Richard Waite, AJ News Editor, has noticed that Leeds Met has changed its approach to teaching architecture and the shift is bearing fruit. At the recent select exhibition for the school’s end-of-year show, Richard said “the projects closest to the door, drawn up by post-graduate students, are impressive…Tom Potter has created a sweet, colonnaded Chipperfield-esque model for a micro brewery in Leeds.” Nice one Tom

The new development at The Yorkshire Showground was officially opened last night: it includes superb office accommodation and meeting rooms for the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, along with office space for start up businessses with agricultural links from the region. The really tasty bit though is the farm shop and cafe, where trading is brisk. ’Fodder’ as it is aptly named,  opened its doors to the public earlier this month, and it really is worth a visit:  not only is it located in a great building with lots of eco friendly features, the shop is stacked full of locally sourced fresh and speciality foods.  So if you’re looking for something to do this weekend, take a trip to Harrogate..and fill your baskets (made from recycled plastic of course).

 

Once again, P+HS have excelled themselves at the LABC Northern Region Building Excellence Awards.  In a glittering ceremony, P+HS  received two commendations for Eaglescliffe Health Centre (with Tolent Construction) and Wrekenton Health Centre (with Laing O’Rourke), and won the Best Healthcare Building overall for Washington Primary Care Centre (also with Laing O’Rourke).   Washington will now go through to the National LABC Awards later in the year.  Congratulations to all involved.  The results were as follows:

Washington Primary Care Centre for Sunderland Teaching PCT- Best Healthcare Building - Overall Winner

Wrekenton Health Centre for Sunderland Teaching PCT - Commended

Eaglescliffe Health Centre for Abstract Integrated Healthcare - Commended

P+HS have increased the size of their talent pool. Two of our students, Ryan Meadows and Tom Potter, have passed Part 2  of the RIBA Qualification with merit:  they will be joined at P+HS by another successful student, James Park, who starts work with us on June 15th.  All of their Project work is showcased here, and P+HS congratulate them all for their hard work and outstanding results.

   

Eaglescliffe Medical Centre was officially opened on Tuesday 5th May. Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson was the guest of honour at a well attended ceremony with representatives from all the building’s stakeholders. The Centre was developed by Abstract Integrated Healthcare and constructed by Tolent. One of the senior GP’s, Krysia Ellenger, described her feelings about the new building designed by the P+HS team.

” Just what the doctor ordered ! A building that so intimately reflects our vision and our ethos . A place of light, of healing, of comfort. A building that exudes quality, calmness and soothes pain. A building that is ambitious, that reflects the modernity of medicine, of ever expanding knowledge and yet it embraces the human side. A building that encourages wisdom, is kind to the soul and has context . ”

I think that sums it up! It’s a great example of team working delivering clients’ aspirations. Well done to everyone involved.
Photography by Doug Jackson

Following Ben’s post on green roofs, here’s the sedum one at the Yorkshire Agricultural Centre.  The intrepid Heather Parry is pictured with Stuart Falshaw giving the roof some TLC.  This piece was in the Yorkshire Post on 14th March.

One minute they’re designing fantastic buildings such as the new Regional Agriculture Centre at the Yorkshire Showground, the next they’re using their natural calming influence over one of the raw material suppliers: this is a reference to the sheep NOT the client!

In this picure Heather Parry of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and Eamon Shutt of P+HS at a photocall promoting the sheepswool insulation used in this highly sustainable building.

The annual league table for Yorkshire’s Top Architects is published in today’s Yorkshire Post.  P+HS now ranks 7th in the county, demonstrating yet again the practice’s commitment to sustained growth.

P+HS has done it again!  Following last year’s success with Laing O’Rourke for Grindon Lane, P+HS has again won the local Building for Excellence Award for Best Healthcare Building for the Washington Primary Healthcare building.  Well done to everyone involved!

After an entertaining planning committee panel yesterday, P+HS gained planning permission for Tinshill Medical Centre. Approval of the exact design details have been deferred for the case officer to approve, but we have already been working closely with the planning team to ensure that the crispness of the design is followed through thoroughly.

The medical centre, on Old Otley Road in north Leeds, is approximately 1700m2, and includes pharmacy and GP facilities.

P+HS have been listed in Building Magazine as one of the top employers in the construction industry, for the second year running. Besides being listed within the top 75 companies to appear in the guide, P+HS have made it into the top 5 Architects category and also the top 5 for smarter working and leadership.

P+HS Architects have announced the completion of one of the most significant and sustainable office developments in York, Heworth Green. 

Situated on Heworth Green and fronting onto the new Heworth Green/James St Link Road, the £12 million development offers a total of 60,000 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation with open plan floor plates of 9540 sq ft, some of the largest in the city.

Benefiting from being only a seven minute walk from the main pedestrianised retail and restaurant core of York city centre, and with underground parking, it is no surprise that 20,000 sq ft has already been pre-sold to Hunters Estate Agents. Holiday Break Plc, trading as Superbreak Holidays, has taken a pre-let, leaving just the ground and first floors available.

The design by P+HS Architects exceeds the standards set within the latest part ‘L’ building regulations in terms of sustainability and thermal efficiency, and has a BREEAM rating of ‘very good’.  Many sustainable features were incorporated into the design including a combined heating and cooling system with an integrated heat recovery system to reduce running costs. In addition, the off site construction method utilised by Tolent Construction for the external walling aims to reduce the CO2 emissions and speed up the erection process. This also allowed for a highly insulated shell, further reducing energy consumption.

The completed building benefits from a striking frontage as the design incorporates materials in different planes to emphasise the individual components, provide shadow, modulation and interest. Key elements and entrances are particularly emphasised using projecting bays or full height glazed slots. The external cladding system also reduces lifetime maintenance and operating costs with lower energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.

The government has appointed Steve Quartermain to its new role of chief planner.

Currently executive director of Hambleton District Council, Quartermain will spearhead the government’s aim to reform the country’s ailing planning system.

One of his primary roles will be helping local councils to address the current skills and workforce shortage.

Quartermain said: ‘I am delighted to take up this role. It is a challenging and exciting time for planners in government, councils and throughout the profession.

‘My aim as chief planner is to make a positive contribution toward ensuring that planning promotes the development of prosperous and vibrant communities.’

Housing minister Caroline Flint added: ‘This is an important appointment. The new chief planner will play a vital role shaping the future of planning.

‘Steve will also help drive forward our ambitions to improve the skills and capacity of planners across the profession,’ she added. 

“The recently complete Walkergate Hospital in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne is providing a revolutionary combination of facilities for people with neurological disabilities, and a therapeutic physical environment that is being studied for its impact on patient outcomes.”

BD features Walkergate Park in March. Completed by Team Bentley, this unique facility is receiving lots of praise. Have a look at the article here

Once again, P+HS are featured in Yorkshire’s Top 50 Architects league table, ranked in 9th place - an increase of 3 places since last year. 

The annual league table, published by the Yorkshire Post, features the top 50 Architects, ranked by the number of registered architects. 

Have a look…