Meet the team tasked with the job of shaping the future of Plymouth’s Civic Centre.
Multidisciplinary design consultancy, BDP, has been appointed to lead the project to transform the landmark building into a Blue Green Skills Hub in the basement, ground and first floor as well as create more than 140 homes in the tower above.
While City College Plymouth has its own architect to oversee the transformation of the lower floors, BDP will be responsible for ensuring the design successfully separates the education establishment from living quarters.
It will also act as the Building Regulations Principal Designer ensuring the entire project complies with the Building Safety Act.
Cabinet member for finance and city centre champion Mark Lowry said: “We were really impressed with their record of tackling difficult buildings and making sure that developments comply with all the latest regulations which are designed to keep people safe.
“This landmark towers above the city – it is so important to our regeneration story, but it is not an easy building, so we are delighted to have such a high calibre team help us to achieve this vision.”
BDP has worked on a number of landmark Plymouth projects in the past, including the University of Plymouth’s stunning Roland Levinsky building and the Theatre Royal regeneration project completed in 2013 which saw new facilities created in the basement as well as its public realm improvements.
Its portfolio includes challenging projects such the redevelopment of the Grade II listed Weir Mill in Stockport and the architectural design of Preston Bus Station – described as one of the most significant Brutalist buildings in the UK.
Matthew Mayes, architect director at BDP, said: “The Civic Centre’s transformation is a pivotal step in re-energising the city centre. This project presents an exciting opportunity to breathe new life into a historically significant building, reconnecting it with Royal Parade and Armada Way, and creating a vibrant, inclusive destination for learning, enterprise and community use.
“We believe cities should be good for us and we have a long history of unlocking the potential of complex buildings to bring them back into use, and this is exactly the kind of challenge that drives us. Our goal is to create thriving, future-ready places, and we know this redevelopment will play a defining role in Plymouth’s next chapter.”
The complexity of the redevelopment means other professionals have already been employed by the council to look at how best to turn the building – which used to be offices – into homes and an education establishment.
Issues such as power supplies, separate access, lifts, power, ventilation, insulation all have to be addressed as part of the project. A new planning application will also have to be submitted later this year as detail from the original application has changed.
Gwella Contracting Services continue the strip out works on site. This has been particularly challenging in the Civic Centre because of the building’s age and the fact there are currently no lifts in the 12-storey tower, which means that all waste material must be carried down the stairs.
The Civic Centre redevelopment is being made possible thanks to the Government’s Future High Streets Fund, Levelling Up Fund and Homes England.