The revamped tower seen from Tottenham Court RoadHow the revamped tower would lookHow the proposed revamp will look1/4show caption3XN has been given planning for its 600m scheme for British Land to revamp the Euston Tower.Camden council gave the green light to plans for the work last night which will see the building stripped back to its core and increased in size from 320,000 sq ft to 500,000 sq ft. It will also retain the foundations and basement.The existing 31-storey block was built in 1970 but has been empty for more than three years. The tower was mostrecently occupied by HMRC while previous tenants have included Atkins. Designed by Sidney Kaye, it was also once home to Capital Radio, now based in Leicester Square.The plans also feature 4,000 sq ft of restaurant and caf space, with terraces overlooking a revitalised public realm, as well as 8,000 sq ft of enterprise space for local entrepreneurs and start-ups.British Lands head of development David Lockyer said: The tower is ideally located at our Regents Place campus, where the Knowledge Quarter meets the West End, and where businesses can benefit from the great concentration of academic and research institutions between Harley Street and Kings Cross.The scheme was built in 1970 and has been empty for the past few yearsMembers of the project team include QS and project manager Gardiner & Theobald, executive architect Adamson, planning consultant Gerald Eve, M&E consultant Arup and sustainability consultants Buro Happold and GXN.The latter is a sister firm of Danish practice 3XN, which is also behind British Lands 2 Finsbury Avenue tower going up at Broadgate in the City and which is being built by Sir Robert McAlpine.British Land has previously described Euston Tower as the gateway to its Regents Place campus.Regents Place is one of three campuses British Land operates in the capital and covers 1.7m sq ft. The others are Paddington Central, which runs across 1m sq ft, and the 4.1m sq ft Broadgate development.

Announcement comes as Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch signals a retreat from her predecessors support for the cross-party commitment to reach net zero by 2050Source: ShutterstockAround 400 school and NHS sites will get solar panels through the 200m initiativeThe government has announced its first major project for Great British Energy, aimed at reducing energy bills for public services through the installation of solar panels on schools and NHS sites across England.The 200m initiative is part of the governments attempts to alleviate the financial strain caused by rising energy costs on public services. Around 200 schools and 200 NHS sites across the UK will see rooftop solar panels installed, with the government promising millions of pounds of savings over the next 30 years.The solar panels will be installed by the end of summer 2025. The programme is allocating 80m for installations at schools, with a further 100m directed towards NHS sites.The aspiration is that schools and hospitals will also be able to sell surplus energy back to the grid. The government claims the initiative could deliver up to 400m in lifetime savings.Source: ShutterstockEd Miliband,energy secretaryEnergy secretary Ed Miliband said: This is our clean energy superpower mission in action, with lower bills and energy security for our country.Juergen Maier, chair of Great British Energy, said the scheme marked the first step in Great British Energys work with local communities to help them generate their own energy.He added that partnering with the public sector would help crowd in investment and create job opportunities across the country as the company works to scale up future projects.In addition to the core solar scheme, nearly 12m will support local authority and community-led clean energy projects, including onshore wind, hydropower and rooftop solar. A further 9.3m will fund similar initiatives in devolved nations.Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: This investment will not only cut energy bills for schools but also help young people develop the green skills they need for the jobs of the future.Design Council chief executive Minnie Moll welcomed the announcement, saying: This announcement is a significant opportunity to combine the power of clean energy innovation with inclusive and sustainable design that supports the long-term resilience of our schools, hospitals and communities.But shadow energy secretary Andrew Bowie criticised the governments net zero strategy, claiming it would leave the UK poorer.The announcement came in the same week that Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch signalled an end to the UKs commitment to achieving net zero by 2050. Badenoch claimed in a policy review that the target was impossible to achieve and said that current policies were failing to deliver on climate goals while driving up energy costs.Her decision to abandon the net zero commitment represents a break from the cross-party consensus that had guided UK climate policy since 2019, when the net zero target was enshrined in law under Theresa Mays government.Badenoch reinforced the shift by describing the UKs existing climate strategy as fantasy politics, built on nothing, promising the Earth. Her comments were seen by some as aligning with the Trump administrations policies in the US, where the federal government is engaged in a wide-ranging effort to roll back environental standards and regulation.

Reforming the planning system as a means to unlock economic growth is a red herring, the UK cities director at Arcadis has said.Peter Hogg said the government had become fixated on the idea that supply side reforms to the planning system, including through legislation currently making its way through Parliament, would drive fundamental change to levels of investment in the UK.The Planning and Infrastructure Bill was broadly welcomed by built environment leaders when it was introduced to Parliament earlier this month. Itwill have its second reading in the House of Commons on Monday.Source: Connected PlacesPeter Hogg speaking at the Connected Places Summit yesterdayThe legislation proposes reducing the role of councillors and statutory consultees in making local planning decisions and is part of a wider shake-up of the planning system aiming to speed up approvals and stimulate economic growth.> Also read:Planning and Infrastructure Bill sets out radical shake-up of committee systemBut speaking at the Connected Places Summit in the City of London yesterday, Hogg said: I have a view that reforming the planning system as a key to unlocking growth and innovative development is a bit of a red herring.Actually, I think theres lots that could be done to make the existing planning system better.And I think there are things that can be done to make it better resourced and more effective for applicants, but I think the answer to a step change in what were able to deliver in this country does not rely on recent changes to the planning system.Hogg was speaking as part of a panel discussion at the conference with Graeme Craig, chief executive of Places for London, the development arm of Transport for London, and Royal Town Planning Institute (RPTI) chief executive Victoria Hills.Craig said the political alignment of Labour at local authority, mayoral and central government level on the need for more housing was more important than changes to the planning system in driving new development.As an organisation [Places for London] that I think is going to be doing more development than anyone in London over the next decade or two, I dont see planning as being the issue, Craig said, adding building more homes was something that has to be done.I think the single most useful thing this administration has done is to come in and say that it wants to see homes built.In London, there is a political alignment, and that alignment is strongly towards the growth, the building, the homes, the affordable homes that this city needs, and that, from a tonal point of view, to me, matters more than any legislative change.Hills, who was chief executive of the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation before joining the RPTI, partly agreed with Hogg and Craig on the potential impact of the reforms on driving growth, but said they would mainly be felt through the perception it created for investors.Did we need a whole new Bill? Probably not. Are we getting it? Yes. So my point is, lets make the most of it, she said.When you speak with international investors, one of the first questions they have, and certainly one of the questions they had for me when I was running a mayoral development operation before I did this role was but tell me about the planning.I think its the perception of the government changing planning, even if the reality may be slightly different in certain plans, that will help investor confidence.The Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes measures to limit the size of planning committees, mandatory training for councillors who are members of planning committees and a new national scheme of delegation setting out which types of applications should be determined by planning officers and which should go to committee.In addition, the bill will introduce a system of spatial development strategies, which will introduce strategic planning across England with multiple local planning authorities working together to meet development and infrastructure needs. These plans will be produced by regional mayors or, in some cases, by local authorities.Other reforms to the planning system include last Decembers update to the National Planning Policy Framework which created the new grey belt landclass for development on poor quality areas of the green belt.

AHMM also part of team working on 18-month commissionSource: ShutterstockUniversity of LeedsPrior + Partners has been appointed to lead the campus masterplan framework for the University of Leeds, following a three-stage public procurement process. The 18-month commission forms part of the universitys response to changing global expectations around the design and experience of academic campuses.The masterplanning team includes Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, DNCO, Alan Baxter Ltd, Expedition Engineering, Gardiner & Theobald, Evolve Digital Workplaces, and Kate McLaren Design. Re-form Landscape Architecture and Civic Engineers are also part of the team.The framework is intended to explore opportunities to improve the universitys physical estate and enhance the student experience, while supporting its role in the cultural, social and economic life of Leeds and the wider region.The university stated that the commission seeks to help future-proof the campus, ensuring it continues to meet the needs of students, staff and visitors over the coming decades.Jennifer Wilson, Director of Masterplanning, Asset Management & Sustainability at the University of Leeds, said: Reimagining our campus will deliver long-term change that will benefit the University and wider city. But most importantly, it is about creating a welcoming campus that supports the needs of students for years to come, invoking a sense of belonging and opportunity.>> Also read:KPF draws up masterplan to revamp Birmingham UniversityElise Baudon, Director of Masterplanning at Prior + Partners, said: As placemakers, were inspired by the fundamental role of universities in underpinning the identity of their home cities, helping to create dynamic economies, stronger communities and better futures. In the case of Leeds, our enthusiasm is only made greater by the many opportunities and assets this historic University and City has to offer.Were excited to be embarking on a collaborative journey with the University as well as our wider design team who bring extensive experience in shaping cities, places, buildings and spaces for universities, city authorities, and major institutional partners. This local, national and international track record will inform our understanding of and approach to the layers of social and built fabric in and around the campus at Leeds.

Team led by ric Maria Architectes will adapt the 18th-century Bassenges Estate into an expanded home for the Bernoulli Centre for Fundamental Studies.Source: cole Polytechnique Fdrale de LausanneA university in Switzerland has selected a team led by Geneva-based ric Maria Architectes, working with UK practices Donald Insall Associates and HTA Design, toadapt an 18th-century estate into an expanded home for a scientific research centre.The cole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne (EPFL),plans to convert the estate into an expanded home for the Bernoulli Centre for Fundamental Studies,which focuses on mathematics, fundamental physics, and computer science research.The project was awarded through an international design competition. Donald Insall Associates will act as conservation architect and HTA Design as landscape architect.The estate includes several listed buildings, among them the Chteau de Bassenges, a winegrowers house, a farmers cottage, and a large barn.The project seeks to restore the existing buildings while integrating them with contemporary interventions.ric Maria, founder of the lead practice, said the scheme aims toblend architectural sustainability with respect for historical heritage, incorporating local and reused materials.The scheme is also intended to provide enhanced spaces for academic collaboration, outreach activities, and engagement with the wider community.Source: cole Polytechnique Fdrale de LausanneSource: cole Polytechnique Fdrale de LausanneSource: cole Polytechnique Fdrale de LausanneSource: cole Polytechnique Fdrale de LausanneSource: cole Polytechnique Fdrale de LausanneSource: cole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne1/6show captionFrancis Maude, director at Donald Insall Associates, said the project provided an opportunity torestore the original historic footprint of the site and connect to the wider EPFL campus.The landscape strategy refers to the Renaissance concept of The Three Natures wilderness, agriculture, and garden with the aim of creating a setting that supports academic activity while maintaining agricultural functions. Plans include an agora for academic discussion, a formal garden, and a new market square.HTA Designs landscape design director Natalia Roussou described it as awell-connected biophilic landscapefor researchers and the local community.

Source: Gensler / The Vinyl FactoryGenslers proposed redevelopment of a former Gillette factory site has been approved by Hounslow councils planning committee.Councillors on MondayThe proposals, for developer The Vinyl Factory, include new film production facilities, virtual production spaces, and digital content creation studios, alongside production offices, workshops, and a public caf within the adjacent grade II-listed former NatWest Bank.Hounslow councillor Salman Shaheen said the scheme would play a vital role in Hounslows future, supporting the boroughs ambition to become a hub for film production and creative industries.The scheme proposes the retention and refurbishment of several historic buildings, including the Gillette Factory itself, a former NatWest Bank, and part of the Campbells Building.However, a number of non-listed structures, including the north wing of the Campbells Building, and a multi-storey car park, are set to be demolished. New sound stages and production facilities will be constructed on the site.The scheme also includes a new six-storey car park with 413 space.Source: Gensler / The Vinyl FactorySource: Gensler / The Vinyl FactorySource: Gensler / The Vinyl Factory1/3show captionThe Gillette Factory, which previously served as the European headquarters for Gillette before production moved to Poland in 2006, has been used for film production since 2013.The Vinyl Factory has previously repurposed historic and listed buildings, including 180 Studios at 180 Strand, which houses digital and film production facilities alongside event and exhibition spaces.Engineering and planning consultancy WSP provided planning advice.

Project will include new public realm, cafe and performance spaceSource: Pollard Thomas EdwardsNewhamplanning committeehas approved plans for a mixed-use development on Stratford High Street, designed by Pollard Thomas Edwards for The Pickstock Group.The scheme will include 355 homes, of which 75% will be build to rent and 25% affordable., alongside new public space and cultural facilities.The development includes two buildings of 13 and 29 storeys on a long-vacant brownfield site.Bradley Carter, development director at The Pickstock Group, said: This is a significant development for Stratford High Street, and we are thrilled to have achieved resolution on this site. He also acknowledged the role of local stakeholders, adding: I would like to thank London Borough of Newham Council and the community in seeing our vision for an added value asset to the borough.Residential amenities are planned at the top of each building, including lounges and screening rooms, workspaces, and indoor and outdoor play spaces.Describing the design approach, Pollard Thomas Edwards partner Carl Vann said: The architecture responds to the place narrative it emerges from a contoured landscape, it includes verdant escarpments at set-back levels and is then carefully sculpted at upper levels to reference the contours of the surrounding city skyline.The scheme includes a Spacehub-designed public garden linking Stratford High Street to the Bow Back River. A caf and performance venue are also planned.Source: Pollard Thomas EdwardsSource: Pollard Thomas Edwards1/2show captionThe site was formerly occupied by a car dealership, which was demolished in 2017. A previous planning consent for residential development, granted in 2012, was not built out. The current proposals were developed following consultations with the London Legacy Development Corporation, the Greater London Authority, and Newham Council.The Pickstock Group is self-funding the project. Planning consultancy was provided by Rolfe Judd, with Whitby Wood as structural engineer and Jensen Hughes advising on fire safety. Other consultants on the project include Curtins for highways, Environmental Services Design for building services, CPC Project Services for cost consultancy, and Trium for environmental impact assessment.Construction is expected to begin in 2024, with completion planned for 2026.

Institute agrees partnership with RCP for temporary move toneo-Georgian building opened by former Prince of Wales in 2002Source: Google Street ViewThe Jerwood Medical Education Centre was designed by Carden and Godfrey Architects and opened in 2002The RIBA has agreed a partnership with the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) to temporarily relocate its office operations to the neo-GeorgianJerwood Medical Education Centre,near Regents Park, while its headquarters at 66 Portland Place undergoes refurbishment. The relocation will last for around two and a half years.Under the partnership agreement, the RIBA will occupy the Jerwood Centre, designed by Carden and Godfrey Architects and opened by the former Prince of Wales in 2002. Located in Peto Place behind the St Andrews Place college precinct, the building sits next to the grade I listed RCP headquarters, designed by Sir Denys Lasden, a former RIBA president.The 66 Portland Place HQ will close to the public from 1 June 2025, with staff vacating by 29 August. The refurbishment forms part of its House of Architecture programme, which aims to improve accessibility and sustainability while undertaking essential restoration of the grade II* listed building.The relocation means the RIBAs caf and physical bookshop will close for the duration of the works.Source: ShutterstockThe Royal College of Physicians by Denys Lasdun & Partners (1964)The RIBA will also have shared use of some facilities within the main RCP building.Some events, including the presidential inauguration of Chris Williamson and the annual general meeting in September 2025, will also take place there.RIBA CEO Valerie Vaughan-Dick said: Having made enquiries with several membership bodies, royal colleges and cultural institutions, Im positive weve secured a fantastic temporary home at the Jerwood Centre for our staff and invited guests.RIBA board chair Jack Pringle described the arrangement as ensuring both continuity and proximity to the organisations permanent home. To have secured the self-contained Jerwood Centre and use of the iconic Sir Denys Lasdun-designed RCP building in one of Londons most beautiful parks is exceptional, he said.Access to the RIBAs library and collections at 66 Portland Place will end on 10 April 2025 ahead of the move. Key items will be housed at the London Metropolitan Archives in Clerkenwell, while books and the Robert Elwall photographs collection will be relocated to a temporary site in Stockwell, south London, accessible by appointment.>> Also read:RIBA submits 60m plans to refurbish its 66 Portland Place headquarters

Industry more upbeat but RIBA warns that geopolitical context presents on-going risksSource: Shutterstock66 Portland PlaceArchitects expectations for future workloads have turned positive for the first time in three months, according to the latest RIBA Future Trends survey.Februarys Workload Index rose (+5), reflecting increased confidence in the residential and commercial sectors and an improving outlook across most UK regions.The latest survey indicates that 29% of architectural practices expect workloads to grow over the next three months, while 24% anticipate a decline. Forty-seven per cent expect no change. The difference between those expecting more work and those expecting less increased by seven points from (-2) in January to (+5) in February.The outlook has improved across all sectors, with residential and commercial projects expected to see growth. The private housing sectors Workload Index rose (+8), the highest since mid-2022, while the commercial sector returned to positive territory (+6).The community sector remains negative at-7, but this marks an improvement from January (-14). The public sector also saw a slight uplift, though its workload index remains negative (-4).Regionally, London reported the most positive sentiment at +14, the highest level of confidence in the capital since mid-2022. The outlook for Wales and the West turned positive for the first time in months, moving from -12in January to +3in February.The North of England remains optimistic, though its Index figure dipped slightly from +8to +6. In contrast, the South of England and the Midlands & East Anglia continue to report negative outlooks, though both saw improvements, rising to -1and -2, respectively.>> Also read:RIBA will relocate to Jerwood Centre during Portland Place refurbishmentThe RIBA Permanent Staffing Index also returned to positive territory, rising to+4from January (-4). Seventeen per cent of practices expect to increase staff numbers in the next three months, while 13% anticipate reductions.Large and medium-sized practices (11 or more staff) are more confident about hiring than smaller firms. Regionally, London recorded the most positive staffing outlook (+8), while Wales and the West were the only areas expecting a decline, with a Staffing Index figure of -2.The demand for temporary staff also increased, with the Temporary Staffing Index rising (+7) from January (-6), particularly among small practices and firms in the North of England.Despite the shift to a more positive outlook, challenges remain for many practices. RIBA Head of Economic Research and Analysis, Adrian Malleson, said: After three months of the profession anticipating declining workloads, this month sees a welcome return of near-term optimism.Positive outlooks in the housing and commercial sectors have spurred overall confidence, with the Housing Sector reaching its highest Index figure since mid-2022. This improved outlook is seen nationwide, with only one region reporting a negative outlook. London stands out as the most positive region.However, Malleson cautioned that risks remain. Despite this increased optimism, significant risks to future growth remain. These include heightened geopolitical uncertainty and growing threats to global supply chains due to protectionist trade policies, he said.

Source: HAZE VizThe mixed-use scheme viewed from the westHutchinson & Partners has received planning approval for a residential and retail development in Berlins Pankow district, marking the practices first planning consent in Germany.Located on Hermann-Hesse-Strasse, the proposed development will replace a supermarket with a new 1,200m retail unit, topped by four residential buildings.The approval comes more than four years after the UK-based practice established a Berlin office, led by founder Ross Hutchinson and director Jrn Rabach, with the aim of expanding its UK experience in mixed-use developments into the German market.The firm opened the Berlin office without an initial client or competition win, instead undertaking an extensive research project to analyse development opportunities.Berlin is a city I have a deep affection and respect for, both in its architectural richness and its layered history, Hutchinson said.He added that the practices approach has always been about understanding and responding to the fabric of the places we work in, and here, that means engaging with the citys unique mix of scales, typologies, and traditions.The aim was to create architecture that feels rooted in Berlins identity while contributing to its evolving urban landscape.Hutchinson describes the architectural approach as combining contextualism with simplicity. The front-facing buildings have double-pitched roofs and dormer windows intended to reference traditional roof forms in the area.View from the southeastSource: HAZE VizView from the southSource: HAZE VizCourtyardSource: Haze VizThree-storey rear buildingSource: HAZE VizFigure-ground context planSource: Hutchinson & PartnersGround floor (showing retail unit)Source: Hutchinson & PartnersFirst floor (courtyard level)Source: Hutchinson & PartnersSectionSource: Hutchinson & PartnersPhotograph of the siteSource: Hutchinson & Partners1/9show captionTwo six and seven-storey buildings are set back from the road behind mature trees, aligning with the stepped building line of adjacent structures. These blocks incorporate a podium garden and playspace, leading to a pair of three-storey linear buildings arranged around a courtyard garden.The design approach for these smaller-scale buildings a typology in Berlin known as Gllweg features simpler expression and detailing, reflecting their more domestic character.The material palette includes a stone base, off-white render, and bronze-coloured standing seam zinc roofs.The scheme aims to achieve DGNB Gold and QNG certification, incorporating Energy House 40 design principles. The project has been fully coordinated in BIM, which the practice hopes will bring efficiencies to the construction process.Rabachdescribed the planning consent as a positive start to the year and a reward for the risk, investment, and hard work that has gone into establishing the Berlin practice.With several projects in the pipeline and the launch of the firms Berlin site-finding service, he said there were reasons to be hopeful for further success in the city.The project team includes NOVIA Consulting & Baumanagement, Rainer Schmidt Landschaftsarchitekten, PSM GmbH, AWD Ingenieure, Gruner Deutschland, KREBS+KIEFER Ingenieure GmbH, and vrame consult gmbh.>> Also read:Hutchinson & Partners set to open Berlin base>> Also read:Hutchinson completes revamp of neoclassical Bloomsbury offices

Brent Council has unanimously approved plans by Haworth Tompkins for 885 new homes in Wembley, the Stirling Prize-winners largest residential scheme to date.Source: Haworth TompkinsCGI image of what Atlip Gardens could look likeThe Atlip Gardens project will see the redevelopment of a brownfield site at Atlip Road to provide421 units for co-living, 88 for affordable tenures with the remainder for private sale.In its committee report, the council recommended that 60 of the affordable units should be designated for affordable rent and 28 for shared ownership. Most of the affordable rented housing will be provided as three-bedroom family homes.Submitted by Maylasian-owned developer Atlip House, the proposal incorporates commercial floorspace and workspace, with the whole development set across seven buildings ranging between two and 29 storeys alongside a single storey workspace building.The wider neighbourhood will have a new public square with play equipment and seating areas, a new courtyard with seating and landscaping and an improved tree-lined pedestrian and cycle link between Alperton Station and the Grand Union Canal .Prashant Patel, director of Atlip House Limited, wrote in a LinkedIn post:The development will dramatically change Alperton, London, from the second the public step out of Alperton Tube Station.We now look forward to completing remaining formalities and signing a s106 agreement with Brent Council, and thereafter to work with an institutional partner to bring this development forward.Atlip Gardens delivery will be supported by around 16.6m of financial contributions via the mayoral and Brent community infrastructure levy.Atlip House is owned by Asian Agri Investments Limited, which is registered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Placemaking specialist Muse signed development agreement with council last yearHowells plans to transform Solihulls 1960s retail and leisure precinct, Mell Square Shopping Centre, into a mixed-use development near the town centre have been submitted for planning approval.Source: Muse / HowellsAn autumnal CGI of plans for Mell SquareThe scheme, brought forward by developer Muse, proposes up to 1,600 homes as part of a major regeneration of the 6.2ha site.Full planning documents are not yet available, but according to an Environmental Impact Statement (EIA) published last year, its maximum height will be 14 storeys, with smaller elements ranging between four and nine storeys.Of the 1,600 homes planned, up to 150 could be assisted living homes, according to the EIA.The residential component will also include build-to-rent and affordable homes.The scheme will also include a 425-room hotel, which may span two separate plots, more than 20,000 sq m for retail and 32,000 sq m for office space, as well as 19,000 sq m of public open space.Source:Muse / HowellsMuse, proposes up to 1,600 homes as part of a major regeneration of the 6.2ha siteMuse signed a development agreement with the council last November, after which the developer held a community conversation to showcase the emerging plans.Lisa Turley, development director at Muse, said: We have worked closely and in partnership with Solihull Council to develop an ambitious masterplan proposal.Its an approach which has been informed by detailed consultation with the community and partners from across the town centre. Well continue to work closely with established businesses, tenants, and residents as the process develops to minimise disruption and shape the next steps.This is an important milestone, and we look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the council, and others, to deliver.The EIA estimated that enabling works for phase one could begin in the third quarter of 2025, with completion of the schemes final phase targeted for the fourth quarter of 2035.However, Muse now says a final planning decision is now expected in late 2025, with construction more likely to begin next year.

Mitsui Fudosan has retained Stanhope as development manager as part of restructureThe 12-storey extension will contain around 100,000sq m of floorspaceTunnels for Crossrail 2 will be paid for by Mitsui Fudosan as part of the deal1/11show captionJapanese developer Mitsui Fudosan has taken control of the delayed 1.1bn extension to the British Library and promised the project will start construction next year.The Tokyo-based real estate firm has taken full ownership of SMBL, the schemes development partner which had previously been a JV between itself and Stanhope, and retained Stanhope as development manager.It comes more than a year and a half after Camden council approved the RSHP and Arup-designed project in January 2023.One of the biggest construction jobs in the capital, it will add a 100,000sq m groundscraper containing office and library space to the side of the grade I-listed 1970s landmark.Less than 10% of the new 12-storey building will contain library space, with the rest reserved for offices targeted primarily towards life sciences occupiers and a new headquarters for the Alan Turing Institute.Mitsui Fudosan said the scheme, which was signed off by Sadiq Khan last July after a protracted stage two approval process, will start construction in 2026 and complete in 2032.The British Library was built in the 1970sNo contractor has been appointed yet, although a timeline included in a construction management plan as part of the original planning application sets out plans to make an appointment within nine months of final planning approval.It is understood that 5,000sq m of underground passageways on the site intended as safeguarding for the future Crossrail 2 project will be funded by Mitsui Fudosan. The tunnels and shaft, which descend seven storeys beneath the site, were part of a deal agreed between the developer, Stanhope and Transport for London to secure the site.Mitsui Fudosan chief executive Takeshi Iwama said the deal to take control of the scheme represented a major milestone in the evolution of an exceptional opportunity.Our development commitment represents what we believe to be one of the largest single real estate investments into London by a Japanese company to date, he said.We have already acquired significant expertise in the life sciences sector across Japan and the US over almost a decade and will be bringing this to the British Library extension development, our first in this sector in Europe.Tunnels for Crossrail 2 will be paid for by Mitsui Fudosan as part of the dealStanhope chief executive David Camp said the scheme had been one of the most complex projects in pre-development, with many twists and turns over seven years since SMBLs selection by the British Library.Getting here has required patience, skills and teamwork between our team at Stanhope, Mitsui Fudosan, the British Library and neighbours such as The Francis Crick Institute as well as the local community and TfL. Our thanks to them all for their cooperation. We now move on to full delivery mode and so our partnership with British Library will continue and we look forward to starting on site next year.The scheme also includes the controversial demolition of several buildings to the north of the main library, including the 2007 British Library Centre for Conservation, designed by Long & Kentish.Others working on the project include QS Alinea, engineer Arup and landscape architect DSDHA.

Benedetti Architects-designed plans to create a more enlivened and inviting face for the instituteCGI showing how the exterior of the building will look following the refurbishment1/4show captionBenedetti Architects 60m proposals to overhaul RIBAs central London headquarters have been submitted for planning.Documents filed with Westminster council were made publicly available earlier this week, just weeks before parts of the Marylebone building at 66 Portland Place are due to close for the refurbishment.The institute will close the library next month, with the entire grade II*-listed building to shut from 1 June for around two and a half years while construction work is carried out.The scheme, which was originally due to be submitted late last year, aims to modernise the building as part of the wider 85m House of Architecture programme first unveiled by former RIBA president Simon Allford.It will include a new space to house the institutes architectural collections, a new cafe with outdoor seating on Weymouth Street, a relocated shop, bigger lifts, enhanced event spaces, and a treasures room housing important exhibits.The proposals will also see improvements to the buildings accessibility, fire safety, services infrastructure, thermal performance, health and safety and facilities.Benedetti Architects said the buildings formal appearance requires subtle transformation to present a more enlivened and inviting face for the building and the institution.Major investment is long overdue if we are to preserve the building for future generations and ensure that it continues to facilitate RIBAs overarching mission - supporting architects to make the future a better place, the practice said.Our vision for the building is both thoughtful and ambitious a measured exemplar of how sensitive interventions can unlock the full potential of a treasured heritage building.Alongside essential works that will ensure that 66 Portland Place is sustainable, accessible and welcoming to all, we want to create a leading, enduring and vibrant cultural destination for discovering, exploring and debating the practice of architecture.The practice is also proposing to return parts of the George Grey Wornum-designed building, which was opened in 1934 by King George V, closer to their original Art Deco designs.Pictures included in planning documents show how internal spaces have changed over time, comparing photographs taken when the building was opened with how they look now.1/5show captionThe photographs show how many original features including doors and curtains have been removed, with formerly open spaces often cluttered and disorganised with tired fixtures and fittings.The buildings notoriously small lifts, currently just 91cm wide and 110cm deep, will also be expanded to 110cm and 185cm respectively so they can accommodate full size wheelchairs.If approved, construction on the scheme is now expected to start in autumn 2025, slightly earlier than the 2026 start date previously given, and complete in 2028The project team includes Gardiner & Theobald as project manager, Eckersley OCallaghan as structural and facade engineer, Jackson Coles on costs, Alan Baxter on heritage and transport and Gerald Eve on planning.

Schemeincludes a four-storey residential block with 28 homes, of which 40% are designated as affordable housingSource: Conran and PartnersSource: Conran and PartnersSource: Conran and PartnersSource: Conran and Partners1/4show captionTendring district council has approved Conran and Partnersplans for a mixed-use development in Clacton-on-Sea on a council-owned site.The scheme, which forms part of a wider 30 million regeneration initiative, includes new homes, commercial space, and enhanced public realm on the site of a now-demolished former NHS building and adjacent carpark.Thelocal authority is acting as developer for the project and will manage the buildings upon completionon.Conran and PartnersNick Edler, associate director, stated:We are pleased that the planning committee shared our vision and praised how the design contributes to the regeneration of Clacton-on-Seas town centre. This is a key milestone in turning Tendring district councils vision into reality.The project, known as Carnarvon Terrace, includes a four-storey residential block with 28 homes, of which 40% are designated as affordable housing.The development also includesa new multi-storey car park, located behind an existing supermarket to allow for the creation of additional public realm.Source: Conran and PartnersThe landscape design proposes a new public space with green areas, seating, and play spaces, described as a green stepping stone linking Clacton-on-Seas train station with the seafront.The developments material palette is intended to reference Clactons Victorian heritage and the towns pier.Tendring district councils vision for a new civic quarteris being funded through various government grants, including 420,000 from phase two of the Brownfield Land Release Fund.

Venue wants to hold 15 non-sporting events a year, up from current permitted three, to help bankroll revampSource: ShutterstockThe ground was last upgraded nearly 20 years ago when Mowlem brought capacity up to its current 82,000Populous has been formally confirmed as working on the masterplan to redevelop the home of England rugby union at Twickenham which stadium bosses hope will see the number of concerts held at the west London venue increase significantly to help bankroll the work.The practice is among a host of consultants including project manager RLB, architect Populous and QS T&T Alinea working on upgrades at the ground,now renamed the Allianz stadium.Governing body the Rugby Football Union (RFU) wants to revamp the stadium under ambitious plans to improve transport links, reduce capacity to improve spectator comfort and stage up to 15 concerts a year five times the stadiums current permitted amount.Called the Stadium Masterplan Project, others working on the scheme include transport and civils consultant WSP, fire engineer Arup, planning consultant DP9, M&E engineer Griffiths Evans,landscape architect Planit and buildability consultant JDP London.The estimated cost of the work has been put at 663m with the RFU hoping to start work after the 2027 Six Nations championship.Twickenham had its last major building work carried out nearly 20 years ago when Mowlem, later bought by Carillion, completed the South Stand redevelopment to raise capacity from 75,000 to its current 82,000 in 2006.But the RFU says many of the stands have not been upgraded since, adding that the ground lies empty for too much of the year.Twickenham is currently allowed to put on three concerts a year, each with a capacity of 55,000 and wants to expand this to 15 a year with an 82,000 capacity. But it needs permission from Richmond borough council to do so.Source: ShutterstockTwickenham was renamed the Allianz stadium last summerIn a document on its Twickenham plans published earlier this month, the RFU said:Of the concerts that are held here, two events are required to take place on Saturdays and no single act is allowed to perform across three consecutive days. These restrictions make it difficult to attract top global artists. As a result, Allianz stadium has missed opportunities to host world-renowned performers in recent years at a time when the concert industry is booming.By contrast, the Tottenham Hotspur stadium is allowed to hold 30 non-sporting events a year while the figure for Wembley is higher still at 32.The RFU said: Despite its iconic status, Allianz stadium remains underutilised, with the pitch and stands sitting empty for up to 340 days a year a figure that rises during Rugby World Cup years. This significant underuse represents a major missed opportunity to generate the revenue necessary to fund essential improvements and enable the game of rugby to flourish nationwide.It added:We want Allianz stadium to be a best-in-class, multi-event venue.Meeting our ambitions for Allianz stadium will require significant investment. To generate the revenue needed over the coming years we need to increase the number of major non-sporting events hosted at the stadium. These events will help unlock the financial potential of the venue, enabling us to elevate the stadium experience for visitors and neighbours alike, while investing in the game of rugby across England.The RFU is due to hold three more consultation events next week including two at the stadium itself to outline their plans for the stadiums future with an initial consultation, launched last autumn, generating more than 3,000 responses.It added: While it is too early to share any images of what the stadium might look like, these events will offer the chance to hear from the RFU about what we are hoping to achieve and how we have taken on board your feedback.Under a timetable published for the work, Twickenham is hoping for a decision onplanning and licensing consent, allowing it to increase the number of major non-sporting events, to be made by September this year.

Deputy prime minister says greenfield site could be classed as grey belt amid concerns over harm to wildlife1/5show captionAngela Rayner has approved Howells plans for a supersized version of Cumbrias famous Tebay service station in Cheshire after concluding the site meets the definition of the new grey belt land class.Controversial proposals for the Tatton Services scheme, which has been designed for Tebay Services owner Westmorland Family, were approved by Cheshire East council in 2023 despite provoking considerable opposition from local residents.The consent included a condition that it should be referred to the secretary of state for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for final sign off due to the scale of the scheme and its location on green belt land.It is set to be three times the size of its northern sister station on the M6, which has gained a cult following for motorists driving to and from Scotland due to its dramatic rural setting and its farm shop selling a vast array of artisanal food.Located on a 16ha site between junctions seven and eight of the M56 motorway near Altrincham, south west of Manchester, it will contain a 6,300 sq m shop building, a 100-bedroom hotel, a 1,000 sq m fuel station, electric vehicle charging stations and a refurbishment of an existing early 19th century farmhouse.The application received more than 150 letters of objection flagging the potential loss of ancient woodland, loss of wildlife, additional traffic and the lack of need for another service station on the M56.The council also received a letter from local MP and Conservative Party chairman Graham Brady highlighting concerns raised by his constituents over the schemes impact on existing local businesses and doubts over whether it justified the loss of green belt land.However, MHCLG has now signed off the scheme following a public inquiry held in October last year which resulted in a recommendation for approval from planning inspector David Rose.Housing minister Matthew Pennycook, writing on behalf of Rayner, the communities secretary, said Rayner agreed with the inspectors recommendation that a need for a motorway service station on this part of the road network is indisputable.Rayner is said to have concluded that the site meets the definition of grey belt, a new land classed broadly defined as poor quality areas of the green belt which was created in the governments revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework last December.Pennycook said Rayner considered the site to be essentially a standalone pocket of land surrounded by motorway infrastructure and its development as a service station would not fundamentally undermine the purposes of the green belt.The NPPF defines grey belt as land that does not strongly contribute to three defined green belt purposes, preventing urban sprawl, preventing towns merging into one another and preserving the setting of historic towns. Rayner said the Tatton Services scheme would not contribute to any of these purposes.She also agreed with the inspector that any additional traffic would be limited and restricted to a series of roundabouts close to the site.Cheshire Easts planning officer had recommended the scheme for approval despite arguing that it reduces openness and encroaches into the countryside.But the officer added that these impacts were clearly outweighed by the need for the service station and its economic benefits.The plans have been developed by a joint venture between Westmorland Family and developer Pegasus Group, with the project team including lead architect Howells, landscape architect Planit IE and MEP, sustainability and energy consultant Ramboll.

Source: Ed ReeveAdjaye Associates founder David AdjayeAdjaye Associates has insisted it is feeling bullish after reporting a loss of 720,000 and a downturn in revenue during the year that its founder David Adjaye faced allegations of sexual misconduct.The practice said its pre-tax profit margin would have stayed in the black without a one-off payment of 1.46m made after reviewing claims for withholding taxes from foreign jurisdictions.The firms latest accounts, covering for the year to 31 December 2023, cover the period when Adjaye was accused of sexual misconduct towards three women, which he has consistently denied.The accusations, first published in the Financial Times, led to the practice being dropped from a number of high profile projects including the 57m International Slavery Museum in Liverpool.The fallout from the story also led to Adjaye stepping down from a number of key roles including as design advocate for the Mayor of London and a ceremonial association with architecture school the African Futures Institute.> Also read:Adjaye London CEO Lucy Tilley: Well work even harder to carry on our legacy. Well keep goingBut the RIBA Gold Medal-winning architect made no mention of the allegations in the accounts, instead blaming the firms performance on a commercially challenging year for the construction industry at large, adding that a global economic slowdown had led to delays on a number of significant projects.While turnover dropped from 20.5m to 17.1m, a spokesperson for the practice described the fall in revenue as a blip and said the firm was feeling confident and carrying on.We had a storm thrown at us and we toughed it out, the spokesperson said, admitting that 2023 had been possibly the worst year that any architecture firm could have gone through.The firm also claimed that a cut in staff numbers during the accounting period from 96 to 85 was relatively minor given the circumstances, while describing its profit margin as commendable if the one-off tax payment was excluded.The spokesperson declined to comment on the tax payment, which the firm blamed for sending its pre-tax profit tumbling into the red from 2.5m in 2022.Turnover in the practices two largest markets also fell during the period, from 14m to 13m in the Middle East and from 4.8m to just 892,000 in Asia.However, income rose in Africa from 261,400 to 1.46m and from 684,000 to 984,000 in the UK.The firm paid a dividend of 1.9m during the year. Adjaye is listed as the sole director of the company, which is majority owned by its parent company Adjaye Holdings Limited, which is in turn majority owned by Adjaye.Major projects completed by the practice during 2023 included the King Salman Park Visitor Centre in Riyadh, the George Street Plaza and Community Building in Sydney and a residential tower in New York called 130 William.

Source: Allies and MorrisonA rendering of Allies and Morrisons schemeThe Georgian Group has written to Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner, urging her to call in the recently approved proposals for Clandon Park, the Grade I-listed Palladian house gutted by fire in 2015.The heritage organisation argues that the plans, designed by Allies and Morrison in collaboration with Purcell, failed to meet key national planning tests and should have been refused.The letter claims that the scheme would cause a high degree of less than substantial harm to the significance of the house and its Grade II-listed Capability Brown landscape.The call-in request follows Guildford Borough Councils decision on 6 March to grant planning permission and listed building consent for the National Trust-led scheme. The proposals seek to stabilise the remains of the fire-damaged 18th-century house while introducing new visitor facilities, including a caf, rooftop terrace, and walkways providing new vantage points within the building.In its letter to Rayner, signed by chairman Paul Zisman and director designate Anya Lucas, the Georgian Group claimsthat the scheme meets the criteria for government intervention, citing conflict with national policy on important matters, and significant architectural and urban design issues.The group also argues that the project has become a matter of national controversy due to widespread objections from conservation specialists, architects, and members of the public.Clandon Park before the fireSource: Jim Linwood, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia CommonsThe 2015 fireSource: Colin Smith, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia CommonsThe house after the fireSource: 'NH53', CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons1/3show captionThe Georgian Groups letter outlines concerns over key elements of the scheme, including the introduction of the rooftop terrace and the demolition of parts of the surviving fabric. The group also argues that the proposed interventions lack reversibility, making future restoration more difficult.The heritage group contends that the design compounds the fire damage rather than mitigating it and objects to the National Trusts approach of attaching significance to the post-fire state of the interiors.Source: YouTubeAnya Lucas at the Guildford Borough Council planning committee meeting on 6 MarchLucas told BD: Far from enhancing understanding of the Grade I listed building, these harmful applications compound the fire damage. They are not policy compliant and they are nationally controversial. They also represent a missed opportunity to support at-risk heritage crafts.She added: We believe all the criteria for call-in are met and have written to the Secretary of State to urge her to do this so that the proposals can be properly scrutinised at a public inquiry.The letter also claims that the planning committee report contained an error of law by incorrectly asserting that alternative approaches to the restoration were not relevant to the decision. The Georgian Group maintains that there are viable alternatives that could avoid what it describes as unjustified harm to the buildings historic significance.The group has requested that the Secretary of State exercise powers underthe Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to determine the application at a national level. If the request is granted, the case would be subject to a public inquiry.>> Also read:Rebuild the Mack, but why stop there?>> Also read:Modernist dogma should not prevent us from rebuilding the Crooked HouseThe National Trust has defended its approach as the most appropriate way to secure Clandon Parks long-term future, arguing that it provides public access while revealing layers of the buildings architectural history.The debate over restoring fire-damaged historic buildings versus preserving them in their altered state remains divisive in conservation. While some architects argue that full restoration risks falsifying history, others maintain that it has cultural validity, preserving a sense of continuity that modernist approaches to heritage often deny.Architect Francis Terry hashighlighted the National Trusts full restoration of Uppark in West Sussex after a 1989 fire, calling it the catalyst for a revival in heritage crafts, whose benefits we are still reaping today. He has urged a similar approach at Clandon Park, arguing that large-scale reconstruction projects help preserve specialist building skills.>> Also read:Allies and Morrisons Clandon Park scheme approved despite calls for full restoration>> Also read:The resurrection of Notre Dame: inside the restored cathedral in pictures

Berkeley Homes and Newham Council have reached an agreement over the schemeRSHPs plans to turn a Victorian gasworks in east London into a 2,100-home neighbourhood are set to go ahead after Berkeley Group completed a section 106 agreement with the local council.Proposals brought forward by St William Homes, a joint venture of the housebuilding giant and National Grid, were given the green light by Newham Council planners last July, but have only now reached an agreement over section 2016 commitments.The scheme in Bromley-by-Bow will see 72m invested in restoring the seven listed gasholders on the 23-acre brownfield sites.As a result of the works, the site will be made publicly accessible for the first time in 150 years, with 70% of the area turned into open space, including a 4.2-acre park on the River Lea.The development will include 13 separate residential buildings, several of which will sit within existing gasholder frames.St William Homes was set up in 2014 to build homes on redundant gas sites.Its managing director, Dean Summer, said: This is one of the most challenging brownfield sites in the country and transforming it into thousands of sustainable, well-connected homes and a publicly accessible 4.2-acre riverfront park was always going to require a unique, collaborative solution.It is a testament to our brilliant partnerships with Historic England and the London Borough Newham and the invaluable input we have received from residents that we have reached this milestone and that we move one step closer to realising this sites enormous potential.Private / public sector collaborations like these have never been more important as we continue to navigate challenging market conditions and work together to boost housing delivery and growth.St William has worked with Historic England to ensure key heritage features of the site would be protected.Craddys and Shepley Engineers, which worked on restoration projects at Big Ben and St Pancras, as well as the Kings Cross gasholders, have been advising the developers.

Mayfield scheme will also include office blocksThe first phase of Mayfield will include homes and officesPlans by Studio Egret West and Shedkm have been submitted for the first phase of housing at Mayfield Park, the emerging mixed-use development near Manchester Piccadilly station.The proposals, designed for Landsec, include nearly 900 homes alongside shops, restaurants, cafs, a health and wellbeing club, and community spaces.Part of the wider 1.4bn Mayfield scheme, the first phase also features 325,000 sq ft of office space across two buildings and a cycle park with capacity for hundreds of bikes.The first office building has been designed by Morris + Company and will run across 230,000 sq ft. It is due to start on site later this year.The plans are part of Landsecs wider 1.4bn Mayfield schemeWork on the second office, a 95,000 sq ft building called the Poulton has designed by Bennetts Associates will start afterwards along with the cycle parking hub, which has been designed by Studio Egret West.The redevelopment Mayfield Park, also designed by Studio Egret West, opened three years ago and was previously a brownfield site.Others working on the team include project manager Deloitte and cost consultant Arcadis, engineers WSP and Buro Happold as well as planning consultant Gerald Eve.Last month, Landsec saidit would be scaling back the amount of office work it carries out in the future, having unveiled plans for a 2bn sell-off of parts of its office-led assets over the next five years to fund an expansion into residential.

The schemes terracotta-coloured cladding was criticised by the inspector as too boldHowells proposals for a 34-storey student accommodation tower in Stratford have been refused at appeal after the planning inspector criticised the buildings height and design.The 700-bed scheme for Dominus Real Estate and Queen Queen Mary University of London was rejected by the London Legacy Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) in April last year due to its excessive height and substandard design.The developers appealed the decision and a planning inspectorate inquiry was held on 21 January this year.The tower would contain 700 student roomsPlanning inspector David Nicholsonhas now upheld the LLDCs refusal, arguing in a decision published last week that the 302-312 High Street scheme breached local policy for tall buildings and that its terracotta-coloured cladding clashed with the mostly muted greys of surrounding buildings.While the local plan has sought to cluster the areas tallest buildings around Stratford station with building heights stepping down around its periphery,Nicholson said Howells tower would break this pattern in an unwelcome jolt in the townscape.The proposals would fail to follow this hierarchy, but interpose one of the tallest towers outside the boundary, upsetting the existing and emerging character on both sides, he said.The effect would be to spread, and dilute, the influence of the Metropolitan Centre into that of the High Street.Although the tower would neighbour a 32-storey student accommodation development, Eleanor Rosa House, which was designed by Hodder & Partners and completed in 2019, the inspector said the apparent scale of this building had been softened by its broken up massing.In contrast, 302-312 High Street was criticised for appearing to rise continuously from the pavement, appearing like a monolithic slab, althoughNicholson conceded new requirements for two staircases in buildings above 18 metres made it more difficult to reduce massing at higher levels.The inspector also criticised the colour of the buildings cladding as too bold for its location, which he described as not prominent enough to justify a design which establishes a new sense of place.While I find the design approach acceptable in principle, I do not find that it justifies the prominence that would come from the proposed combination of colour, form and particularly height, in this location, Nicholson said.The scheme would have required the demolition of a row of low-rise buildings on the site and would have included a replacement pub.The project team includes planning consultant Knight Frank, landscape designer JCLA, townscape consultant The Townscape Consultancy, civil and structural engineer Meinhardt and environmental consultant Knight Frank.Dominus and Howells have been contacted for comment.

Proposals include row of brick arches outside redesigned rear entranceA new colonnade of brick arches would be built outside the rear entrance as part of the 140m expansion1/6show captionWW&P has unveiled its designs for a 140m facelift for Cardiff Central, Wales busiest train station.The images, published by the schemes client Transport for Wales (TfW), show a colonnade of brick arches at the rear entrance of the building and a series of improvements to interior spaces.A full business case for the scheme was completed at the end of last year with a planning application due to be submitted in the coming weeks.Proposed improvements to the grade II-listed building aim to modernise the station and support long-term passenger growth while remaining sensitive to the sites history and heritage.Interior spaces of the 1930s building will be freshened up with improvements to retail and waiting spacesOpened in 1850, the station was almost entirely rebuilt in the 1930s by the Great Western Railway and its lead architect Percy Emerson Culverhouse, who also designed Leamington Spa station and expansions to Bristol Temple Meads and Bath stations.WW&P design director and project lead Phil Turner said: Working with TfW on such a significant station for the region has been rewarding, with our scheme acknowledging the historical fabric of the city whilst bringing it into the present day, and future-proofing the station for generations to come.The plans include a larger concourse to improve passenger flow, additional gate lines, improved waiting spaces, retail space and cycle storage facilities.The project team includes engineering consultant Mott MacDonald.

Scheme includes residential, commercial, and leisure spacesSource: Zaha Hadid Architects / negativSource: Zaha Hadid Architects / negativSource: Zaha Hadid Architects / negativSource: Zaha Hadid Architects / negativ1/4show captionZaha Hadid Architects has revealed its design for Cityzen Tower, its first project in Georgia.The 42-storey scheme in Tbilisis Saburtalo district will deliver a mix of residential apartments, as well as commercial and leisure space, as part of the wider Cityzen development.Located at the intersection of Mikheil Tamarashvili and University streets, the development sits on the site of the former Soviet military headquarters for central and south Caucasus. It forms part of a growing district that includes university, commercial and residential buildings.According to the practice, the design of Cityzen Tower is informed by the natural landscape of Tbilisi, referencing the citys rolling hills and river valleys. The towers composition features a series of cascading landscaped terraces that extend towards the adjacent 36-hectare Central Park.Source: Zaha Hadid Architects / negativThe building transitions from larger commercial floor plates at the base to a more compact residential plan above. Its external louvres are designed to reduce solar gain in summer while increasing solar exposure in winter to improve energy efficiency.The 57,000m development is designed to achieve LEED Gold certification. Cityzen Tower will also incorporate rainwater collection and reuse through an on-site reservoir, while landscaping across the development will use native plant species.The project is scheduled for completion in 2028.>> Also read:ZHA unveils one of Zaha Hadids last projects>> Also read:Zaha Hadid Architects profit jumps 38% as Middle East revenue more than doubles

Brief includes cost estimating and construction management for 2028 eventAecom has been appointed infrastructure partner for the Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028.The firm will be in charge of the infrastructure programme for the games, which will see temporary venues and temporary overlays on existing permanent venues.The firms brief will include the architecture and engineering to deliver LA28 venues, as well as the programme management of their delivery.Source: ShutterstockThe Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which hosted the 1932 and 1984 Olympics, will again host track and field events and the opening ceremony for the 2028 gamesIts Aecom Hunt business will oversee the procurement process, cost estimating, scheduling and construction management of the venue infrastructure, the company added.Hunt is a US construction management business that was bought by Aecom in 2014 and whose roster of stadium jobs in the US includes the SoFi stadium in Los Angeles as well as several baseball stadia in Phoenix, Seattle and St Louis.Aecom has previously worked on the Tokyo, Rio and London Olympic games.

Historic England raises no objection to scheme inMaritime Greenwich world heritage siteCGI showing how the extension will look when built1/5show captionStride Treglown and Purcell have been given the green light for plans to refurbish and extend a grade II-listed building within the Maritime Greenwich world heritage site.The University of Greenwichs proposals to add a three-storey building to the side of the 1920s Devonport House, which neighbours the National Maritime Museum, were approved by Greenwich councils planning committee earlier this week.The scheme, which Stride Treglown is working on as lead architect with Purcell as conservation architect, will see the historic former nurses home restored and converted into educational use.An existing former conference centre on the site, built in the early 2000s and now used by the university as teaching space, will be demolished under the plans to make way for the 4,000 sq m new extension.This will be linked to Devonport House by a glazed atrium described by Stride Treglown as an internal street, with the facade of the listed building left exposed.Historic England raised no objection to the plans, which it described as a discrete and contextual addition to the townscape in heritage-sensitive views.While the heritage consultee said the glazed atrium would slightly undermine the architectural interest of the listed building and cause some harm to its significance, it said the removal of the modern extension would offer modest enhancement to the site.> Also read:Stride Treglown tables plan to extend listed university building within Greenwich world heritage siteThe new building will contain a 150-seat lecture space, a 90-seat lecture space and a former back of house area which will be transformed into a breakout area and exhibition space.A further 4,000 sq m of internal space in Devonport House will be refurbished, and a grade II-listed war memorial relocated to a garden at the front of the site.The project team also includes project manager Gardiner & Theobald, QS Fanshawe, planning consultant Turley, multidisciplinary engineer Hoare Lea, landscape architect Farrer Huxley and civil and structural engineer Alan Baxter.

First phase of 1.9bn city centre regeneration secures planning consentSource: Lendlease/ Bell PhillipsBirmingham City Council has approved plans for a 408-unit apartment block, designed by Bell Phillips Architects in collaboration with Intervention Architecture, as part of the first phase of the 1.9bn Birmingham Smithfield regeneration project.The decision marks a key step forward in the redevelopment of the former wholesale markets site near the Bullring.The proposed scheme, developed by Lendlease, is intended to include a mix of build-to-rent apartments alongside ground-floor commercial units for retail, bars, and leisure uses.Located on a plot overlooking the future Manor Square, the scheme forms part of a wider masterplan that aims to introduce thousands of homes, new cultural and leisure facilities, and extensive new public realm to the city centre.Selina Mason, director of masterplanning at Lendlease, described the decision as a key milestone that would help kick-start the delivery of 3,000 homes for Englands second city.However, concerns were raised during the planning committee meeting about the schemes housing mix and architectural design.Birmingham Civic Society criticised aspects of the scheme, stating that the design quality was limited and arguing that the housing mix does not benefit families. The organisation expressed reservations about the precedent set by the phase one development for later stages of the masterplan.Councillor Colin Green warned that the inclusion of a large number of one-bedroom apartments could result in a transient population and a lack of long-term community stability. Im conscious the decisions we make today will last for 100 years this is not a short-term problem, he said.Source: Lendlease/ Bell PhillipsSource: Lendlease/ Bell PhillipsSource: Lendlease/ Bell PhillipsSource: Lendlease/ Bell PhillipsSource: Lendlease/ Bell PhillipsProposed rooftop pavilionSource: Lendlease/ Bell PhillipsGround floor planSource: Lendlease/ Bell Phillips1/7show captionDespite these concerns, planning officers maintained that the scheme complied with the approved design code and was consistent with the masterplans wider objectives. A report presented to the committee noted that affordable housing provision would be delivered in future phases of the development.Once complete, the Birmingham Smithfield project is expected to provide more than 82,000 sq m of office space and 44,000 sq m of retail. The masterplan also includes a public square designed to accommodate events for up to 6,900 people.During the same committee meeting a decision on a separate proposal by Hammerson to demolish the nearby indoor markets buildingand replace them with more housing was deferred.>> Also read:A failure of planning? The uncertain fate of Birminghams historic markets

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Artreveals concept designs from six shortlisted teams competing to lead a major expansion of the Kansas City institution1/5show captionProposals by Renzo Piano, Kengo Kuma and Selldorf are among six concept designs unveiled by the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Missouri for a major expansion of its campus.The project will create additional exhibition and learning spaces, improve public amenities, and enhance connections between the museums existing buildings and the surrounding 22-acre sculpture park.The first-stage of the international competition, which is being run by Malcolm Reading Associates, attracted 182 entries from 30 countries across six continents.1/5show captionThe six shortlisted teams are led by Kengo Kuma & Associates, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Selldorf Architects, Studio Gang, Weiss/Manfredi Architecture, and WHY Architecture. The shortlisted proposals, developed by leading architecture practices, are now on display at the museum and online.The museums architect selection committee is set to review the shortlisted designs in late spring before making a recommendation to the board of trustees.Evelyn Craft Belger, chair of the museums board of trustees and the architect selection committee, said the revealing the six concept designs was a thrilling moment for the museum and our community when we start to visualize an identity that will carry us through the coming decades.1/5show captionJulin Zugazagoitia, the museums director and chief executive, added: We asked for bold, inspiring moves that also respected the existing museum campus and Im so happy to say weve received them in these initial designs.Each is a fascinating response to a complex project brief, together they bring myriad perspectives. The teams have shone their beams of thought on our big questions: how do we synthesize our existing icons with a new proposition? How do we modernize and embrace the future but keep the best of our history? And, most of all, how do we create a museum that is transparent for all and instills a sense of belonging and well-being?1/3show captionThe competition brief calls for a new addition or series of additions totalling approximately 61,000 square feet, alongside partial renovations of the original Nelson-Atkins building. The project is also expected to include a new primary entrance, expanded gallery spaces, a photography centre, a black-box theatre for digital art, and improved visitor facilities such as a restaurant and outdoor areas.Kengo Kumas proposal uses gently sloping forms to evoke the Midwest regions prairies and riverbeds, constructed from locally sourced stone, timber and glass.Renzo Pianos practice has sought to balance the museums main Beaux Arts building with the glowing Steven Holl-designed extension to the east with a transparent, light-filled pavilion which erodes the boundary between institution and community.1/6show captionSelldorf has proposed a glazed facade for the main buildings portico and a western extension aiming to complement the Bloch Buildings, while Studio Gang envisages a multi-levelled extension and a prominent cafe building in the plaza.The shortlist is rounded off by Weiss Manfredis proposal for a western extension prioritising the sites plaza space, and WHY Architectures concept of wrapping the extension around three sides of the main building and adding a new entry pavilion.Following the selection of a winning team, further design development and stakeholder consultation will take place before a final scheme is confirmed.

Buckley Gray Yeoman transformed a former industrial building into vibrant workspace, retail space and two new restaurants over five floorsBuckley Gray Yeomans body of work made the shortlist at last yearsAYAs, as the practice was named a finalist for two awards, includingRefurbishment Architect of the Year.In this series,we take a look at one of the teams entry projects and ask the firms board director, Andrew Henriques, to break down some of the biggest specification challenges that needed to be overcome.The scheme serves as the next chapter in the redevelopment of a former industrial site into Eccleston YardsWhat were the key requirements of the clients brief? How did you meet these both through design and specification?27 Eccleston Place is about the adaptation, reuse and extension of a 19th century industrial brick building set in the heart of Londons trendy Belgravia. We were appointed by the Grosvenor Estate in 2018 to consider how the building could be repurposed for workplace, retail and restaurant use. This followed the success of the Eccleston Yards project on the same urban block.We arrived at a brick building with great industrial DNA. Its character has evolved through various adaptations and extensions spanning 150 years, starting with a warehouse, changing to an ice store, and a car repair garage in that timescale.Every historical adaptation has left an imprint on the external fabric. These architectural records are revealed in the variety of brickwork, brick colour, brick coursing types and patch repair infills visible on the external walls, which become architectural tide marks.We borrowed this honest approach to layering for the new brick addition, informed by the notion of celebrating the new intervention without losing the reference to the buildings past. A new brick insertion was conceived, ensuring the new extensions were sympathetic to the host building, with the new brick blend selected based on the tonal qualities of the host brick architecture.We worked the sites orientation to bring daylight into the deeper parts of the plan. Its distinctive roof shape evolved from our daylight studies that culminated in the expression of the sawtooth, a poet nod to traditional factory roofs, the buildings heritage, as well as functionally minimising solar gain through its north-facing orientation. The expression of a contemporary brick portal quartet gives the building a unique angular hat and a new identity.The design team arrived at a brick building, its character evolved through various adaptations and extensions spanning 150 yearsWhat were the biggest specification challenges on the project and how were these overcome?The main challenge was balancing heritage qualities with modern performance requirements whilst creating a flexible, adaptable building for future change. This was addressed through:Careful specification of brickwork and brickwork bonds with subtle tonal differences to distinguish the original envelope from the new facades and infills.Integration of saw-tooth roofline with factory-style roof lights that face north to maximise natural light whilst minimising solar gain.Implementation of all-electric heating and cooling systems.Installation of rooftop photovoltaic panels.Thermal upgrade of original fabric without compromising the architectural intent. This was achieved by introducing internal insulation.Determining what fabric has intrinsic value and should be retained for reuse in the redevelopment versus what is redundant and could be recycled.Ensuring the floors are designed as loose-fit with easy access to services and column grids that allow for future modifications to fit out.What are the three biggest specification considerations for the project type? How did these specifically apply to your project?Retaining and adapting/modifying the existing industrial fabric. This included the original steelwork, brick facades and concrete base. Much of the fabric was in a poor state through decades of neglect, natural weathering and poor construction. Bringing these back to life and meeting todays modern standards for thermal and environmental comfort was key to improving air tightness and the fabrics thermal properties.Inserting new massing within the retained building fabric. It is essential to ensure the buildings lines of intervention are clearly legible for both new and original fabric.Achieving the correct glazing proportion and ensuring these balance the needs to bring daylight to deeper plan areas whilst being sensitive to neighbouring listed buildings and not exceeding required energy targets.The main challenge was balancing heritage qualities with modern performance requirementsDo you have a favourite product or material that was specified on the project?The brickwork. They were produced by a British brick manufacturer called Charnwood.Are there any suppliers you collaborated with on the project that contributed significantly?The project involved collaboration with several key consultants, including:Collins Construction (Contractor)Heyne Tillett Steel (Structural Engineers)HDR (M&E Consultant)Donald Insall Associates (Heritage Consultant)Tuffin Ferraby Taylor (Sustainability Consultant)Lazenby (Polished concrete flooring)Langsdale (Specialist brickwork contractor)What did you think was the biggest success on the project?The most significant achievement appears to be the successful transformation of a 19th century industrial building into a modern, sustainable workspace whilst celebrating its traditional architectural characteristics. The new additions continue the retrofit narrative inherent to the building, a process that has seen the building embrace change and evolve over the past 150 years. Therefore, the project exemplifies how industrial heritage buildings can be successfully adapted to balance heritage and environmental standards.1/3show captionProject detailsArchitectBuckley Gray YeomanClient Grosvenor Britain & IrelandProject manager TridentM&E consultant Hurley Palmer FlattSustainability consultant Tuffin Ferraby TaylorStructural engineer Heyne Tillett SteelQuantity surveyor Leslie ClarkPlanning consultant Gerald EveApproved inspector Approved Inspector ServicesPrincipal designer AECOMDaylight and sunlight consultants JMR SurveyorsRights of light/party wall surveyors Anstey HorneAcoustic consultant Theatre ProjectsHeritage consultant Donald Insall AssociatesFire consultant The Fire SurgeyTransport consultant SystraContractor Collins ConstructionSpecialist brickwork contractor LangsdalePolished concrete flooring LazenbyOur What made this project series highlights the outstanding work of our Architect of the Year finalists.To keep up-to-date with all the latest from the Architect of the Year Awards visithere.

Source: Allies and MorrisonA rendering of Allies and Morrisons schemeGuildford Borough Council has unanimously approved Allies and Morrisons proposals for Clandon Park, the Grade I-listed Palladian house severely damaged by fire in 2015. Developed in collaboration with heritage architect Purcell, the scheme aims to stabilise the structure while introducing new interventions to improve public access and reinterpret the sites history.Designed by Venetian architect Giacomo Leoni, Clandon Park was considered one of Britains most significant Palladian houses before the fire destroyed its roof and much of its finely decorated interior. The new plans, developed in response to a National Trust design competition, do not seek to reconstruct what was lost but instead retain the remains of the historic building, creating an experience that reveals its architectural evolution.The approved proposals include restoring the exterior to its pre-fire appearance, reinstating windows and doors, and securing the building with a new weather-tight roof. Inside, much of the fire-damaged structure will be conserved in its altered state, with walkways inserted into the voids where floors once stood, offering new perspectives on the buildings history.A new accessible lift, reinstated staircases, and a rooftop terrace accessed via partially glazed pavilions will provide visitors with new ways to experience the house and its relationship to the surrounding Capability Brown-designed landscape.The scheme also includes alterations to the basement to introduce visitor facilities, including a caf, toilets, and back-of-house spaces. Historic collections salvaged from the fire will also be redisplayed within the house.The councils planning committee approved the project at a meeting on 6 March, concluding that the schemes public benefits outweighed any harm to the historic fabric.Quoted in The Guildford Dragon, Cllr Vanessa King, chair of the committee, acknowledged the challenge of balancing restoration with the reality of the fires impact: Its natural to want to restore it to the grandeur that it was at one time.However, she added that the fire itself is now part of Clandons history: If we can incorporate that story sensitively and in collaboration then we are looking at a really good option for a much-loved home, part of our community and part of our national story.Clandon Park before the fireSource: Jim Linwood, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia CommonsThe 2015 fireSource: Colin Smith, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia CommonsThe house after the fireSource: 'NH53', CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons1/3show captionThe National Trust has framed the project as the most appropriate way to secure Clandon Parks future as a heritage attraction. By retaining the buildings post-fire form and exposing previously hidden construction details, the Trust argues that the scheme will offer visitors a unique insight into eighteenth-century architecture and craftsmanship.However, the decision not to fully restore Clandon to its original pre-fire state has faced opposition from some quarters. Restore Trust, a campaign group advocating for a complete reconstruction, has criticised the National Trusts approach, arguing that it fails to uphold the cultural and historical significance of the house.The group has drawn comparisons to large-scale restoration efforts elsewhere, such as UNESCOs rebuilding of Mosuls historic landmarks, where war-damaged buildings including churches and mosques have been reconstructed with international funding.In other parts of the world there is the will to repair and reconstruct damaged and destroyed historic buildings, the group has stated. The National Trusts approach to Clandon Park is outdated and will deprive the nation of a special place, even as people in other countries show their affection for their built heritage.>> Also read:Rebuild the Mack, but why stop there?>> Also read:Modernist dogma should not prevent us from rebuilding the Crooked House