ITV Studios | Trafford Wharf | MediaCityUK

[WatcherZero]

Third replacement will be number four, since you had to have a set for it to be replaced in the first place

[bertyboy]

Originally Posted by mode1

Is it splitting hairs but won't it be the fourth. If we count the first indoor street set from 1960. Then from mid late 60s the first outdoor street then from 1983 the current one.

So, that's 4 sets = 3 replacements!

[rolybling]

I'm glad you got that sorted lads

[Meadows]

I've heard they aren't going to bother adding any bricks to the frames, they'll just have empty frames as a post-modern critique on post-industrialisation in Northern England.

[Radley]

Building.co.uk

Exclusive: Exclusion zone set up on part of ITV’s new Coronation Street studios site after problems emerge on steel frame

ITV, MediaCity, Salford

An exclusion zone has been set up on part of Mace’s high profile construction of ITV’s new Coronation Street studios after problems arose on part of the steel frame on the project.

Construction manager Mace has confirmed a problem with the steel frame on part of the new Coronation Street studios building in MediaCity, Manchester, has been identified.

According to three separate sources the steel frame began to move significantly and beyond its design tolerances while concrete was being poured on the site in late May. Work was halted on the part of the site affected and an exclusion zone was put in place while the structure was assessed.

It is understood that the problems could lead to several months delay on the job, understood to be worth around £30m, which was originally set for completion in Spring 2013. It is understood that the project will not now be completed until near the end of 2013.

“Production activity will then migrate at a time that makes the most sense, in terms of filming schedules,” a source close to the project said.

Mace confirmed that work is now in progress to identify “the most appropriate strategy to remediate the steel frames of the partially built stage areas of the Coronation Street production facility”.

In a statement the firm said this work was being done with the “full involvement” of structural engineer Capita Symonds and the steel frame subcontractor William Hare.

“Mace confirms that the site is safe and operates under all relevant HSE legislation. Works to the main support building, the Coronation Street lot and all other areas of the site are continuing,” the firm said.

Mace would not comment on the length of the delay to the project.

The new ITV studios are being built on a 7.7 acre site at Trafford Wharf, adjacent to the Imperial War Museum North. The project includes a new external film set for Coronation Street, as well as two sound stage buildings, specialist production facilities and offices as well as dressing rooms and meeting space for production staff and cast.

In a statement ITV confirmed that Mace was “managing a construction issue on the new Coronation Street site, which has resulted in a slight delay to the build”.

ITV said it was still on track to begin its staged move from its current central Manchester base into the new office buildings at MediaCity in the autumn.

Capita Symonds and William Hare referred enquiries to Mace.

[WatcherZero]

Funny we dont hear about it for four months but must have been solved as theyve started brickwork and construction of the secondary structure.

[Joseph_Locke]

Originally Posted by WatcherZero

Funny we dont hear about it for four months but must have been solved as theyve started brickwork and construction of the secondary structure.

I'd guess that all involved are under various Non-disclosure Agreements (I'm not involved so not under an NDA) so that only the official line is heard.

According to three separate sources the steel frame began to move significantly and beyond its design tolerances while concrete was being poured on the site in late May.

This sounds like the column foundations sinking as the floor slabs were poured (which is the only significant volume of concrete in a steel-framed building like this, other than the ground floor slab, but that bears on the ground, not the frame). I suspect the tolerances for this buidling will be tighter than normal as it is a TV facility, so it may take account of the needs of studio camera dollies.

However, you wouldn't go and ditch the concrete you'd already poured, so (guessing again) they could possibly have jacked and shimmed or possibly grouted the offending columns. That could take a while to, do as would working out what precautions to take with the other pours.

[WatcherZero]

This sort of thing is something that regularly crops up when building next to large bodies of water though isnt it. Bit hard to put into words but watertable at a depth that surveys didnt identify because the water from the body can find unexpected places to move into.

[Joseph_Locke]

Originally Posted by WatcherZero

This sort of thing is something that regularly crops up when building next to large bodies of water though isnt it. Bit hard to put into words but watertable at a depth that surveys didnt identify because the water from the body can find unexpected places to move into.

Indeed, it is logically impossible to survey the ground with 100% accuracy, as that would involve drilling a near-infinite and cost prohibitive number of holes. That said, a combination of coring and ground penetrating radar should give a pretty comprehensive picture. These things do just happen though.

[marni1971]

Originally Posted by WatcherZero

This sort of thing is something that regularly crops up when building next to large bodies of water though isnt it. Bit hard to put into words but watertable at a depth that surveys didnt identify because the water from the body can find unexpected places to move into.

...

[WingTips]

Despite any so called wobbles...building coninues at ITV...

[skit_uk]

They could make this building look much better if they had a better entrance on the corner. This part of the building is offices anyway and I can see this area in front of the bridge being quite busy with people.

All they need to do is have more interesting glazing here rather than a wall of glass, some sort of canopy, a larger more inviting entrance and some landscaping out the front. Instead it will be gray and very unattractive at ground level.

Originally Posted by WingTips

Despite any so called wobbles...building coninues at ITV...

[WatcherZero]

Security I would imagine, its basically designed as a secure compound rather than a seperate office building and a neighbouring production lot.

[marni1971]

That's the idea. The building is there to hide and shield the production area from view and to a certain degree noise. There is a pedestrian security gate for staff to use to travel to and from MediaCity further up the quayside, but the main entrance is on the road, and again designed for security and privacy.

[skit_uk]

Originally Posted by marni1971

That's the idea. The building is there to hide and shield the production area from view and to a certain degree noise. There is a pedestrian security gate for staff to use to travel to and from MediaCity further up the quayside, but the main entrance is on the road, and again designed for security and privacy.

But I don't get this security requirement. If you go to any of the major Hollywood studios you can go in for tours and wander around (albeit in a tour). Banks and major businesses also seem to manage to maintain security whilst having open and welcoming entrances. If the MC studios can have public access then why not the same for ITV. This is a prominent riverside position and they have faced the arse of the building towards it

[mode1]

But to be fair this isn't exactly the same as the BBC buildings. It has as lot in the shape of the outside street set. They did all that years ago with tours with the Granada Studio tours and it wasn't making the money and as the episodes were to be more weekly then the filming schedule was increased and it wouldn't have worked with the public in the way. It works best for them to have a closed set

[WatcherZero]

To protect the soaps storylines, same reason they stopped allowing tours while they were filming at their previous studio.

[marni1971]

Originally Posted by WatcherZero

To protect the soaps storylines, same reason they stopped allowing tours while they were filming at their previous studio.

Indeed. Plus the facility will be very busy, and so unable to accommodate general tours.

And of course its independent tv, not license paid. They have no public fund payers to show around, unlike the BBC.

[rolybling]

Originally Posted by mode1

But to be fair this isn't exactly the same as the BBC buildings. It has as lot in the shape of the outside street set. They did all that years ago with tours with the Granada Studio tours and it wasn't making the money and as the episodes were to be more weekly then the filming schedule was increased and it wouldn't have worked with the public in the way. It works best for them to have a closed set

I don't think skit was suggesting it be open for people to walk round the set, he's saying the ENTRANCE is in the wrong place, and I agree.

[skit_uk]

Originally Posted by rolybling

I don't think skit was suggesting it be open for people to walk round the set, he's saying the ENTRANCE is in the wrong place, and I agree.

Exactly, I'm just concerned about how this will make the waterfront appear and the current plans make it look like a warehouse basically. All it would take is a nicer entrance and reception area for staff at the corner facing the bridge.

Who would use the riverside entrance? well all staff that use metrolink, anyone from the bbc or the greenhouse offices, and staff on their lunch breaks going for a stroll around the waterfront or the shops. In fact they could even have a staff coffee shop with outdoor seating.