5 (Architectural) Reasons why Leeds is the place to be
Den Architecture has been based in Leeds since 1989, and our home city has been making a strong case as the place to be in 2019.
We take a look at why the Northern powerhouse is making so much noise as the best upcoming city in the UK:
1. Landmark Developments throughout the City
Leeds currently has a huge amount of regeneration and new build projects in the works, and there appears to be more to come. When walking through the bustling Northern city the number of ongoing construction projects is plain to see.
Concept image of First White Cloth Hall
One of our stand out choices was First White Cloth Hall. Once the epicenter of commerce for Leeds, this historic hall had fallen into disrepair for a number of years, but has recently been given another chance at life. The original building dates from 1711, and was primarily used as a cloth market, the trade that put Leeds on the map during the industrial revolution.
According to Leeds City Council there is an incredible £7.2 Billion of development on site or in the pipelines in Leeds, with almost £4 Billion spent in the past decade.
2. Expanding Universities
Concept image of Nexus Innovation and Enterprise Centre
With over 60,000 full time students living in Leeds the importance of it’s four Universities can not be underestimated.
The University of Leeds has invested more than £300 Million since 2008, and has pledged to spend £520 million by the time these developments are complete. This colossal investment is beginning to take shape with the University being named University of the Year in 2017, and featuring in the Top 100 Universities in the World in 2019.
The £38 Million investment of the Nexus Innovation and Enterprise Centre is a sign of things to come for students of Leeds. The idea of the centre is to promote innovation and collaboration between businesses, researchers and students to tackle the challenges that face us in the future. The centre officially opened in May.
This, combined with a never ending list of things to do in and around the city, from its vast choice in retail destinations to its unbeatable nights out, Leeds has become a go to city for aspiring students from across the UK.
3. The arrival of Channel 4 and HMRC
Concept Image of Wellington Place, Leeds
The arrival of HMRC and 6,000 new jobs in the city has been met with the development of 2 new custom built offices at Wellington Place to house the new workers. Signs that Leeds is becoming a true Northern power can surely be quantified by this development within the city. Furthermore NHS Digital are moving into the same development, pending its completion next year.
On top of this huge economical development for the city, in October 2018 Channel 4 selected Leeds as the location for its secondary headquarters, fending off Birmingham and Manchester in the process. This is in an attempt from Channel 4 to better represent the rest of the UK outside of London, and will bring 200 of it’s staff from their London headquarters up North.
Leeds was the fastest growing city in 2017/18 in the UK, with a staggering £64.6 Billion economy. Additions such as this show a city ready to continue its growth and development for years to come.
4. Amazing Historical Architecture
Leeds Corn
Exchange
Built in 1862 and designed by Cuthbert Brodrick (an Architect whose work can be found throughout Leeds), the Leeds Corn Exchange is one of the only remaining Corn Exchanges in the country still operating as a centre for trade. Inspired by the Bourse De Commerce in Paris, built almost a century earlier, the Leeds Corn Exchange Reopened in 2008 after renovation. A decade later and It is now a busy and exciting food hall and boutique shopping centre, housing a number of small retailers and places to grab a bite to eat.
The standout feature of the Corn Exchange is it’s spectacular domed glass roof, which creates an incredibly bright naturally lit space, perfectly suited to its newly found uses. The bright light from the roof enhances the scale of the main room, which houses the main seating area, previously used as the trading place for vendors from across Yorkshire.
Leeds Corn Exchange as shown in The Builder Magazine from 1861
Bourse De Commerce, Paris
5.Leeds Train Station and the arrival of HS2
Concept Image of proposed Leeds Train Station Concourse
Leeds Train Station has recently begun work on the first stages of a huge £161 Million redevelopment. The development is seen as a way of coping with the increased demand of rail travel in recent years, with Leeds being one of the busiest stations in the UK and will be part of an incredible proposed £500 Million master-plan that aims to completely transform the station and areas surrounding it.
This first stage of the redevelopment involves the creation of a large glass roof over its main concourse. This will breathe life into the main entrance of the station which saw a staggering 31 Million passengers in 2017/18. Further changes to this part of the development include a new platform to cope with such a huge footfall, and changes to existing platforms.
Concept Image of proposed Leeds Train Station Entrance
The future proposal, aiming to be ready for the arrival of HS2 in 2033 places huge importance on the pedestrian experience around the station and will represent Leeds excellently as a gateway for visitors to the city.
These huge and ambitious plans show that the buzz and excitement around Leeds as a growing city is here to stay, with the station looking to become an even bigger part of Leeds’ bright future.
Maybe one day the football team will join in too..