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29/06/2010
On Tuesday 8th June, detailed plans for a key element of Doncaster’s £300million Civic and Cultural Quarter (CCQ) were approved by the Planning Authority.
Designed by Cartwright Pickard Architects and developed by Muse Developments, Doncaster’s striking new civic offices will be located in the heart of the CCQ will be central to plans to transform the Waterdale area of the town.
The five-storey, 157,500sqft offices will house most of the council’s town centre services on one central site and become home to about 1,400 council staff. The building also includes a council chamber that will overlook the new civic square and a purpose-built customer service centre on the ground floor.
Using a holistic environmental strategy to produce a 30% carbon reduction above current building regulations, the new building has been designed to BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standards, ensuring consistently low running costs for the offices.
Integral to the environmental strategy of the building is the building’s structure. An in-situ reinforced concrete frame will be used throughout the main building, which will be left exposed on the interior to take full advantage of concrete’s inherent thermal properties. Finished to a high standard, these areas will be will be contrasted with large areas of timber panelling which will provide a warmer visual contrast and also help to absorb noise from the atrium. The council chamber will be constructed using a steel frame and will appear to float over the main entrance through the use of large steel cantilevers.
Eye-catching multi-coloured terracotta tiles and baguettes, arranged in a modern design, will clad the building. This traditional, long-lasting and natural material will provide a bold and welcoming façade for the building that both looks to the future whilst echoing the equally bold statements of Victorian-era civic buildings. The combined effect will ensure the status of the building – and Doncaster’s new Civic and Cultural Quarter - as a key landmark for the town.
Cartwright Pickard Architects Director, Peter Cartwright, said: “We are extremely proud to be contributing to the creation of Doncaster’s Civic and Cultural Quarter. Our team has designed a building with a strong aesthetic that we hope will become an iconic and integral part of the town. Combined with its technical innovation, we believe the new offices and council chamber will have an incredibly positive impact on the wider Doncaster community.”
Notes
Client: Muse Developments Ltd
Cost Consultants: Davis Langdon, Manchester
Structural Engineer: Arup – Leeds
M&E Engineer: Arup - Leeds
Further Details
The first phase of this mixed-use development which will redevelop the 25 acre brownfield site on the south side of Doncaster’s town centre includes:
- New civic offices and Council Chamber, which will provide residents with a convenient one-stop shop for most Council services.
- A state-of-the-art new performance venue.
- Doncaster’s first public square.
- A possible four-star boutique hotel, which brings the former Girls School on the corner of Chequer Road back to life.
- Changes to the road infrastructure with College Road being opened up to Chequer Road. Waterdale Road will also become pedestrian friendly.
- The first of several residential developments that will bring quality town centre living back into Doncaster.
The remaining three phases of work will include:
A new library and art showcase area, a new, high quality swimming pool and leisure facility, further town centre housing, commercial offices, additional parking provision, further leisure-related developments.
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