Structure studio Sheppard Robson has remodelled the New Century Corridor music venue in Manchester, restoring, rationalising and “opening up” the Grade-II listed construction.
Initially constructed in 1963 as a convention centre for the Cooperative Wholesale Society, at night time the corridor performed host to acts together with Jimi Hendrix, Tina Turner and The Rolling Stones.
Sheppard Robson’s retrofit of the constructing, which had been largely vacant for years, was accomplished as a part of the broader NOMA growth, a 20-acre mixed-use scheme in Manchester’s metropolis centre. New Century Corridor now homes a 1,000-seat venue alongside a meals corridor and areas for Entry Inventive School.
Rationalising the interiors, every of the constructing’s three features occupies one among its three flooring, permitting them to really feel linked whereas additionally having the ability to work independently from each other.
The Inventive School occupies the basement, with the meals corridor at floor ground stage and the music venue above, framed by the uncovered concrete columns and coffered ceilings of the unique construction.
“Via cautious and minimal intervention at New Century, we have now been in a position to convey a difficult constructing again to life,” stated affiliate accomplice at Sheppard Robson, Richmal Wigglesworth.
“Although the scheme has three distinct makes use of, fortifying the hyperlinks between them has resulted in a symbiotic relationship – it is nice to see the pure relationship between the inventive faculty and the venue corridor and the way they profit from one another,” she added.
Working carefully with structural engineers Healey Consulting and contractor Russell WHBO, the unique construction of the corridor was repaired and stabilised, with its tiled base and anodised aluminium body cleaned and refinished.
Inside, two new staircases have been inserted into the concrete waffle construction, bettering circulation and connectivity between the three flooring and in-service areas that additionally include further storage.
Within the efficiency corridor, authentic murals on both facet of the stage designed by artists Alan Boyson and Steven Sykes have been stored in place, repaired and cleaned, and the unique, angular acoustic baffle panels that cowl the ceiling have been restored and rewired.
“The general strategy was minimal intervention, as a result of listed nature of the construction but in addition as a result of it did not really want a lot intervention to operate,” stated Wigglesworth.
“The bottom ground and basement areas have been stripped again to the concrete body exposing the waffle slab construction…there was a want from the tenants and the town council to depart the concrete uncovered, and we have been more than pleased to oblige!” she added.
The hyperlink between New Century Corridor and the adjoining New Century Home workplace constructing has additionally been improved and used to place an exterior plant.
Elsewhere in Manchester, Sheppard Robson just lately accomplished the refurbishment of one other distinctive venue, the Alan Brief-designed Contact theatre, bettering its format and power efficiency whereas sustaining its eccentric character.
The pictures is by Josh Kemp-Smith courtesy of Sheila Fowl Studio, except said in any other case.
