Birmingham Ormiston Academy | Jennens Road | 6 Fl | Comp.

[Biosonic]

Application Number: 2009/05258/PA

Site Address: Ormiston Academy Grosvenor Street/Jennens Road Birmingham

Proposal: Erection of 2 to 6 storey building for a performing arts and media academy and the closure of Nova Scotia Street within the site.

Planning Officer: Liz Ellis Area Team PL Central Area Planning Team

Applicant: Catalyst Education (on behalf of Local Education Partnership)

Planning app has gone in! Looks to be fairly regular appearance but nice touches, and a profiled metallic silver cladding. Part of the Birmingham BSF.

Nicholas Hare are the architects - they did Joseph Chamberlain College at HAden Circus

[Biosonic]

[U475 Foxtrot]

Bio returns in a blaze of glory

Looking good and there's no reason why it won't be as good as Joseph Chamberlain College

[fruit&nut]

Looks good steady stuff - reminds me a bit of Ronald McDonald House.

I'm sure ILC will point out all it faults for us.

[Biosonic]

I'd like to see the frontage to Jennens Road being a bit more interesting, but looking at the architect there will be some good attention to detail.

[i_like_concrete]

Stunning, beautiful, amazing.

The only three words ever suitable to describe the above building.

The architects have out done themselves, created a city-defining building, it'll transform the area, set a benchmark of quality, beauty and integrity. Look at that blank frontage onto Jennens road, is that not inspirational architecture? Ooo look and a balcony, what a way to improve the public realm, create a space that only the buildings inhabitants can use.

Is that an outdoor ampitheatre I see? What a great use of outdoor space, INNOVATIVE! I like the way they've put it somewhere only students will ever see it, great thinking there, it'll keep it a space just for them as good design warrants.

Oh oh oh! And look at the choice of colours, it's great that this building has learned from the lessons of its neighbour, that an unusal colour and material choice for the cladding can lift even the most bog standard of buildings. I mean grey and black, that's a cladding choice NOBODY would have seen coming.

To sum up, I am happy to see this building granted planning permission, it is exactly what the built environment of Eastside needs, we should be thankful it is getting built, it shows confidence in our city that a public building is being built, so we really shouldn't try and get in the way of it, anyone who opposes this opposes PROGRESS, opposes BEAUTY, opposes BIRMINGHAM.

[JonW67]

Originally Posted by i_like_concrete

Stunning, beautiful, amazing.

The only three words ever suitable to describe the above building.

The architects have out done themselves, created a city-defining building, it'll transform the area, set a benchmark of quality, beauty and integrity. Look at that blank frontage onto Jennens road, is that not inspirational architecture? Ooo look and a balcony, what a way to improve the public realm, create a space that only the buildings inhabitants can use.

Is that an outdoor ampitheatre I see? What a great use of outdoor space, INNOVATIVE! I like the way they've put it somewhere only students will ever see it, great thinking there, it'll keep it a space just for them as good design warrants.

Oh oh oh! And look at the choice of colours, it's great that this building has learned from the lessons of its neighbour, that an unusal colour and material choice for the cladding can lift even the most bog standard of buildings. I mean grey and black, that's a cladding choice NOBODY would have seen coming.

To sum up, I am happy to see this building granted planning permission, it is exactly what the built environment of Eastside needs, we should be thankful it is getting built, it shows confidence in our city that a public building is being built, so we really shouldn't try and get in the way of it, anyone who opposes this opposes PROGRESS, opposes BEAUTY, opposes BIRMINGHAM.

The building itself I have no problems with, it is obviously designed to be functional for its' purpose and that's fine but yet again, the 'curse of EastSide' has struck again from my point of view. Prime spot on main-ish route, in an area advertising itself as 'worldclass' and we get another rather mediocre and average offering.

[Biosonic]

i_l_c surpasses himself there

The materials are good and I am sure the detailing will be good. I do question the grey but I like the silver cladding - I would prefer to see bright colours instead of grey. The blank wall needs to be improved but I like the amphitheatre - after all it is an academy for the performing arts!

Do you think this should be "city-defining" i_l_c or just good quality?

[Engels]

I generally agree with ILC's riposte, from some angles I suppose this looks like it could be good infill if the materials are ok, from others notably the Jenenns Rd frontage I am less than impressed.

[Soul_13]

Hmmm the main entrance should be at Jennens road. I'm a bit worried we'll end up with an empty street if every building have it's entry on the back...

[ReissOmari]

Very nice design, this road will look fantastic when all the projects are finished (if finished), its just a shame some people have forgot about this road and that it actully leads you into town lol, its always so empty (used to go to Matthew Boulton College)

[fruit&nut]

I knew you wouldn't let me down ilc

[i_like_concrete]

Originally Posted by Biosonic

Do you think this should be "city-defining" i_l_c or just good quality?

I'd settle for good quality, or at least a building that reflects its use.

Nobody in a million years would look at this and think it had anything whatsoever to do with creating art. They'd be more likely to identify the student accommodation next door as the creative hub, and yet another building with a blank wall in Eastside... It's becoming something of a theme, who needs a clear entrance to a building these days eh? People are psychic and can figure it out for themselves.

[Bachy Soletanche]

It's a good set of office blocks for an accountancy company, or maybe one that designs boxed for galvanised nails.

It's not screaming Performing Arts at me, that's all.

[djay]

utter shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Global City Local Heart my arse!!! more like Regional second rate town

you know what this is, an out of town landmark for a business or retail park, i can just see the queues for Next's 5am boxing day sale out front already or maybe a sign that says "Good Building Corporation HQ" on the front! Or now i look at it again, a sign that says, Liberty Living - For Students on the side might also fit this! Performing arts, is that really what they think is going to be happening in this building or did they get their briefs mixed up for out of town office block????

Glad to see our urbanboulevard coming to life, i mean, almost to life, i mean, dying!

Oh and quick google of performing arts schools actually have some interesting designs of things built, not this bland put this up the draw and when its needed we'll get it out!

[brum2003]

Originally Posted by djay

utter shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Global City Local Heart my arse!!! more like Regional second rate town

out!

looks like something I saw being built in barcelona earlier in the year - if it's good enough for them - to be honest it's ok, as long as they use Silver panels and we don't end up with White render

[djay]

Originally Posted by brum2003

looks like something I saw being built in barcelona earlier in the year - if it's good enough for them - to be honest it's ok, as long as they use Silver panels and we don't end up with White render

ok for a normal school, ok for a uni department building, for a performing arts school...whats the one on bristol road, that looks 900x more interesting than this.

May i also add, a performing arts school is creative, this building is about as creative as...i don't know, i think selfridges should do a swap

[U475 Foxtrot]

elmhurst school for dance

[Joe Brody]

I quite like it, better than the crap over the road anyway. Looks Ok in the first pic esp.

This is an important development in the City. Creativity is one of the things that can make our city stand out (as is architecture - but not really in this case)

[djay]

yeah thats the one elmhurst school, far more interesting.

I disagree, if ever there is a time for architecture to shine its on a building that represents creativity...not in the sense that the building needs to be iconic and world class...it just needs to have a something which is creative in its form, its environment, something that is not millenium points sister.