ARCHITECTS STEPHENSON STUDIO WON AN INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION TO CREATE A NEW EXTENSION TO THE RENOWNED HALLÉ ST PETER’S BUILDING IN THE ANCOATS AREA OF CENTRAL MANCHESTER. AS WELL AS A WORLD-LEADING SPACE FOR THE ORCHESTRA, THE AWARD-WINNING BUILDING PERFECTLY SHOWCASES A RANGE OF ARCHITECTURAL AND BUILDING PRODUCTS.
Since its conversion from a 19th Century church in 2013, the famous Hallé Orchestra has used St Peters for rehearsals, recording, and small performances. However, the space was too small to accommodate the building’s many different users, including the Hallé choirs and youth orchestra – as well as its role as a private hire venue.
The Oglesby Centre extension takes the form of a steel structure, echoing the shape of the old water tanks used in the area’s many former mills, supported on a brick plinth.
The Hallé’s new home for its community work in the centre of Manchester is used by schools and youth groups. It offers multiple spaces in one venue for different rehearsals and to deliver a real sense of community with new practice rooms, performance spaces, and a café and bar which are open to the public.
“The new extension is conceived as a classically proportioned modernist metaphor of the existing proportions of St Peter’s massing,” explained Stephenson STUDIO.
“The ‘box in box’ detailing of the main rehearsal hall at first floor level and the brick massing of the elevation base conceal voluminous spaces internally to allow daylight penetration via continuous glass roof lights, and for the rear Grade II listed façade to be on full view from within offering privacy to the neighbouring buildings.
“The internal activities of the Hallé, with expanses of glazing are restricted to overlooking Cutting Room Square, therefore offering a ‘front of house’ façade to the general public with wonderful private ‘back of house’ private activity within the extension walls.”
Established in 1979 by Roger Stephenson, the Manchester-based practice works throughout the UK and has gained national recognition for a number of its projects. It is also heavily involved in the urban regeneration and renewal of the North-West, for example the practice is involved with a flagship development to create a landmark new hotel in Adair Street, Manchester.
Thirty-three different types of specially-shaped linear handmade bricks were used to complete a three-storey extension
Working closely with architects Stephenson STUDIO, supplier Imperial Bricks created a bespoke linear brick to ensure ‘The Oglesby Centre’ complements the original Grade II listed building.
The new ‘Regal Blend’ features a special combination of weathered bricks with natural shade variations of red to orange. The transition between the old and new brickwork has been described as ‘seamless’ by local press*.
The £4.7 million project echoes the industrial past of the area, complementing the original building, while making a bold statement with its angular design. The result is a stunning addition to the revitalised area.
Ruukki panels have been supplied to a restored church to create the new home for the The Hallé.
Ruukki supplied COR-TEN cladding panels for the project - the perfect cladding for both protection needs and a suitable aesthetic. The steel is alloyed only slightly, which forms a protective patina layer on exposure to the elements. This natural, rugged patina is one of the unique properties of Cor-Ten.
The patina begins as reddish brown in colour, yet each panel ages continuously in its own individual way to become darker in tone over time. This is expediated in industrial environments, like the home of The Oglesby Centre. Cor-Ten panels delivered by Ruukki, therefore, complement the building and its home in an old industrial area perfectly.
To help deliver both optimal performance properties and achieve The Hallé’s vision for their building, Ruukki Liberta rainscreen cladding panels were the perfect choice. Elegant yet strong, they are rigid and solid to fully protect this former church building for modern day use. What’s more, they are designed and manufactured for specific project dimensions.
Havwoods’ Aspen Raw wood flooring was specified for this project for its exceptionally tough properties and smooth surface texture.
The two-layer constructed board comprises of a hardwood surface, backed by a superior-quality birch ply to ensure a great level of stability. It results in a floorboard that is rich in colour and sits beautifully across interiors of all different styles.
Inspiring architects and interior designers for well over 40 years, Havwoods is the prevailing name in beautiful wood flooring design. Gracing the surfaces of some of the world’s best restaurants, hotels and private residencies, Havwoods’ superior collection is available in an extensive range of species, finishes and plank dimensions to ensure the perfect fit for any project.
Combining unrivalled expertise, up-to-the-minute designs and an ever-expanding global portfolio of showrooms, Havwoods sets the benchmark for superior quality wood flooring.
