Leeds Met Uni - City Campus - redevelopment

[di Livio]

Originally Posted by Immunda Leodis

I might be wrong on this but I think that those buildings have concrete cancer as they were built cheaply and with a short life span...

They were the first modernist blocks to be built in Leeds in the 1950s and a recent report suggests that 39% of Leeds Met's buildings are inoperable, which can only really mean these blocks as all their others are new or recently re-furbed buildings. Someone who worked there told me back at the start of 2008 that the blocks were coming down so it must be on the cards.

[FreddyFresher]

Originally Posted by Leeds No.1

Well you'd think that but I don't know. I'm sure I read that somewhere, but it would make sense in a way because land is surely much cheaper out in Headingley than it is in the City- they could sell it and make a good profit.

I suppose they'll put courses where it's most relevant- business/law etc obviously good to be in the City...

Both the Rose Bowl and Broadcasting place are on long term lease - once these are up or a break point is reached in the contract they could quite quickly vacate the city centre. Assuming new facilities are available in Headingley.

[this_city]

Originally Posted by di Livio

They were the first modernist blocks to be built in Leeds in the 1950s and a recent report suggests that 39% of Leeds Met's buildings are inoperable, which can only really mean these blocks as all their others are new or recently re-furbed buildings. Someone who worked there told me back at the start of 2008 that the blocks were coming down so it must be on the cards.

yeah, that report was probably about the two towers and low rise block at the end closest to Leeds Uni campus. they've been locked off since the start of the year i think...and hopefully torn down in the next 12-18 months. but that should bring their 39% down by a fair proportion. also i dont think that report included broadcasting place did it? and the teaching space in carnegie pavillion should bring that figure down again.

once most of the 60s concrete is gone the Met will have a very good looking city campus. shame they're not going to be able to build anything for a long time once carnegie pavillion is finished...i've enjoyed watching the development of the rose bowl and broadcasting place

[aviator]

Downing Developments have submitted a full planning application for three 1960s concrete blocks on Calverley Street. They are to be refurbished and turned into student accommodation. There are loads of associated documents to be seen here. Nothing too exciting but the renders make the blocks look pretty good in my opinion.

[Leeds Troll]

That does look better

[Urban Wurzel]

Looks alright, but I just can't see how they are going to be able to afford this, as I've heard Leeds Met are in serious finacial trouble at the moment.

I rather they just bulldoze the site & let another developer take over!

[di Livio]

Originally Posted by Urban Wurzel

Looks alright, but I just can't see how they are going to be able to afford this, as I've heard Leeds Met are in serious finacial trouble at the moment.

I rather they just bulldoze the site & let another developer take over!

I don't think this will have anything to do with Leeds Met. They'll have sold the land to Downing who will develop it privately.

It's a good idea to use the site for student accommodation, especially now that the Met seems to be curtailing its expansions in the city centre, but for crying out loud, why can;t they knock the buggers down and start again!!! Everything in Leeds seems to be done on the cheap.

[Leeds Troll]

Originally Posted by di Livio

but for crying out loud, why can;t they knock them down and start again!!! Everything in Leeds seems to be done on the cheap.

Private investment you see, but we should be greatful for the reclad as they do look really shabby.

[Leeds Troll]

Just look at them on this picture


image hosted on flickr

Giuseppe Lambertino 21st Century Leeds 2 by ExposureLeeds, on Flickr

[FreddyFresher]

you can't polish a turd.

[Val Verde]

Originally Posted by aviator

Downing Developments have submitted a full planning application for three 1960s concrete blocks on Calverley Street. They are to be refurbished and turned into student accommodation. There are loads of associated documents to be seen here. Nothing too exciting but the renders make the blocks look pretty good in my opinion.

Weren't these the towers which are supposedly structurally unsound and were potentially up for demolition. If so at least it is much better news that they are retained as the alternative would be an inevitable hole in the ground similar to that plot on the corner of Calverley Street and Portland Way where the presumably now quietly axed George Mitchell Centre for Conflict Resolution was once proposed and hence is now up for sale to outside developers.

Also would be interesting to see how the cuts and substantially increased costs of higher education would affect this development especially if it results in a big drop of students. Wonder if flats in this development could become available to staff working at the LGI next door?

[di Livio]

As they sit behind the Town Hall, they might be clad in portland stone.


Or turn out like Park Hill in Sheffield.


image hosted on flickr

[FreddyFresher]

Park Hill look good, partly down to the extensive repairs made to the concrete exterior. If that happens this development might not be that terrible, but I can see this being a far cheaper and inferior version of Park Hill.

Student towers built from scratch in Leeds look terrible, how a conversion of a '60s block can possibly look good is beyond me.

[harryd]

Originally Posted by Leeds Troll

Just look at them on this picture


image hosted on flickr

Giuseppe Lambertino 21st Century Leeds 2 by ExposureLeeds, on Flickr

This is a cracking pic - from the City Inn sky lounge isn't it?

[TakeMeHigher]

Originally Posted by Val Verde

Weren't these the towers which are supposedly structurally unsound and were potentially up for demolition. If so at least it is much better news that they are retained as the alternative would be an inevitable hole in the ground similar to that plot on the corner of Calverley Street and Portland Way where the presumably now quietly axed George Mitchell Centre for Conflict Resolution was once proposed and hence is now up for sale to outside developers.

Also would be interesting to see how the cuts and substantially increased costs of higher education would affect this development especially if it results in a big drop of students. Wonder if flats in this development could become available to staff working at the LGI next door?

Providing that the tenants are of light build and relatively sedentary they should be OK.

[tigerman]

Originally Posted by Val Verde

Weren't these the towers which are supposedly structurally unsound and were potentially up for demolition. If so at least it is much better news that they are retained as the alternative would be an inevitable hole in the ground similar to that plot on the corner of Calverley Street and Portland Way where the presumably now quietly axed George Mitchell Centre for Conflict Resolution was once proposed and hence is now up for sale to outside developers.

Yes I am pretty sure that someone said these were unsound but that must be wrong. I think the proposals are quite good (on the renders at least) and its a perfect place for student accomodation. Also there are proposals in there for a further phase of 3 buildings on that land that you mention.

[this_city]

Originally Posted by di Livio

They were the first modernist blocks to be built in Leeds in the 1950s and a recent report suggests that 39% of Leeds Met's buildings are inoperable, which can only really mean these blocks as all their others are new or recently re-furbed buildings. Someone who worked there told me back at the start of 2008 that the blocks were coming down so it must be on the cards.

you got it. it wasn't so much that they were structurally unsound, just 50 years out of date and no longer fit for purpose.

there was talk of the tower nearest the LGI being clad in corten but given the economic climate i think those plans have definitely gone out of the window. those new renders look very interesting though... seems the low rise will be demolished to make way for a boulevard? if that is the case it will create a good bit of public space in a very crowded corner of the campus

[this_city]

http://www.propertyweek.com/news/new...011721.article

Downing have submitted their plans for the old Leeds Met buildings they've taken on...

[Leeds No.1]

What I really dislike about this scheme more than anything is that the buildings are the epitome of everything that is wrong about this area. Few of the buildings 'fit' the spaces that the roads set out; the area has no sense of place and is marked by awkward dead spaces all over the place.

Obviously the best way to remedy this is to build new buildings that fit, but no effort has been made here to even make the landscape reflect the surrounding environment... just a row of trees along the Woodhouse Lane edge would do at a very basic level.

[di Livio]

Originally Posted by Leeds No.1

What I really dislike about this scheme more than anything is that the buildings are the epitome of everything that is wrong about this area. Few of the buildings 'fit' the spaces that the roads set out; the area has no sense of place and is marked by awkward dead spaces all over the place.

Quite true. That's why I was looking forward to the demolition of these blocks.

A few high quality interventions would make a big difference in Leeds but there are too many half-hearted architectural disasters like Opal and Quarry House which bring the place down. You'll be able to look back in ten years time and rue the way Leeds squandered its only chance to become somewhere truly significant.