Twenty-first Century Architecture of Leeds

1 twenty-first century

1.1 bridgewater place
1.2 plaza tower
1.3 opal 3
1.4 leeds dock
1.5 leeds arena

twenty-first century

bridgewater place

so far during period, leeds has seen development, particularly in city centre, notably highrise developments such bridgewater place, developments around clarence dock, k2 (albeit conversion older building) many developments incorporating student accommodation. 2002 redevelopment of leeds railway station incorporated notable steel , glass roof covering main platform hall , providing panoramic views south west mezzanine level.

bridgewater place

bridgewater place tallest building in leeds , second tallest structure in yorkshire after emley moor television transmitter (near huddersfield). building comprises offices, flats, shops , restaurants. bridgewater place 361 feet (110 m) tall , has 32 storeys. original design included spire, never added. in 2008, building design, architectural journal, shortlisted bridgewater place carbuncle cup, awarded buildings ugly freeze heart .

plaza tower

the plaza tower skyscraper in city centre. on completion in 2009, plaza overtook opal 3 leeds second tallest building. tower contains 572 student flats , stands @ 338 feet (103 m). has 37 storeys (making building storeys in leeds, bridgewater place has commercial height ceilings. these particularly high first 8 storeys).

opal 3

opal 3 skyscraper in leeds situated north of city centre on wade lane, adjacent merrion centre , tower house. building officially completed in september 2008 , @ 269 feet (82 m) 27 storeys opal 3 leeds third tallest building after bridgewater place , sky plaza. building consists solely of student accommodation university of leeds , leeds metropolitan university leeds other further education institutions. building built on former site of little londoner (later londoner) public house, former car parking in lovell park area of city. opal 3 booked 2008 academic year. contains 542 students flats (all en-suite) gym student use.

leeds dock


knights way bridge @ leeds dock on river aire, linking leeds dock east bank

leeds dock large timber dock, situated between city centre , hunslet. decades of industrial decline left dock obsolete. opening of royal armouries museum in 1996 began regeneration of area, little else undertaken, until wider redevelopment began in 2001. completed in 2007 (at cost of £260 million) , includes flats, offices, bars, restaurants, hotel , casino. development centres on dock around armouries boulevard , armouries square , 2 pedestrianised thoroughfares. main office block on development livingston house has not yet attracted tenant. smaller dock incorporates 6 residential berths house boats, while passenger boat service granary wharf runs here.

leeds dock, looking southeast

the development has not been without criticism, many people in city commenting on lack of people in area, while architect maxwell hutchinson described them slums of future . , described development mundane collection of buildings , incredibly soulless place , claimed in 2 or 3 decades these shiny new buildings following quarry hill down spiral of decay . these claims explored on bbc television programme inside out. while @ fashion show @ leeds dock, gok wan claimed thought development huge success.

leeds arena under construction in december 2012


leeds arena

leeds arena 13,500 seat super-theatre style venue, first in uk built in fan orientation. construction began in 2011 after decades of calls venue replace queens hall, demolished in 1989 , represented city s large concert hall. in intervening period leeds major city in uk without such venue.

the building based around striking honeycomb frontage, modelled on close-up images of insect s eye, , illuminated @ night in variety of colours reflect mood of whichever show playing @ time.