If you mean at the bottom of howard street, I think there's gonna be a mini bus interchange, and some building's.

You would'nt think there was a bus station 2 minutes walk away.

I know. I'm not sure what the reason for it is.

The hourly airport shuttle perhaps?

(yeah, right)

A shuttle to the bus station maybe?

Anyone know what's going between Sheaf Street and Pond Street/Flat Street? They seemed to be building something the other day.

The narrow plot of land in between the roads which tapers from the Howard Hotel to the old Nelson Mandela Building appears to have been offered for sale as part of the NMB site for the -fingers crossed- new hotel which aedas are designing. I'd be suprised if there was any building work there now.

The groundworks on the corner of Harmer Lane (?) and Sheaf Street are of course for the never-quite-getting-off-the-ground e-campus.

Anyone else think that they should crack on with marketing/developing the Sheaf and Dyson site? The huge open space is detracting from the new square because it's got no defined edge.

Here's a great pic of the station taken tonight by a member of Sheffield Flickr:cheers:

http://static.flickr.com/108/315109707_f5842b151b.jpg (http://static.flickr.com/108/315109707_f5842b151b_b.jpg)
Hey, I took that picture.

I wish people would ask before posting my pictures. When they do, I usually respond quickly and positively.

>NEWS FLASH<

THE FOUNTAIN WAS UP AND RUNNIG TODAY! IT LOOKKS REALLY IMPRESSIVE, BUT ITS ONMLY A TRIAL RUN ATM.

>NEWS FLASH<

THE FOUNTAIN WAS UP AND RUNNIG TODAY! IT LOOKKS REALLY IMPRESSIVE, BUT ITS ONMLY A TRIAL RUN ATM.

Yeah i noticed soom water splashing around over the iron curtain this morning when i passed.

All the protective coating looked to be off too.

Would be cool for all the works to be finished by christmas!

Does anyone know if there are any imminent plans to resurface the road once the square is complete? This would really finish it off nicely.

I saw the water flowing last night on way to match, looked nice.

They were also taking off the coating from the sculpture.

I'm arriving by train on the 28th. Really looking forward to seeing it. In fact, I'll probably walk up Howard Street and have a good look from the top - and check out the St Paul's Place construction too.

The area near the howard is getting better now too, I saw a few trees there today that im guessing will be planted sometime, and the road has been re-surfaced unisol.

Walked past the new fountains this tea time and they was still busy testing the fountains, as you walk down towards the station entrance alongside the blade sculpture the water fountain just looks so captivating and it isn't even fully operational yet!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/27-1.jpg

Lots of steam swirling around the fountains, much to the bemusement of passing commuters, it will certainly be a head turner when it's finished. Loved the sound of pouding water tumbling down the slopes, it will breathe so much life into Sheaf Square.

Liking the ice blue Xmas tree too, very snazzy, not over the top either, looks just right.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/28-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/29-1.jpg

Any reason why it was steaming? That'd be amazing if it did all the time it was cold!

Haunted fountains!!!!!

Any reason why it was steaming? That'd be amazing if it did all the time it was cold!

No idea why the fountain was steaming, they might have been cleaning the jets or something.

The area near the howard is getting better now too, I saw a few trees there today that im guessing will be planted sometime, and the road has been re-surfaced unisol.

Has it? Silly me.

Mind you the traffic was gridlock so couldn't see much of the road surface :ohno:

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/andymarsden1/P12-12-06_10-2.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/andymarsden1/P12-12-06_10-1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/andymarsden1/P12-12-06_10.jpg

Top class - another collection of 'Best Public Space' awards for Sheffield this year!

Alfie is right though - could do with a defined edge to the south from the new office blocks. All in good time though.

Wow that looks bloody fantastic ^^

Could do with some trees though.

Coooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool

wow! i totally love those fountains :banana: :cheers:

Nobody does public spaces better than Sheffield.

Wow. That really is class.

I think the trees and planting will be next Unisol. They'll soften it up a bit.

some of the trees look to have gone in already, on the far side of the cutting edge, but they'll make little difference at this time of year.

now here's something to think about.

when they eventually build something on the site between the square and the car park, how are the site vehicles and supplies going to get in and out? the little road into the station is already at bursting point (a 'hot topic' on the doom-and-gloomsville sheffield forum) so surely it'll be carnage with the addition of diggers and what not.

oh well, i look forward to seeing the square when i come home at the weekend anyway. i reckon it'll be done for christmas.

I think there's plans to sort out the congestion there with parking fines. I dunno if the taxi rank might be better once the square's completely finished.

I think this could possibly be complete for christmas too.

That looks really, really good. As other have said a defined edge and trees will make it even better.

When building on that plot they probably won't bother changing anything, just make the congestion worse in an effort to spite all those moaners on Sheffield forum (though they do often have a point I wish they could find at least one thing to be cheerful about, and they also seem to be some of the most unlucky people in Sheffield, always being robbed, mugged,beaten and then made to sit in traffic for 5 minutes on the way home)

^^Lol. That made me luff :lol:

That looks really, really good. As other have said a defined edge and trees will make it even better.

When building on that plot they probably won't bother changing anything, just make the congestion worse in an effort to spite all those moaners on Sheffield forum (though they do often have a point I wish they could find at least one thing to be cheerful about, and they also seem to be some of the most unlucky people in Sheffield, always being robbed, mugged,beaten and then made to sit in traffic for 5 minutes on the way home)


Lol! I would rather sit and watch Eastenders which makes me lose the will to live, then read the Sheffield Forum:nuts:

but if you go on there with the sole intention of laughing at other people's misery and misfortune it's actually a good read. there was someone on there the other day asking if anyone had seen the fiver they lost on the moor that afternoon. deary me....

anyway, back to the square. have the planters (shown on the artists impression) with the trees and plants in been built yet?

Just had an email from Toby Oliver (sheffield Council about the opening of sheaf Square.

Sheaf Square Opening Celebrations
A spectacular and explosive event to celebrate the public opening of Sheaf Square - the new public space outside Sheffield Station - will take place on Thursday 21 December 2006. The fun, family event will include street theatre, music, a dramatic firework display and the first chance to see the finished Sheaf Square with the lighting on and water features running.

From 5.30pm there will be an entertaining programme of street theatre inside the station, in the new Sheaf Square and on Howard Street. These include comedy Railway Porters; living gargoyles; seasonal stiltwalkers; colourful light jugglers; and festive street theatre. (There

The Jacks Of Frost are two frosted, glam-dancing elves who interact and melt with the crowd. Bread and Butter Theatre Company will present the amazing Carol-Singing Christmas Crackers. These colourful, festive characters tell the obligatory dodgy cracker-jokes and will entertain the whole family with their "Name the Tune and We'll Sing It" Christmas Special. Curios Cargo Railway Porters are two mad-cap men in search of the railway station. This duo from a silent movie can't resist exploring their cargo and weird and wonderful tales unfold. Expect the unexpected! Lightfantastic will provide a colourful and luminous display of juggling with light that is certain to brighten up even the dullest winter's evening.

The official opening ceremony will begin with a welcome from the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Cllr Jackie Drayton at 6.40pm. This will be followed by speeches from Sir Robert Kerslake, Chief Executive, Sheffield City Council, Garry Raven, Managing Director, Midland Mainline and Cllr Jan Wilson, Leader of Sheffield City Council. Then the lights and elegant new water features will be switched on.

The event will climax with a spectacular firework display above Sheaf Square. The plunger to launch the display will be pushed by Everett Ebanks, one of the longest serving member of staff at Sheffield Station.

^^

bizzare. anyway, i'm glad it will be finally be finished !!

Now, what's next?

http://static.flickr.com/141/322360959_58abaabd41_b.jpg

i was down by the square last night and i noticed they're putting up a big wooden fence between this and the sheaf house site. it looked about 8 feet tall so it should help contain the space a little bit before anything's built there.

Tooks some photos of this today;

http://static.flickr.com/143/324935020_30d1a7ea64.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/141/324934774_7e202d0de0.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/143/324934194_4e4448f803.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/141/324934436_37f8879ba8.jpg

Wow looks great!

It does does'nt it. Good photos btw.

I still think calling our trams "Supertram" is tacky in the extreme. Sheffield has a decent urban light rail system, of the type seen all across Europe. It isn't particularly "superior". (I actually think "metro" would be a lot cooler).

On the rail bridge, Sheffield Station has signs directing people to the "tram" which I thought was OK. Now, it seems, they have bought into the "super" hype :-)


http://static.flickr.com/141/324934774_7e202d0de0.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/141/324934774_7e202d0de0.jpg

I'm none too keen on those clocks. They'll look old and outdated really quickly. They look like sommat out of the 50's anyway.

But digital clocks are a bit 80's i prefer the traditional style .

[QUOTE=arepeejee;10920338]Tooks some photos of this today;

http://static.flickr.com/143/324935020_30d1a7ea64.jpg

Wow that is very shiney, saw it from the road side earlier only 5 bits have been uncovered and i think its more matt on the road side for obvious reasons with the sun and cars.

In this pick it really show how mucky the student union is in the back ground

Looks like it might almost have some kind of novelty 'hall of mirrors' effect as you walk along the length of it. I'm fat, now I'm thin, now I'm fat again. Classy stuff.

But digital clocks are a bit 80's i prefer the traditional style .

Nah. I wouldn't want a big digital display.

Just a small digital clock. It could go with some info (maybe bus times?)

Looks like it might almost have some kind of novelty 'hall of mirrors' effect as you walk along the length of it. I'm fat, now I'm thin, now I'm fat again. Classy stuff.

It does!

As for the clocks, when you approach it it's very cool.

However, there's another one on the Castle Square tramstop which has had the minute hand fall off already!

http://static.flickr.com/141/324934774_7e202d0de0.jpg

I'm none too keen on those clocks. They'll look old and outdated really quickly. They look like sommat out of the 50's anyway.

I think its the pillar thingy that its on that makes it look old - they should have made it either more abstract and modern like the barrier thing, or made it older and more classical like the station.

I think its the pillar thingy that its on that makes it look old - they should have made it either more abstract and modern like the barrier thing, or made it older and more classical like the station.

I think it looks fine, can't see what all the moaning is about?!:ohno:

Please tell me we aren't bickering over a silly clock.

I still think calling our trams "Supertram" is tacky in the extreme. Sheffield has a decent urban light rail system, of the type seen all across Europe. It isn't particularly "superior". (I actually think "metro" would be a lot cooler).

Sorry no, what Sheffield's got is, let's face it, a traditional three-line street tramway system, whereas it could have had a much more compehensive modern electric trolleybus system for the same or less money, thereby spreading the benefits of electric traction to far more of its population, plus the benefits of operational flexibility, in particular the ability to steer round obstructions unlike trams on fixed rails.

The blade is a triumph. The clock is naff (what happened to the Victorian clock on the side of the station?)

The cutting edge was lit up earlier this afternoon, hard to tell what it will look light at night,but the red end has bits of black in it and looked good.

opening on thursday night hey?? I might go down and have a look aroud 5:30ish if anyone else fancys coming along?

Andy

Unfortunately I'm working during the whole period that it'll be on, so i'm gonna miss it. :(

the water is now flowing down the side of the steel blade and they seem to be testing it and making some last minute adjustments. the ends have both got a cool light in - it looks really amazing!!

I nearly wet myself as I went past the square tonight, the red lights at the ends look amazing, and the water looks great too. Amazing

Here are some low quality pics that i took on my phone this evening just to show the lights and the cutting edge water feature working.

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/andymarsden1/P19-12-06_16-1.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/andymarsden1/P19-12-06_16-3.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/andymarsden1/P19-12-06_16-4.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/andymarsden1/P19-12-06_16-7.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/andymarsden1/P19-12-06_16-8.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/andymarsden1/P19-12-06_16-9.jpg

Loving the lights, but not sure about the water on the cutting edge sculpture. Kinda just looks like a messy puddle at the bottom. Getting the train to Sheffield on Saturday so will be able to see for myself!

yeah, thats what i thougt. I think there just having problems with the soakaway at the moment. I spoke to a relativly important looking chap, who tentatively said it would be ready by thursday.

Andy

i had no idea the cutting edge was going to have water running down it. its starting to remind me of the water tower at the millenium centre:

http://static.flickr.com/30/63677996_d80e714fce_m.jpg

Sheffield does love water and lights, hopefully it will all be done and open when I return in January.

The train station looks stunning lit up like that in the photo's. Oh the cutting edge is great too!

Is this going to be another ice rink like Barkers Pool? :P

Ice rink?

Well, over at Barkers Pool last time it froze all the water splashed down the hill causing a nice sheet of ice from the features to the nationwide.

I witnessed a rather comical affair of a couple of council workers spreading salt but falling over every 10 seconds from the ice.

Open air ice rinks are popular in many british cities during the winter months, well done Sheffield for keeping up...in a fashion.

Saw the frontage yesterday for myself and it looks great! They have started to plant stuff up at the other side of the road near to the Showroom.

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/6486/dsc00005rf5.jpg

The long reflective thing there (please excuse my sketchy knowledge about what it's called) looks very intriguing.

Sheffield station eh? Who'd have thunk it.

The long reflective thing there (please excuse my sketchy knowledge about what it's called) looks very intriguing.

Sheffield station eh? Who'd have thunk it.


It's "The Cutting Edge".

Anyone going there tonight?

yup, not sure what time tho. probably around 6

I'll try to get there as well.

I'm going there now! And then I'm off! I'm getting the trainback next weke and will probably arrive after dark so I'll get to see it then.

The new square actually got some decent coverage on Look North tonight, here's some screen caps from the traffic cam over looking Sheaf Square:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/30.jpg http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/31.jpg

i just got back from the opening ceremony. the sqaure looks amazing and everyone seemed to be enjoying it. it has an awesome feature where steam blasts out from the bottom of the fountain. hidden lights make the steam bright red and makes the whole thing look like some kind of savage furness. very cool.

the fireworks were impressive too, launched from the roof of station car park. forever the idiot, i forgot my camera but i'm sure someone else on here got some good pictures.

well done sheffield! it's another triumph.

Nice little report on Look North tonight about the last 5 years of developments in Sheffield. Watch here (about half way through)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/news/index.shtml

Just shown film on Calendar,Stunning absolutly stunning.

Nice report there on BBC, and lets hope something is done with Roxy soon, like he says. I can't wait to see what the area near the station looks like now.

Here's a few pics from tonight, click to enlarge:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/165/329509268_1ec5cd0ec2.jpg (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/165/329509268_1ec5cd0ec2_b.jpg)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/138/329509411_ea09445a29.jpg?v=0 (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/138/329509411_ea09445a29_b.jpg)


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/329509488_5ce6ba5aec.jpg?v=0 (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/329509488_5ce6ba5aec_b.jpg)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/125/329509356_10b137131c.jpg?v=0 (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/125/329509356_10b137131c_b.jpg)

Photographs taken by Liz Jones (http://flickr.com/photos/lizjones/)

Nice little report on Look North tonight about the last 5 years of developments in Sheffield. Watch here (about half way through)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/news/index.shtml

Just shown film on Calendar,Stunning absolutly stunning.

Such a condescending report though, made Sheffield feel more like Doncaster rather than 4th Largest city in England :P

forgot to mention this.

during his speech, Bob Kerslake said the deal for the ex-sheaf house site was signed today. hopefully we'll see details in the near future.

wow. Looks stunning. Hope we'll find out soon about roxy disco and sheaf house space.

However, I was annoyed by Look Leeds tone of the report. It was patronising. I had forgotten how bad it is as I haven't actually lived in Sheffield for almost six months now (though I'm up usually one weekend a month at least).

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/157/329911566_4c3ca28b04.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/76/329911565_1712d902f8.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/164/329911562_24c2545746.jpg?v=0

It's pretty good - especially when lit. I'm worried that the large amount of paving and water will make the site feel very cold when the summer sun isn't on it.

Incomparable to what was there before - within months I won't be able to picture the WHS warehouse thing.

Look North had 'Technical Difficulties' on the late addition last night and could'nt show that report. Now am i being cynical or did they really distroy the tape as it wasnt negative enough about Sheffield.

Had a wonder on to the Sheffield Borum today and see they are moaning at the cost of an opening ceromony for a Square and moaning that the Steel might have come from China or India...infact it was Bristol shock horror.

Makes me laugh that when you start a positive thread on there it is never a popular thread,but if you saytwo words 'Bus' and 'Driver' then all hell brakes loose. lol

Great pics Soupcon.

The steel was actually forged in Sheffield, but the sculpture was fabricated in Bristol.

I love the steam that comes out of the base of the cascade - I didn't see it lit up red though. :doh:

Has the whole steel/forging metaphor in open spaces been done to death now? I don't mind it, but enough is probably enough now.

Here's another forging metaphor from last night:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/137/329911563_87234afdf7.jpg?v=0

Whoops!

The BBC has lots of nice photos of the new square, like the one below the view will look much better when Urban Splash revamp Park Hill flats, can't wait!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/content/images/2006/12/21/station_flats_470x365.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/content/images/2006/12/21/blue_end_470x365.jpg

Even though the scuplture was fabricated in Bristol (simply because their contractor was better value for money) it was designed by Sheffield artists and forged from a special sort of Sheffield steel that will prevent the sculpture from becoming discoloured.

Look North always has to have snide little comments when they have a report that praises Sheffield.

The sooner we get a Look North edition for South Yorkshire the better. leeds will never admit it but their always looking over their shoulder to see what Sheffield is upto.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/89604998@N00/show/

Good pics here

wow it looks so beautiful!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/89604998@N00/show/

Good pics here

Love this pic, oww look near the blade you can see a ghost near a tripod!!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/146/329524449_a5f183650a.jpg?v=0

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/unners/station4.jpg

Love this pic, the Square does look quite cold but doesnt everything in the winter,wait until summer when the trees are green and some flowers are placed around the Sq will look fantasic and as you walk up howard street you see these at St Pauls Place...

Sheffield looks really beautiful at night I think.

Congratulations Sheffield on another seemingly well thought out, gooq quality public realm work. Unlike my home city, Manchester, corners do not seem to have been cut nor public opinion ignored. I hope you keep a close eye on maintenance of these spaces and especially the lighting effects.

In Manchester the new public spaces Picc. gardens, cathedral gardens and exchange Square are a MESS and have only been revamped over the past few years. The flashy lighting schemes have not worked or been switched on for some time, drainage is a nightmare and all three are loking worn out already.

All the best for the future Sheffield, stay vigilant.

Congratulations Sheffield on another seemingly well thought out, gooq quality public realm work. Unlike my home city, Manchester, corners do not seem to have been cut nor public opinion ignored. I hope you keep a close eye on maintenance of these spaces and especially the lighting effects.

In Manchester the new public spaces Picc. gardens, cathedral gardens and exchange Square are a MESS and have only been revamped over the past few years. The flashy lighting schemes have not worked or been switched on for some time, drainage is a nightmare and all three are loking worn out already.

All the best for the future Sheffield, stay vigilant.

Thanx :)

Thats a nice thing to say. I have noticed that Mancunians are very nice towards Sheffield and always offer support and wishes unlike some other places.

Congratulations Sheffield on another seemingly well thought out, gooq quality public realm work. Unlike my home city, Manchester, corners do not seem to have been cut nor public opinion ignored. I hope you keep a close eye on maintenance of these spaces and especially the lighting effects.

In Manchester the new public spaces Picc. gardens, cathedral gardens and exchange Square are a MESS and have only been revamped over the past few years. The flashy lighting schemes have not worked or been switched on for some time, drainage is a nightmare and all three are loking worn out already.

All the best for the future Sheffield, stay vigilant.


One good thing about Sheffield City Council is that they seem to take pride in the public spaces. The lights and fountains in the Peace Gardens have been maintained meticulously since opening in 1999.

They're also pretty fast to reply to feedback, queries and complaints regarding the city centres public spaces. The city centre ambassadors are proving a huge success to.

Yeah Manchester does seem to be quite supportive towards Sheffield, both cities have very stong industrial links and both cities have been hit hard in the past.

One good thing about Sheffield City Council is that they seem to take pride in the public spaces. The lights and fountains in the Peace Gardens have been maintained meticulously since opening in 1999.

They're also pretty fast to reply to feedback, queries and complaints regarding the city centres public spaces. The city centre ambassadors are proving a huge success to.

Yeah Manchester does seem to be quite supportive towards Sheffield, both cities have very stong industrial links and both cities have been hit hard in the past.


Also it doesn't see Sheffield as in the same league - it's more interested in Leeds or Brum...

Maybe I'm weird, but I like that situation. Underdogs and all that.

Is it just me, or does the square seem no-where near finished, even though it's open. The covering hasn't been taken off the outer side of the blade, half of the paving stones haven't had the gaps filled between them and the grass bank imbetween the ring road and the bus road.

Would it not have been better to delay the opening, and finish it off properly?

I've heard from a good source in Sheffield Hallam Uni that a 4* Raddisson Hotel is going to be built on the Nelson Mandela site.
Not sure if this is already common knowledge

I've heard from a good source in Sheffield Hallam Uni that a 4* Raddisson Hotel is going to be built on the Nelson Mandela site.
Not sure if this is already common knowledge

I don't think it's common knowledge but if true i think it would be a nice addition to view from Sheaf Square and obviously the fact Sheffield has another new 4* Hotel!

I hope it is because Sheffield still does'nt have a lot of the hotels other major UK Cities have e.g Radisson, Malmaison, Hyatt.

Now what would be nice, would be a big tall building to go with it, like Radisson have with Beetham Birmingham.

Not sure there'll be anything overly tall there, Hallam's Sheaf and Eric Mensforth buildings were nearly always flooding from underground due to a high water table, and the surveyors were there every two weeks or so making sure they weren't sinking! Might have just been bad foundations though, not sure what the implications are for something larger, of the Sheaf/Dyson houses site for that matter...

Superfly, If it is possible to build things in Amsterdam, there should be no problems here.
In Holland, most of the country is below sea level, existing on land reclaimed from the sea, basically mostly sand. When I was last there I was told that you don't see all that many really tall buildings because they have to match the weight of concrete above ground with that below. However there are blocks of apartments and hotels.

Also it isn't called Pond Street for nothing. It was ponds before the industrial resolution. Must be a high water table. I read in a local history book that the train station was built in the poorest and most seedy part of town, and there was much opposition to the Midland Railway before they started building the Station from 1870.

i visited the new square for the first time today and its fantastic! congrats sheffiled on the best station ive seen since grand central terminal.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j217/hellagood88/DSCF0023.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j217/hellagood88/DSCF0033-2.jpg

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http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j217/hellagood88/DSCF0066-1.jpg

I'm arriving in Sheffield this evening so will FINALLY get to see the finished product, can't wait! I'm also staying in that new Travelodge at Castlegate so i'll get to see that end of town for the first time in ages too.

Oooh, good stuff.

Let us know how Castlegate and The Square are look Dean!

I stuck a couple of photos on Flickr of the Square at night. I plan to go back and take a few more when it's light and some different angles, but I'd just seen the Blades lose 3-0 and needed to get home on my train leaving in 5 mins!

anyway, here's the two best (of three). I'm still getting used to my camera!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/132/350369406_c8884607a9_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/350369096_1143785a14_b.jpg

Nearly two months on from the official opening and the area is still not complete! Nice to see people sitting around the fountain enjoying the sun when i went past earlier.

Oooh, good stuff.

Let us know how Castlegate and The Square are look Dean!

Synopsis:

- Hotel is overpriced for what it is - very very basic and poorly soundproofed.
- The designs of the buildings are neither inspired, nor entirely bland. This smiley probably best describes my feeling towards The Square :dunno:

Luckily the Sheff Station square looks ace and ill post some photos of it shortly...

The overall thing is looking almost done, the area near Hallam has grass, trees, and most of the paving is done, I think its just a general tidy up and finish the last little bits.

the square is complete, the central reservation is not.

Was in the station today, and the Shop area on platform 1, formerly known as Shop is having work done(all boarding around it)

yea,I noticed that the other day and eant to say!

A new shop maybe?

Possibly yeah. It looked to me though as if you had knocked all the wall out where the shop was. Maybe they are altering it to make it bigger.

A subway would be good in the station i think, cant see us getting one though:(

Why a subway? - your objection to bridges is?

subway fast food place, not underground walkway.

God no! There's too many subways in town already, and the M&S food/WH Smiths Burger King and place next to it where you can buy food. I think the last thing we need is a chain fast-food restaurant!

we havent got that many subways do we? i thought we'd only got 2

3, and one on eccleshall road

I went to the station today aswell and noticed the shop was boarded up, im supprised they left it so long tho? Anyway the whole area around the station looks great now (minus that big empty bit of land where dyson was) there arnt many citys where you get off the train and have a massive open public space, it will probs supprise people if they havnt been to Sheffield before, or not in a long time.

Thing is, the outside looks so good now it makes the inside (particually looking forwards at the roof from the steps!) look crap! Sort it aaarrrtt Midland Mainline!

Im guessing once that shop has been sorted they will finally paint that old section (outside burger king) and fix up new signs etc, it still has a really old sign what you notice in the middle.

I was going to say they still need to paint around Burger King. Rest is spot on though!

Got to be best entrance to a city from a train station in Britain surely!

absolutley.

Also the fountain outside has been on full blast the last couple of days. Looks a lot better then the previous drizzle.

Anyone know when they will take of the protection stuff on the road side. Its letting the thing down. Also a few lights are out and lack of water from certain pieces. Hope they fix it so it is all working.

subway fast food place, not underground walkway.

Oh dear, what a howler! - which could however have beeen avoided if instead of subway you'd said Subway, 'Subway' or Subway sandwich/ fast food outlet.

Also the fountain outside has been on full blast the last couple of days. Looks a lot better then the previous drizzle.

Anyone know when they will take of the protection stuff on the road side. Its letting the thing down. Also a few lights are out and lack of water from certain pieces. Hope they fix it so it is all working.

They are still doing that footpath arnt they? Im guessing they will remove it all once the roadworks on that side are done.

Ah right that will be why then:p

Yea, I saw them taking it off on the Station side. They were using really high pressure water - scary stuff!

Is the old Sheaf/Dyson site gonna lay empty until they can be arsed with build e-campus?

There's a subway in Broomhill too.

I was going to say they still need to paint around Burger King. Rest is spot on though!!
Regrettably this thread seems to have degenerated into a blow-by-little-blow watching paint dry, and thereby a strong contender for the most boring thread on the site.

Got to be best entrance to a city from a train station in Britain surely!
Sorry, although I'm a strong supporter of Sheffield I have to say that's just a bit of self-delusion resulting from failure of objective comparison. It may have become (or be becoming) less bleak and offputting than it was, but there's still many as good or better elsewhere.

subay division street, subway west street, subway orchard square, subway eccleshall road, and the aleged subway broomhill (i havent been up there in a while!) makes FIVE subways...

I doubt we really need any more than that

Sorry, although I'm a strong supporter of Sheffield I have to say that's just a bit of self-delusion resulting from failure of objective comparison. It may have become (or be becoming) less bleak and offputting than it was, but there's still many as good or better elsewhere.

Where? I've walked out of a lot of stations in this country and I've yet to find one that hasn't left me underwhelmed!

Me too.

Been to all the major ones.

I agree. You still don't have any large or particularly impressive buildings facing you as you come out and in that regard it doesn't compare to most cities but I belieeve the area outside the station IS the best in the UK. I may have not been to every station but I can't think of one that comes even close.

Well,

I can't think of anywhere that has such a well organised and inviting public space outside their main station. London stations, in particular, are a mess of roads, transport terminals, shops and traffic. I'm glad i'm English when I arrive in London, it must be awful if you are not familiar with the place.

In fact, i'm struggling to think of rail stations anywhere in the world that i've been to that aren't slightly dissapointing.

What I do agree with though is that the vista that greets you once you look beyond the square is provincial at best. This will change, but i'm a great believer in public spaces being frames correctly, at at the moment Sheaf Square has no frame because of the imminent redevelopment of the Nelson Madela Building, Sheaf/Dyson House etc. The view is straight over to the crappy lowrise Science Park (can you that being built there now?!) and the rising ground up to the city centre just gives a flattening effect.

I really wish someone would knock that science park down, and build something good, and at least 5 stories.

Took this pic on me phone last week

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/dinp83/DSC00017.jpg

Right, i'm sure this has been asked a million times before and everyones thoroughly bored of it by now, but how do you post pictures on here? Because i live in Norfolk Park and walk halfway across the city and back every day to work and i believe i may have some photos of interest to you fine people.

Right, i'm sure this has been asked a million times before and everyones thoroughly bored of it by now, but how do you post pictures on here? Because i live in Norfolk Park and walk halfway across the city and back every day to work and i believe i may have some photos of interest to you fine people.

Basically you can upload them to a free site called www.photobucket.com (you need to register first, but it's all free) and once you have uploaded it you will see underneath the picture some code, copy the one whicy starts with (and finishes with)

and just post it in to the message here.

Aha, thankyou. Expect some photos in the near(ish) future then, if i can get it all working that is...

Great stuff, Norfolk Park is a lovely part of the city. I love to go up there and Meersbrook park for panos

Nice to see the main fountain lit up blue last night, as its been white since it was first switched on.

After my visit to the station tonight I'm gobsmacked about the way the contractors on site have spoken to me.

I was waiting for my partner to come off the train from Norwich which was due to arrive some time after 9.30 but actually arrived after 10.00pm. I was thinking the bit above Burger King was looking good - they are now painting it so it is now a lovely pastel colour - they are making it look really nice -but then one of the contractors started manhandling me when I took photos with my camera phone and started threatening me with the police for taking photos and said they were going to chuck me out of the station.

I explained I was happy to get rid of the camera and it was just to promote Sheffield but he was very aggresive and even the station staff didn't seem to care when I told him about the behaviour of the contractors.

To be honest I'm pretty annoyed about the way the station staff have talked to me tonight and I really resent their behaviour - maybe they have a policy of no photography (you'd never guess i from this site) but they should not make their strongest supporters (ie me and other visitors to this site) feel like criminals for taking photos of the new station.

As soon as you inform a station worker you're taking photographs, it's perfectly legal to do so. They can move you to another part of the station if they feel you're disrupting people moving about, but cannot eject you or stop you from taking photographs.

(http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/passenger_services/guidelines_for_rail_enthusiasts.htm - Scroll down to the section on photography)

Write a complaint to Midland Mainline, quoting the above link if needs be!

Was a bit off hand with you then!!

Fair enough if you were taking photo's somewhere away from the main area, but taking it of some painting, i cant see how it would be a problem!

if you catch builders breaking health and safety laws on camera and someone important somehow manages to see it there can, i think, be some pretty hefty fines to pay. i once had trouble filming a building site and was told not to do it for this reason.

still, there's no need to be rude about it.

But if they were breaking rules, then you should be able to film it, as they are in the wrong. Nice to see there are updating this area of the station now too.

Noticed the painting today, looks a lot fresher:)

Although outside the train station the water wasn't working on the cutting edge, neither was the fountain on.

Also i wish they would take the crap of the road side of cutting edge its letting it down.

I dont think the water on the cutting edge has been on for a while, every time I go past they are doing something to it or near it, ill be glad once its all done it seems to be taking ages, and im sure they rushed it near the end just to open before Xmas.

After my visit to the station tonight I'm gobsmacked about the way the contractors on site have spoken to me.

I was waiting for my partner to come off the train from Norwich which was due to arrive some time after 9.30 but actually arrived after 10.00pm. I was thinking the bit above Burger King was looking good - they are now painting it so it is now a lovely pastel colour - they are making it look really nice -but then one of the contractors started manhandling me when I took photos with my camera phone and started threatening me with the police for taking photos and said they were going to chuck me out of the station.

I explained I was happy to get rid of the camera and it was just to promote Sheffield but he was very aggresive and even the station staff didn't seem to care when I told him about the behaviour of the contractors.

To be honest I'm pretty annoyed about the way the station staff have talked to me tonight and I really resent their behaviour - maybe they have a policy of no photography (you'd never guess i from this site) but they should not make their strongest supporters (ie me and other visitors to this site) feel like criminals for taking photos of the new station.


hey the same thing happened to me when i tried to take pictures of britomart station in auckland.......now that is an amazing station, you should do a google image search of it, its like something out of a science-fiction film

anyway back to my point. The reason i was told to move on was because people in the past had taken pictures of the station then sold them to websites and companies promoting auckland. Which is illegal unless you have a licence and permission to do so. Infact most building are the same, theres lots of laws to do with what you can photograph.

Ive been doing photography for bout 3 years now and was surprised by how much law surrounds it. You can get arrested for photographing docklands and dont even attempt to photograph the eiffel tower at night without a licence.

The developers will be well aware of people taking photos and they will watch out for people using tripods and spending a lot of time takin pics of it...its bullshit really init ?

If i was back in sheffield still i know id be wanting to photograph it

-but then one of the contractors started manhandling me when I took photos with my camera phone and started threatening me with the police for taking photos and said they were going to chuck me out of the station.


How about if one of the so called "contractors" were not supposed to be working, and are being paid cash in hand. You could be from the DHSS looking for benefit cheats, and collecting photographic evidence.

Ive been doing photography for bout 3 years now and was surprised by how much law surrounds it. You can get arrested for photographing docklands

Not *technically* true. You can be ejected from the Docklands area, and asked for your photographs to be deleted. They can't arrest you, even if the police were called! All the police would do is take a record of you, what you were doing, then run a check against you incase you're some sort of known terror suspect.
This is because the docklands is private land, not public. Arguably, you could get away with it if you were stood on the steps of the Underground! :P

are you talking about the london docklands? (Canary Wharf).

because ive never been asked not to photograph there. in fact even if youre talking about any other docklands, the same applies. ive never been confronted unless im inside and office building or something.

Used the station this Friday and Sunday. There's some kind of scaffold at the bottom of the stars in the concourse, though I'm not really sure what for, and the shop looks like it's being well fiited up!

Not *technically* true. You can be ejected from the Docklands area, and asked for your photographs to be deleted. They can't arrest you, even if the police were called! All the police would do is take a record of you, what you were doing, then run a check against you incase you're some sort of known terror suspect.
This is because the docklands is private land, not public. Arguably, you could get away with it if you were stood on the steps of the Underground! :P

depends what you are taking pics of. Last week the queen mary 2 pulled into the harbour and there were litterally 1000's of people taking pics. Now all those couldnt be arrested cos people in power in auckland arent going to stop people taking pics of a ship cos they know the ship being there is bringing in sh1tloads of money to the city. Now technically you could photograpgh the boat and sell the pics which would be illegal if you hadnt got permission from the company who owns the boat. But sometimes its over looked.

And it also depends what kinda docklands. The ones in auckland are the biggest and most important ones in nz, without them nz wouldnt have much of an economy. There's bound to be things coming into the country that the government doesnt want people to know about.

By the way dont photograpgh planes either, tempting as it may be, remember a few years ago those plane spotters were arrested ? You can photograph them if its an air show though.

I was at the station at 9pm last night and there was loads of workers cordoning off most of the area at the bottom of the main stairs near burger king. Of the two sets of stairs leading down, only half of one was in use. They're using the scaffold to paint/polyfill etc the ceiling in that area, about time too! It's been letting down the station for ages, i thought they'd forgotten about it...

And it also depends what kinda docklands. The ones in auckland are the biggest and most important ones in nz, without them nz wouldnt have much of an economy. There's bound to be things coming into the country that the government doesnt want people to know about.


LOL, I was talking about "The Docklands", as in London. Just noticed you're on NZ! :lol:

In that case it depends what you mean by London Docklands - if you mean the territory which came within the area of the former London Docklands Development Corporation, much of that is public highway, public open space or other publicly accessible areas, where nobody can lawfully stop you photographing.

If you mean the areas in and around former enclosed docks which are still private, then you're trespassing in even entering them let alone photographing - not that that would stop many of us if we had good reason to want to do so, and as ,most such areas are generally pretty deserted we'd probably get away with it.

BTW the last posting from Gunner3 regrettably confirms that this thread has not only become as interesting as watching paint dry, but is literally so.

Ha :lol: , sorry for starting this diversion off topic by my story of what happened on Saturday night. I won't post my photos that I managed to get of the paint actually drying then.

Thanks.

LOL, I was talking about "The Docklands", as in London. Just noticed you're on NZ! :lol:

lol easily mistaken i just meant docklands in general i forgot it also refers to "the docklands"

Witnessed the Sheaf Sq fountains in full working order this evening. The fountain lights was randomly changing, transforming their appearance by the second.

The red lights which represent molten steel, along with the stunning steam effect was in full force too, very impressive even in broad daylight. Its amazing how many commuters just stop and stare in amazement when coming out of the station!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/IMG_5167.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/IMG_5187.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/IMG_5170.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/IMG_5171.jpg

Great to see the station interior where the cash machines and the stairs are finally getting decorated, way over due!!!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/IMG_5197.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/IMG_5200.jpg

Good pics there, great to the the wrapping coming off the other side of the cutting edge earlier today.(well a few sections)

I love the rippling noise effect the cascades make,very unusual.

I was talking to a old mate of mine that still live in sheffield i commented how i liked this fountain, even though ive never seen in the flesh, and you know what the negative prick said

"it looks like a VERY long urinal"

Lol i can see his point.....but still

I was talking to a old mate of mine that still live in sheffield i commented how i liked this fountain, even though ive never seen in the flesh, and you know what the negative prick said

"it looks like a VERY long urinal"

Lol i can see his point.....but still

Surprisingly, most people (even on the SheffieldBorum) seem to like it, which is odd for something built by the council in Sheffield.

Having said that, my mums first comment was 'couldn't they have used it for something more useful like a car park':bash:

Surprisingly, most people (even on the SheffieldBorum) seem to like it, which is odd for something built by the council in Sheffield.

Having said that, my mums first comment was 'couldn't they have used it for something more useful like a car park':bash:

Is the one just to the left not big enough for her?!

It would have been a good idea (though probably terribly expensive or impossible) to build an underground car park come taxi rank come drop-off for the station, leaving the land the current car park is on for something more iconic and welcoming than a car park.

Yeah i doubt that would have worked. Someone on here mentioned that that part of town is very close to the water table. Thers a river (Sheaf?) down there as well

Under the hillside then, with moving walkways to the station! Now that would be impressive!

Ooo yeah, that WOULD be impressive!

Cool. While we're at it, can we have a monorail please? It is the transport of the future...

Yeah, why not, i'll get my cheque book...

Is the one just to the left not big enough for her?!

Lol. That's what I said.

Monorail to/from where?

Don't know - it's just a *crazy* idea like the underground car park with travelators. Don't monorails just tend to go round in a circle and not actually go anywhere useful.

Actually I've changed my mind - I want a log flume that goes from the station up to Skye Edge then rushes down the hill, right off the top of Park Hill and splashes down into the canal basin. Yeah baby!

Nurse!

Well, sir, there's nothing on earth
Like a genuine,
Bona fide,
Electrified,
Six-car
Monorail!
What'd I say?

Monorail!

Oo oo - hovercars that's what we need.

Or maybe we could have a mini-maglev suburban railway type thing.

Or cable-cars going up to the landfill site.

Sorry, that last one was a bit unrealisitic. :nuts:

^^
lol, it is now that the councils planning department have finished their wrecking spree.

anyway, what was wrong with my furnicular railway idea? and don't say "everything".

with a bit of imagination and a large wad of cash that can be solved. I've always thought that a set of escaltors in a glass enclosure would be good, alongside you could run a funicular rail-line for wheelchairs, pushchairs etc - see the wiki link and the photo of an example in zagreb

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funicular

Is the one just to the left not big enough for her?!


You don't know the half of it.
The multi storey station carpark was opened and featured 40 minutes free parking in some kind of deal so that people were not inconvenienced by the loss of the previous large area of surface short stay parking by the station for pick ups and drop offs.

Anyhow the great sheffield commuter was led to believe that this was a permanent service, but the car park was sold to a car park company, which without warning or any signage changed the rules so that there is now no free parking in there.

The result is that the approach to the station is now chaos with cars with their engines running and waiting for their friends and relatives who are train passengers. This is a double disaster for sheffield station because previously as a driver someone would stroll around the new station while waiting and make use of the retail.

I love the new look station and square, but they really have made a cockup of vehical access around there.

^^
lol, it is now that the councils planning department have finished their wrecking spree.

anyway, what was wrong with my furnicular railway idea? and don't say "everything".


In my eyes it's as good as built. Bring it on!

I'd like it to go under Arundel Gate and pop up in the gap between the Lyceum and Crucible.

We could have a whip round and see if we've got enough to buy this one...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/6366949.stm

Ye put that at the station up to park hill.. Not sure that anyone would use it tho?

Looks like the plastic on the road side will be off this month. Telegraph (March 2nd) said that Transport Minister Gillian Merrion will be here to open the gateway on March 13th.

You don't know the half of it.
The multi storey station carpark was opened and featured 40 minutes free parking in some kind of deal so that people were not inconvenienced by the loss of the previous large area of surface short stay parking by the station for pick ups and drop offs.

Anyhow the great sheffield commuter was led to believe that this was a permanent service, but the car park was sold to a car park company, which without warning or any signage changed the rules so that there is now no free parking in there.

The result is that the approach to the station is now chaos with cars with their engines running and waiting for their friends and relatives who are train passengers. This is a double disaster for sheffield station because previously as a driver someone would stroll around the new station while waiting and make use of the retail.

There's nothing that makes my blood more than the train station vehicle entrance. Not only it poorly planned - I mean how annoying is that that only 1 car at a time can go through the loop - but drivers attempting to get one of the free spaces at the front of the station just stop and wait even if there are no spaces so you can't even get as far as the pick up point because they've blocked the way.

Agree that this charging of £1 for the car park is a disaster! If I'm picking someone up as a favour I don't also feel like paying £1 for a few minutes so am forced to drive round the city clogging up the roads if they're not there yet. Shame there aren't some more pick up spots on the roads nearby so you could bypass going near the station alltogether.

^^The council should agree some deal with the new car-park owners to offer the 40mins of parking again, or even just cheap parking for 30mins.

When you are just picking someone up though, and it will take all of 1 minute, you don't want the hassle of parking in the car park.

What it needs is some pull-in bays where you can stop for 5 minutes.

The free car parking was very handy when dropping people off though as you can wander onto the platform with them etc.

I noticed yesterday that the old "shop" is going to be a coffee bar (can't remember the name, The general ones they always have at stations tho).

Yes indeed, it's going to be a Cafe Ritazza, the same as the one thats already on the concourse in the groovy oval shed thing. Do we need two of 'em?!

The decor around burger king is looking good now, about bloody time!

Wow!!

I remember visiting some fellow at Hallam a few years ago and the area was totally rundown.

This is truly stunning. The modernisation of the station looks terrific and this public piazza is quite a thing!

I was not that impressed the last time I came by the winter garden.



Witnessed the Sheaf Sq fountains in full working order this evening. The fountain lights was randomly changing, transforming their appearance by the second.

The red lights which represent molten steel, along with the stunning steam effect was in full force too, very impressive even in broad daylight. Its amazing how many commuters just stop and stare in amazement when coming out of the station!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/IMG_5167.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/IMG_5187.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/IMG_5170.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/IMG_5171.jpg

Great to see the station interior where the cash machines and the stairs are finally getting decorated, way over due!!!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/IMG_5197.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/IMG_5200.jpg

Maybe the other cafe in the 'round shed' is moving out and just having the smaller unit?

I've been meaning to post this little video of the fountain lights in action. The quality isn't too great, thanks to photobucket converting it, but it gives a good impression how cool the fountains look.

http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/th_MVI_5206.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/?action=view&current=MVI_5206.flv)
Click on pic to play

I really must get down there in person to have a look. I am just never in that area on foot.

I think the whole station gateway is complety finished now, this week all the remaining fencing was removed from accross the road near Hallam, and they have been washing all the pavements down, also the otherside of the wall has had all its cover removed. It looks so much different now and so much more open, a much nicer sight from the station, and the wall just guides you towards the city.

I thought that water would be flowing down both sides of the big metal thing, but last time I drove past it wasn't flowing on the road side.

Is it supposed to?

No, It's only supposed to flow on the station side and for just a few feet on the other side at the thin end

I was at the station last night and i noticed that there's an old victorian waiting room/cafe on platform 1B thats all closed up and is being used to store all the old train info screens from the station. Peering through the windows, the interior looks beautiful. Tiled walls with a soaring ceiling and ornate wooden bar furniture on the wall behind where the counter would have been. I wonder if they're going to restore this and put it to use? Mind you, it would perhaps be better to leave it rotting because at least it wont get vandalised by scrote pikey bastards if it's closed up. Plus i should imagine it would be difficult to persuade a select service partner outlet to locate there without ripping everything out and filling it with stainless steel and plastic signage...

"Plus i should imagine it would be difficult to persuade a select service partner outlet to locate there without ripping everything out and filling it with stainless steel and plastic signage..."

They are shite aren't they? One of the worst things about travelling by train is being faced with their piss poor, took as five minutes shot at "distinctive brands" on every station.

The old 1st Class waiting room. Shame its wasted. Nice period piece.

Sheffield must be the largest city without 1st class waiting facilities. Even Little Derby has a first class lounge. We are not worthy.

Rest of the station is great. Love the new concorse and public square.

Just need Networkrail to get their finger out and remove the bottlenecks. Restore the Manchester lines south of the station (BR removed in the 1970's). Its rare to appoach Sheffield from the south without being stopped at signals.

As we are discussing the station gateway, I thought this thread could be dragged back from beyond the grave.

In this picture, the Porter Brook is indeed opened up. I do hope we get some great buildings on this site, and they hurry up and publish some plans.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/sense_of_place/sheaf_square/images/master_map.jpg

Yeah i want to see some designs for here too. The whole area will be even better once it feels a bit more enclosed.

The Porter Brook isn't opened up any more than it is now. You could always see it between Dyson House and the station car park if you peered over the wall. You probably can still see it

Sorry, my mistake. It is open at the moment, though not exactly visible.

Surely they could make more of this "prime asset" though - even divert it to flow closer to Sheaf Square, and have cafes / restaurants overlooking it

nice idea but diverting it across the square would cut through the development plot and presumably affect the viability of developing the site. I agree it needs opening up though - I guess that can be done quite simply by creating a "river"side walk alongside.

its worth remembering though that apart from "the great flood of '07" it normally just looks like a dribble, an open drain, rather than a little river. :lol:

Yes, it is usually a muddy ditch with some drain water flowing down it.

Yeah, I admit it's not exactly the Rhine. But a new, narrow open culvert would make it look much better.

What about the great flood of 1992:

I was laughing about these about a week before the 2007 floods, aboutthe same time as I told my mate my car would never get flooded as it is about 3-4 metres above water level - o what a fool.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1082/775709613_0608d08666_m.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1289/775709609_376d680e2d_m.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1396/775709603_2f03ebb19b_m.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1005/775709595_d0754b19d5_m.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1218/775709575_37c794526b_m.jpg

I don't remember that - thanks for the reminder.

I reckon that excess floodwater must be from the Sheaf.

Someone was talking about the Sheaf sqs water feature being representative of the Steel industry, namely the pouring of molten...steel I guess. Can't remember if it was this thread exactly, but anyway.

I've recently got the internet at home and I've been looking at lots of US cities, and one which always intrigues me is Pittsburgh, PA which I'm sure we all know is basically the centre of the US steel industry. I was looking at this (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=494564) thread and found this pic which I thought had similarities in terms of representing the mamking of steel:

http://www.pbase.com/deadwing/image/81171860.jpg

I urge to go have a look at the thread cos its actually a really nice city.

That looks a bit familiar lol. I'll check the thread out too :).

Actually, just had a look, and it does look really stunning. Loving all the hills aswell!

Looks really nice. Sheffield and Pittsburgh are really close cities and have some sort of sister city agreement.

Perhaps the Sheffield Steelers could take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in a friendship match.

Dunno what sport they'd play though!

Ive always liked pittsburg, ive never been but its got a nice look to it :)

Nice looking suburbs too if you search the NorthWest forum.

Perhaps the Sheffield Steelers could take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in a friendship match.

Dunno what sport they'd play though!

Can't see that happening. Ignoring the fact that Sheffield play a sport that involves beating the crap out of each other on ice and Pittsburgh beat the crap out of each other on grass/astro turf the two teams don't get on. After the Sheffield Steelers managed to bullied every other team in sheffield out of using the Steelers name, pittsburgh came in and claimed they had international copyright and threatened to sue Sheffield. I guess the threat came nought though.

Yeah, but 'World Series' in the USA means only teams in the USA, so I doubt this 'international' claim will cut any mustard to be honest!

LOL, They probably looked into who had the greater claim for the name, realised that we invented steel, and backed down! We need a dancing ingot! Might give that a whirl...

Little pic for you all:

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v107/114/0/279202304/n279202304_885071_6036.jpg

You can see the Furnival St crane from here (top right).

Sheffield station is great. The 'square' at the front with the water feature is top notch too. Its the kind of thing they have in France.

Sheffield really does have some of the best public places in the country.

Also the taxi / car pick-up at the front of the station works really well too. In Birmingham etc they need staff to police theirs but the Sheffield one the design means this isn't needed.

Sheffield really does have some of the best public places in the country.

This is what I keep telling the people at work in the hope that they may visit one day to see what the fuss is about...

All very well as far as it goes, but still that intervening monster of a main road to cross to get to the station's western hinterland, and still no travelator or other aid for the less fit and mobile (or the plain weary) to avoid the steep climb up the cliff edge to get to the city centre on its plateau above.

All very well as far as it goes, but still that intervening monster of a main road to cross to get to the station's western hinterland, and still no travelator or other aid for the less fit and mobile (or the plain weary) to avoid the steep climb up the cliff edge to get to the city centre on its plateau above.

Thats the trouble with people today just plain lazy. If they put a travelator up that hill, next they will want one fitting on every hill in Sheffield:ohno:

Cliff edge?! Lol dinp, its not exactly the north face of the Matterhorn. It is an issue for the those with impaired mobility. Perhaps a ski lift?!

Whats really needed is a free bus connection that simply does the rounds from the station through the CIQ, up arundel gate to the travel centre and around to the west street area and moor foot back to the station, or whatever.

Thats the trouble with people today just plain lazy. If they put a travelator up that hill, next they will want one fitting on every hill in Sheffield:ohno:

No of course not every hill in Sheffield, but certainly that particular obvious gateway corridor. Such a thing would provide a prominent and visually distinctive welcome to the heart of the city for travellers arriving by way of the city's somewhat off-centre and valley-bottom station. It's bad enough having to cross that roaring dual carriageway road in two stages, let alone trudge up the hill.

Cable cars! From the station to the town centre!! Now that's what we need. Hang on, I think we've had this discussion before :)

But it's gonna be such a long haul from the platform to the cable car. Can't they hire someone to carry you?

A travelator to the cable car!! :)

Cliff edge?! Lol dinp, its not exactly the north face of the Matterhorn. It is an issue for the those with impaired mobility. Perhaps a ski lift?!

Whats really needed is a free bus connection that simply does the rounds from the station through the CIQ, up Arundel gate to the travel center and around to the west street area and moor foot back to the station, or whatever.

I Agree, i think we used to have a free loop bus round the outside of the Moor and City centre, way back but government policy and bus deregulation stopped it. the road should cut round the back of the station as sombody mentioned else ware.

What about a monorail / magleve loop ?
But cable care would be a good feature !!

I thought we were getting that little bus back?

I thought we were getting that little bus back?

We are.

Little pic for you all:

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v107/114/0/279202304/n279202304_885071_6036.jpg


Looks good
I hope they dont spoil it by adding SS anti skate boarder lugs to the walls like so many places !
Not quit up to peace gardens standard but budget will be less.

Plenty of space for all the tourist that will be flocking to "New Sheffield"

I Agree, i think we used to have a free loop bus round the outside of the Moor and City centre, way back but government policy and bus deregulation stopped it. the road should cut round the back of the station as sombody mentioned else ware.

What about a monorail / magleve loop ?
But cable care would be a good feature !!

But Manchester has a free city centre bus which connects all its central rail stations. Maybe the railway companies subsidise it. Anyone know?

Yes- the inner ring road should go between the rail station & Park Hill flats to connect with Sheffield Parkway. This was the 1960's vision. Another wasted opportunity in my opinion.

Would have involved a huge tunnel though - or quite a high climb and rise.

Would have involved a huge tunnel though - or quite a high climb and rise.

Just build a fly over from behind station over tracks and down toward st Marys were their playing at widening it. they built one for the tram at side of railway and colledge.
you get a grade seperated junction so no park sq jam.
That bits a mess any way Queens road should cut up to join by shoreham street anyway (units over back are waste of space) IMO

Yes- the inner ring road should go between the rail station & Park Hill flats to connect with Sheffield Parkway. This was the 1960's vision. Another wasted opportunity in my opinion.

Hasn't Sheffield had several times more than enough '1960s vision'? - not least Park Hill Flats themselves?

Sheffield built lots of rubbish in the 60's, including a huge dual carriageway(Arundel Gate) which sliced the city in half & meant you couldn't get from the railway station up to the shops without crossing it.
But then again, our only(so far) really tall building was built in 1964 & is now a listed building. That's the Arts Tower of course. So they got some things right. :)
If you look at a map of Sheffield- or an overhead aeriel photo- it seems obvious to me that the ring road should have gone where Supertram now goes i.e. back of the railway station- not in front.:ohno:

i agree with what you say about the ring road being better behind the station.... but i dont think there is any problem nowadays with arundel gate. i never thought of it as a dual carridgeway (even though it is) i just thought of it as a wide street and i like it. i think its a good street. theres no real problem crossing it and it provides a major artery through the city centre, as well as pedestrian access to the uni, the millenium galleries, novotel, the theatres, and soon to be tower and car park.

i couldnt imagine the city without it. i find it very handy

i agree with what you say about the ring road being better behind the station.... but i dont think there is any problem nowadays with arundel gate. i never thought of it as a dual carridgeway (even though it is) i just thought of it as a wide street and i like it. i think its a good street. theres no real problem crossing it and it provides a major artery through the city centre, as well as pedestrian access to the uni, the millenium galleries, novotel, the theatres, and soon to be tower and car park.

i couldnt imagine the city without it. i find it very handy
Arundel gates totaly different now it used to be horrble for pedestrians there used to be about 6 subways to cross it.
Do you remember the underpass at furniaval gate and the Hole in the road with all the undesirables hanging about.
It worked for road traffic OK

If they had built a tunnel like the Queensway in Birmingham but with more pedestrian crossings at street level over the cuttings

There were a number of feasibility studies done on the ring road close to the station. I think there were about 4 main options-

1) the one they have built- at grade with screening
2) cut and cover tunnel- infront of the station- didmissed due to clashes with river sheaf and cost.
3) dual c/way behind the station- dismissed due to space to fit in=high cost
4) err can't remember!!

I beleive all these were assessed, as all highways/transportation schemes are, with regard to environmental impact, integration with other transport functions (pedestrians, trams, trains etc), ecomomic benefit (journey times, fuel costs etc), and safety. The built scheme came out on top therefore it was built! Why would you build anything different? If the cost benefit ratio was highest?

Arundel gates totaly different now it used to be horrble for pedestrians there used to be about 6 subways to cross it.
Do you remember the underpass at furniaval gate and the Hole in the road with all the undesirables hanging about.
It worked for road traffic OK

If they had built a tunnel like the Queensway in Birmingham but with more pedestrian crossings at street level over the cuttings


yes i do remember the hole in the road and the tunnels, but i meant that its so much better now.

yes i do remember the hole in the road and the tunnels, but i meant that its so much better now.
alot more pedestrian freiendly
But as one of the photos lookig down the road shows dose look like a drunk set it out. :lol:

haha yes it does.
id call it an added quirk to the city lol

I hope phase 3 of the Digital Campus is something of a decent height with lots of glass to refect all the water in Sheaf Square and the station facade.

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/thumbs/1075NewDublinDigitalHubDesigns_pic1.jpg (http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1075NewDublinDigitalHubDesigns_pic1.jpg)

Something like the new Digital Hub (above) proposed
for Dublin would be great on the site of the former Dyson/Sheaf House

http://www.sheffielddigitalcampus.com/image/threephases_small.gif (http://www.sheffielddigitalcampus.com/image/threephases.gif)

Wow. That's a REALLY stunning building. Can we have one please? :D

ive got a feeling that because the site is now part of the digital campus it wont exceed 5 floors. i could be wrong though

^^ that's got to be right.

remember, all of this is a speculative office development. there was lots of soul searching at the council, Sheffield One, Yorkshire Forward about whether there'd be the take up/ demand for this project before it started.

over the three sites there's gonna be a lot of floorspace. I'd be really surprised if the demand for space was so high that a highrise building next to the station was needed - I don't think they'd get high enough margins on the investment.

unless of course we could persuade microsoft to move in :banana:

unless of course we could persuade microsoft to move in :banana:

Well, we've got Boeing, so why not get a UK base for microsoft? ;)

Well, we've got Boeing

We do? And Microsoft are already in the UK down in Reading.