

Thanks Gothic, nice interview. Very interesting.

21 Dec 2005 3 Piccadilly Place Interview

The centre-piece of a new development in Manchester, 3 Piccadilly Place, the largest single speculatively built office building in decades is now well under construction. We spoke to Clive Panter of the architect firm, Austin Smith Lord, the firm who designed both this building and the overall masterplan for the area to get a better handle on the work put into the scheme and what’s coming next.

Skyscrapernews.com - How did the design evolve, what influenced it the changes?
Clive Panter - Having won the competition for masterplanners for the whole Piccadilly Place development, Argent also asked us to look at the detail design of Three Piccadilly Place. Our initial response was to take the project as an opportunity to explore the typology of a 21st Century office building. The 'glass box' office building has been established for several generations as the model for a commercial building, but we felt that the growing imperative to respond to environmental changes forces us all to re-examine this.
Although part of a dense city block, the building is exposed on all sides at different levels. This creates great opportunity for views of the city and beneficial solar access, but allows solar gain to increase energy intensive cooling within the building. As architects, the façade design is the primary point at which we can influence energy use within the building. The façade and fenestration pattern therefore changes across the different faces of the building to respond to the changing levels of solar gain arising from orientation. Key views over Piccadilly Place and the city are revealed within the transition across facades and the building opens up to show off the life of this new urban quarter to the city.

Skyscrapernews.com - It looks like 3 Piccadilly is in a way two buildings joined by an atrium, why?
Clive Panter - The 'L shaped nature of the plan established under the masterplan creates a junction where the taller and lower elements of the building meet. Given the solidity of the façade elsewhere, the silicone jointed glass 'sliver' at the junction position creates a neutral element that allows the differing forms to meet comfortably. As a client, Argent have always been keen to avoid 'meanness' within the entrance and reception of a building, and have a history of creating buildings with atria and generous double height reception spaces.

Skyscrapernews.com - What sort of challenges do big floor plates throw up?
Clive Panter - Whilst Three Piccadilly Place has large floor-plates, they are not excessively deep, mostly 18 metres with some areas up to 21 metres. An early decision was to ensure that all windows are full height floor to ceiling. This allows maximum daylight penetration into the deeper areas of the plans and increases the perceived link between interior and exterior for those inhabiting the building.

Skyscrapernews.com - Why were you the first practise to have use this new brass cladding on a building?
Clive Panter - The façade materials must respond to the sensitive historic context of faience, stone and brickwork, but should clearly express the use of the building and the time at which it is constructed. Tecu-Brass is a copper zinc alloy that has been used for some years on the Continent, but is relatively new in this country, and has never been used on a commercial building. An active material, it quickly oxidizes from a bright brass colour to a satin brown that harmonizes with the faicence work on the adjacent buildings, whilst retaining it’s own characteristics that change completely with the angle of view and sunlight.

Skyscrapernews.com - What did you do to help fit the building in with the local context of that part of manchester?
Clive Panter - All of our work is a contemporary contextual response. This context may be physical, social, historic, economic, etc. All of the decisions on massing, façade and materials were driven by the local context of the development.

Skyscrapernews.com - Why was the decision to do piccadilly place in one go rather than wait for tenants taken?
Clive Panter - There are many benefits and efficiencies in continuing a large-scale construction project like Piccadilly Place through consecutive phases. The continuing growth of the commercial market in Manchester supports speculative developments of this type and the mixed use nature of the full scheme (residential, retail and hotel uses) ensures that the scheme is not focused on a single area of activity.

Skyscrapernews.com - The building is designed for a multi tenant entrance, how do you divide it up to make this adaptable?
Clive Panter - The generosity of space in the entrance to all Argent buildings is continued in Three Piccadilly Place. This allows a secondary reception to be created for anchor or key tenants without creating a detriment to the pedestrian flow into and through the building.

Skyscrapernews.com - How does this effect pedestrian flow on the plaza outside?
Clive Panter - The piazza at the heart of Piccadilly Place creates a focus for the four buildings that open onto it. The water filled rill that runs the length of the piazza orders the space to direct pedestrian flow between the individual buildings. The piazza itself is a neutral space that can be occupied by a variety of activities that will change throughout the year, providing valuable external space for the commercial and retail activities within the scheme.

Skyscrapernews.com - The tram line is right next to the site, how did that influence design?
Clive Panter - The tram route has been clearly defined since inception of the project and the arrangement of built form on the site has taken full account of the physical and technical requirements of the tram operators GMPTE. The detail design to accommodate the landscape and servicing issues continues.

Skyscrapernews.com - Were there any vibration issues?
Clive Panter - The trams do create a level of vibration, and Arup have assessed this as part of the masterplan. At the highest level, the layout of the masterplan locates the least sensitive activities adjacent the tram lines. The basement car park currently under construction helps to isolate the buildings from the direct base of the tram lines.

Skyscrapernews.com - A.S.L also did the masterplanning, how did you try to integrate the separate bits into one?
Clive Panter - The piazza is the focus of the development and all the buildings open onto it. More discreet routes through the scheme connect the piazza to surrounding streets and pedestrian routes allowing a natural organic flow of people through the site. This ensures that the scheme is knitted into the fabric of the city rather than standing as an island in isolation.

Skyscrapernews.com - Is it difficult to work closely with another practise?
Clive Panter - Both the masterplanning role and Three Piccadilly Place detail design require close collaboration with other designers as well as engineers, planners and of course the client. Argent are a very 'hands on' developer and are very successful in creating a team culture where all participants are focused on the project. Their policy of using different designers for the many buildings within each scheme emulates the organic growth of any city without resorting to pastiche. Quality of environment and the final scheme is paramount and overrides any stylistic differences arising between designers.

Skyscrapernews.com - Were there separate mechanical, electrical and structural engineers?
Clive Panter - For Three Piccadilly Place the designers are:
Services Engineers - Hoare Lea
Structural Engineers - Deakin Walton
Fire Engineers - Faber Maunsell
Post contract detail design is carried out by the Weedon Partnership

Skyscrapernews.com - What can you tell us about the bridge over London road?
Clive Panter - Enabling works for the bridge are ongoing and the installation is programmed for May 2006. London Road will be closed on Sunday whilst completed bridge is swung into position in two pieces.

Skyscrapernews.com - What are the plans for the future sites?
Design work on Four and Five Piccadilly Place is ongoing and it is hoped that construction will follow completion of Three Piccadilly Place.

Skyscrapernews.com - And finally, what's your favourite building going up or proposed in Manchester outside of the Piccadilly Place masterplan?
Not a building unfortunately, and Piccadilly Gardens is still part of the Piccadilly area. The newly landscaped gardens have revitalized the heart of Manchester city centre and proven to be a catalyst for regeneration through the creation of One Piccadilly Gardens and continuing high quality re-imaging of existing buildings such as Sunley Tower (now City Tower). The Gardens demonstrate how high quality public urban spaces create the environment that makes great cities.

Skyscrapernews.com - Thanks for talking to us Clive.


http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/richardjamesbrowning/PP1.jpg