MIKE MAKES SPACE IN HIS LIFE FOR ALPACAS

Mike Douglas with two of his alpacas at his farm near Hexham, Northumberland.

THE executive chairman of Space Group is turning his thoughts from architecture to alpacas as he takes semi-retirement after spending almost four decades with the top Tyneside firm.

Mike Douglas, who has worked for Newcastle-based Space Group (formerly known as Waring and Netts) since 1972, is stepping down from his role as executive chairman to devote more time to his 88-acre alpaca farm at Fallowfield near Hexham, Northumberland.

From January, Mike will take on a consultancy position as non executive chairman of the business to spend more time developing his alpaca and fleece business with wife Melanie, breeding a top quality herd with world class Australian bloodlines and genetics.

The ultra-fine and soft alpaca fleece produced by Fallowfield Alpacas is processed and turned into yarn, which is then made into a range of products from children’s clothing to duvets and pillows.

Another web-based business, selling high end designer baby and children’s clothes from alpaca, is being planned for launch in autumn 2010.

Mike, who became a partner in 1985 and chairman of Space Group in 2007 when it was incorporated, said: “During my time as an architect I have worked on a wide range of projects including Blyth Community Hospital, Newcastle Hospitals PFI and the recently completed Redcar Community Hospital.

“In 2008, the business successfully rebranded to Space Group and in the last 10 years we have seen controlled organic growth, opening offices in Leeds and Manchester, and completing projects across the UK as part of the strategic drive towards being a national market leader.

“The business is in good shape with a strong brand and culture, led by a talented and focussed team, and I feel the time is now right for me to step back to allow more time to pursue other interests and spend more time with my wife and family.

“As well as the alpacas, I will also be supporting the running of our five star luxury B and B, which has had a successful first year, and will hopefully find enough time between all this to play some tennis and catch a few salmon in the Tyne.”

Space Group chief executive Rob Charlton said: “Mike’s contribution to the business over the last 37 years has been considerable and while we are sad that he is stepping back, we are thrilled he’s agreed to stay on with us in a non-executive capacity, not least so we can keep up with what’s going on at the farm with those alpacas.”

LOCAL KIDS RECIEVE CHRISTMAS GIFT FROM SPACE

Space Group’s Christmas Giving Tree with presents for disadvantaged youngsters from Children North East.

ARCHITECTURAL firm Space Group is hoping to lift disadvantaged kids ‘out of this world’ by delivering special Christmas gifts.

As part of Space Group’s Christmas ‘giving tree’ scheme, talent manager Diane Charlton gave each of Space’s 140 employees a gift tag with the name, age and interests of a child helped by Children North East.

Each person was then given a budget of £10 to spend on a Christmas present.

Space Group has supported the region’s oldest children’s charity Children North East for many years. It is currently volunteering its services in-kind by designing and building a new youth drop-in centre for the charity - The West End Youth Enquiry Service (WEYES), and every year it arranges the ‘Think Pink’ ball for the charity.

Space Group talent manager Diane Charlton said: “Space Group has always championed Children North East because of the excellent work they do for disadvantaged children within the region.

“Our Christmas ‘giving tree’ is a great way for all our people to give Christmas presents to children not so fortunate at this time of year. We all can’t wait for the excuse to go shopping for a special child whose Christmas would otherwise be a bit grim.”

Children North East’s Carol Taylor said: ‘We are very thankful to Space Group for all its support over the years. Their gifts this Christmas will be cheerfully received by the children and put a smile on their faces over the festive season.”

Children North East was formed in 1891 and is the longest running children’s charity in the North East.

The organisation manages a number of diverse, region-wide community-based projects from Northumberland to Teesside.

The charity aims to enable children and young people to reach their full potential and to ease the pressures that life’s inequalities can bring.

"MY SCHOOL IS LIKE A FUNFAIR"

STUDENTS and teachers from two Middlesbrough schools have teamed up with an architectural practice to create a ‘wish list’ of design ideas for their new secondary school.

Newcastle-based Space Group is in the running to become the appointed architect to design a new building for the soon to be amalgamated Hall Garth and King’s Manor school under the Council’s Building Schools for the Future project.

Hall Garth and King’s Manor schools will be amalgamated from September 2010. Earlier this year, Middlesbrough Council ran a school competition seeking proposals to run the new school. Endeavour Educational Trust was selected and a new principal, Michael Hutton, was appointed in October 2009.

The new school has a working name of Acklam Base – a new name will be chosen in 2010.

To start the design stage of the project, Space Group held a ‘design festival’ for 16 students and a selection of staff from both schools to get their thoughts on how they would like their new school to look and function.

The design festival was broken up into an afternoon session for the students and an evening sitting for the teaching staff and members of the community.

Both workshops included activities such as a ‘Wish Wall’ where the students answered the question ‘I wish my school was…’ and posted their answers onto the wall.

There was also a ‘Smiley Wall’ where they voted for their favourite examples of different school designs using smiley face stickers.

The session also included a ‘Metaphor Tree’ where the students thought of what sort of things their new school could be compared with. Some of the answers generated interesting results not immediately obvious for a school environment but no less stimulating for the architect. Examples included, ‘like a funfair’ and ‘like a funky rainbow’.

The information gained at the design festival will now be collated into a report and presented to Middlesbrough Council’s BSF Team.

Andrew Grounsell, lead architect on the project and associate director at Space Group, said: “The design festival was held as an engagement session to gain opinions and ideas on the new school design from all stakeholders. We always aim to get this community engagement from the start of any new project.

“This is obviously the very early stages of the development, but we would certainly take all design concepts into consideration and strike a happy medium between the opinions of the children and those of the teachers – which, by comparison, were very different. We will be looking to capture the idea of a funky rainbow in our design proposals.

“We were very open minded before we went into the design festival and had no pre conceptions about what everyone would have to say about the new layout and the overall look and feel. The students seized the opportunity to put their ideas forward and one of the strong themes that came across was the sense of togetherness and community spirit that they both wanted to gain from the new school.

“From Space Group’s perspective, as a firm that prides itself on creating sustainable communities that makes people’s lives better, this was a hugely rewarding day.”

The plans for the school will be developed early in 2010 and announced by the spring of 2010. The new school is due to be complete by summer of 2012.

Information on the BSF project is available on the council website, www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/bsf.

Space T-Shirts Go... to the British Virgin Islands

Kevin Drysdale from BCQS in the British Virgin Islands became the next person to wear the Space Group Tee, while standing in front of the BVI’s new Courts of Justice.

Kevin said "It’s one of the first buildings in the islands to do VRV systems, an excellent example of what an integrated design team working together can do.

"As you walk down the main street in Road Town, it certainly jumps out at you as one of the largest, handsomest buildings on the island, and I'm proud to have worked on it."

Christmas in Space...

The beginnings of our fantastic Christmas tree, at Space Works in Newcastle...

More pictures to follow!

Space T-Shirts Go Global

A new trend has started at Space Group - Branded t shirts are being posted all around the globe and we're asking friends to get photos outside famous buildings wearing the Space Tee. Here's a look at how we're doing so far...

Michael Pattinson stood in front of Daniel Liebeskind's new Jewish Museum in San Francisco

PINK ARCHITECTS GET IN THE PINK

ARCHITECTURAL firm Space Group got in the pink today (30 October) to raise awareness and vital funds for breast cancer.

Space Group, which is based in Brewery Wharf, Leeds, is playing its part in the Breast Cancer Campaign’s national ‘Wear it Pink’ day by asking its staff to donate a minimum of £2 in exchange for a hot pink _space-branded t-shirt.

The company, whose corporate brand is pink, is also asking for a further £1 donation from staff who wish to wear jeans for the day, with all money raised going to support the work of the Breast Cancer Campaign.

Space Group associate director Nigel Pilkington said: “Breast cancer research has made considerable progress over the past two decades but vital work is still underway to improve quality of life and survival rates.

“As our corporate colour is hot pink, we felt this was something we could get behind by selling the crew neck t-shirts in exchange for a donation.

“One woman in nine in the UK will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime and every donation helps bring us a step closer to beating the disease.”

Breast Cancer Campaign uses all ‘Wear it Pink’ donations to fund innovative, world-class research throughout the UK and Ireland to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure.

ARCHITECTS ROCKET WITH NEW JOB

(left to right) Space Group associate director Nigel Pilkington with new architects Liam Croft, Lee Cocksedge and Neil Bulmer.

YORKSHIRE architectural practice Space Group has added to its expanding team with the appointment of three new architects that collectively bring more than 40 years’ expertise to the firm.

The national company, which launched its Leeds base in July 2007, has swelled staff numbers to 18 by taking on three more talented architects as it continues to grow its reputation for delivering high-end sustainable building design and communities.

Space Group’s new appointments are architectural technologist Lee Cocksedge, senior architect Neil Bulmer and graduate architect Liam Croft.

Mr Cocksedge, 33, from Saltaire Village, near Shipley in West Yorkshire, brings with him 12 years’ experience in the architecture and construction industry.

He joins Space Group from a Skipton-based contractor, and has previously worked on a broad spectrum of projects including the development of several Sainsbury’s stores throughout the UK.

His new role will see him at the heart of a range of building designs including Selby Community project – a mixed office and hospital development. He will be responsible for producing the construction technological information, including the details of the design specification and is set to use the new innovative architecture design technology Revit, which brings designs to life in 3D.

Mr Cocksedge said: “I am really enjoying my new job and working on such a broad variety of projects. I was instantly attracted to the company’s visionary approach of creating inspiring space for work, play, heath, education and retail buildings. It is great to start a new role and be part of a fresh and dynamic team of like-minded professionals.”

Mr Croft, 22, from Great Ouseburn in York has recently graduated from Liverpool University were he gained a 2:1 in architecture. He has joined Space Group as a part 1 graduate architect where he will assist with the developments of the Leeds Teaching Hospital project. He said: “When I graduated I knew I wanted to work for a creative practice that could offer me a range of projects to get my teeth into. I was first attracted to Space’s highly regarded reputation in education design and build and I hope to work more on the educational projects in the future.”

Mr Bulmer, from Baildon, West Yorkshire, is the most recent senior appointment and joins as a senior architect, bringing with him over 30 years’ experience in the construction industry.

Mr Bulmer has previously worked across the county on the conversion of listed buildings into new workplace and office developments, including the nationally renowned Dean Clough building in Halifax, which is a celebrated model of regeneration.

He will now lead the Selby Community Project - a joint development between Yorkshire PCT and Selby District Council, which will see a new cottage hospital with adjoining civic centre offices.

Associate director Nigel Pilkington said: “We have recruited three new Space people to help us with a recent increase in demand. It’s positive to see that despite the downturn we are still growing and taking on more work, which reinforces our geographic expansion plans in the North West, the Scottish borders and further afield.

“The breadth of our new team’s individual skills and collective experience across a range of sectors fits perfectly with our own business values and I am delighted to welcome everyone on board.”

Brightening up Percy Main Primary

Students at Percy Main Primary School

Pupils, parents and staff at Percy Main Primary School have been working with design and building professionals to brighten up their school hall for free.

The school is one of just five in the country to receive a free makeover as part of a major national education programme, the Big School Makeover, which is an initiative of the British Council for School Environments (BCSE). The programme aims to encourage teachers, parents and young people to get involved in refreshing or refurbishing a classroom, dining room or even an outdoor space.

The programme's slogan, Small Change to Big Difference, illustrates that with a little imagination and effort any area of the school can be turned into a pleasant and stimulating place of learning, whatever the budget.

BCSE Chief Executive Ty Goddard said: "We are in the middle of the biggest investment in school buildings since Victorian times. Every child in the country deserves the best possible school building - whether it's through a refresh of colour, a major refurbishment or a new build. We want to see young people and teachers up and down the country involved in designing and taking action in their schools."

The makeover project partners, Dulux Trade and construction firm Willmott Dixon, are worked with the BCSE, pupils and staff on design plans and implementation for the multi-use hall at Percy Main Primary School.

John Walsh, Headteacher Percy Main Primary School, said: "We are thrilled to be involved with the Big School Makeover and our whole school community are really looking forward to reaping the benefits from this project.

"The opportunity to work with a variety of professionals and witness their talent and 'know -how' first hand has raised the aspirations of us all, and the success of the collaboration has already made us ask; 'What can we improve next?"

Martha James from Dulux Trade said: "Good design is achieved by really thinking about what you want from an environment, who will use it and what they will be using it for. Schools have a central role in the community and the way people engage with a school building, positive or otherwise, can be directly affected by the colour and design of a space.

"Transforming the learning environment really can add colour to the lives of the people who use it. The Government's Better Public Building even states that 'the design of schools can promote the performance of pupils, the retention of staff and a more creative approach to teaching and learning'. Every child has the right to a stimulating, exciting school environment - one that nurtures learning and interaction. The Big School Makeover shows just how easy it is to achieve this."

Architects from local architecture practice Space Group also spared their time to offer expertise and donate materials towards the school makeover.

Space Group architectural assistant Steven Paynter who has worked with the students on the school makeover said: "It has been great to work with the students on the design and layout of their new school hall. They have been very creative in coming up with ideas of how they would like it to look and it was exciting to see the whole thing come to life and the students enjoy their new learning environment.

"Previously the school hall was used for a wide variety of purposes but was in a poor state of decoration. The space is used for dining, gym, assemblies, performances and as a main thoroughfare. The hall is in constant use throughout the day and it therefore needed to be flexible to allow for the many changes of use. The students have worked hard to ensure the school identity is reflected in the new design."

Peter Owen, Willmott Dixon managing director for the Midlands and education sector manager, says: "This is the third consecutive year we have joined forces with the BCSE to carry out school makeovers. They are a tremendous opportunity to show just how easy it is to bring to life school space that is not being used to its best potential.

"The quality of the learning environment is key to helping children reach their potential and we are delighted to be able to transform space at Percy Main Primary School during the BCSE's Big School Makeover."

Live Theatre - Space for Preservation

At the heart of the cultural renaissance of Newcastles Quayside, national architectural firm Space Group recently redeveloped the design for the Grade II* listed Live Theatre.

The scheme provided Live Theatre with an additional 11,000 sq ft, resulting in a more spacious foyer, new box office, larger bar and restaurant and much-improved auditorium with more comfortable seating, air conditioning and better views of the stage.

Hummersknott School - Space for a makeover

With the help of architectural practice Space Group, Hummersknott School and Language College in Darlington has just undergone a £14.5million refurbishment.

This saw the construction team build new parts of the school, with existing areas built in 1954 carefully refurbished and maintained.

WASHINGTON SCHOOL AND AUTODESK REVIT

Architectural practice Space Group recently helped Washington School with its £20 million make-over.

Delivering the vision of the school and the council has been aided by the use of pioneering technology, Autodesk Revit. This software allows the designers to move forward from traditional two-dimensional drawings, constructing the building in its entirety in 3D.

MAKE SPACE FOR NEW SENSORY SCHOOL

SPECIAL needs children across Tyne and Wear and Cumbria have moved into their brand new state-of-the-art school with sensory garden this week.

Northumberland County Council appointed Space Group to design the new-build £6.2m Hexham Priory Special Needs School in Dene Park, Hexham, to accommodate for the increase in student demand.

As a special needs school, it caters for students with profound learning difficulties aged from three to 19, and will now house 80 students - double the number that attended the original school on the same site last year.

Space Group’s environment team were also commissioned to design the school’s adjoining 330sq metre sensory garden, which features a range of stimulants such as wind chimes, a water fountain, a colourful poker dot path and musical instruments. This was part funded by Northumberland based children’s charity Wooden Spoon. The new school also has a private memorial garden for the children to remember late fellow pupils.

Space Group landscape architect Katia Simmer said: “The sensory garden was created as a stimulating outdoor classroom for the children; a place where they can excite their five senses. They can touch, smell and even taste the plants in a herb garden.

“A colourful patterned path connects all musical instruments, water displays, mirrors, grass mounds, climbing boulders and timber seating. And stepping-stones made out of different materials allow the children to feel a different sensation on their feet.”

The original school, that housed only 40 pupils, will now be flattened to make way for a new playground.

Hexham Priory Special Needs School head teacher Michael Thompson said: “It has been so satisfying to see the pupils settle into their new school this week. The bright and airy contemporary design combined with the landscaped areas, and the separate nursery area for the younger children really works, and the pupils are responding well and thoroughly enjoying their new school.

“We needed a new school to accommodate recent increases in demand to take on students from across the county stretching from the border of Tyne and Wear to Cumbria in the West.

“Also as we have a series of outreach programmes, it is very accommodating to welcome the wider community to our new school.

“Funded by Northumberland County Council and designed and built by Space Group and GB Building Solutions, we now have a school which we are all proud of and which will certainly enrich the lives of our students.”

Space Group lead architect Ed Mapplebeck said: “We have worked closely on the design process with the teaching staff for the past two years and they have all been a pleasure to work with.

“Their vision to create a bright, vibrant and stimulating school design was music to our ears.

“We are all really pleased with the end results and it is great to see the children enjoying their new school environment.

“The school design strongly integrates into its environment, taking careful consideration of its surrounding landscape and context.

“Views both to and from the school have been carefully considered to ensure both students and staff have a strong sense of their place in the surrounding environment.”

MAKE _SPACE FOR SCOTTISH PROJECT COMPLETION

Space to Learn: The four completed schools across Dumfries and Galloway designed by Space Group.

A NORTH East architectural firm is continuing its development in Scotland after the successful completion of almost £40m worth of education projects.

Space Group – which has offices in Newcastle, Yorkshire and the North West – has joined forces with a consortium of building contractors to develop four new schools in Dumfries and Galloway.

Space Group has worked alongside contractors Farrans Construction, H and J Martins and Patton Group. It has designed new-build facilities to house Castle Douglas Primary School, Kirkcudbright Primary School, Wallace Hall Primary School and Academy and Stranraer Academy.

The first school to be completed is Castle Douglas Primary School with students due to move in this month (September 2009). The three other schools are set to receive their keys within the next six months.

Space Group director Steve Brooks said: “It has been very exciting for us to work on such a large scale brief and one in which we were able to showcase our capabilities and strengths.

“We have a very strong reputation in the education arena, having worked on projects that have received national recognition.”

Space Group has worked on each of the four sites over the past four years, further strengthening its reach and reputation in Scotland and is now considering a more permanent base in the region following the success of these projects.

The 200-strong practice, which was established in 1957, is gaining an increasingly strong reputation for its joined-up approach to sustainable communities.

Mr Brooks continued: “Space Group was appointed for its reputation in creating sustainable communities, in which a creative learning environment is at the heart.

“Every school has been designed with flexibility in mind - where every child can learn at their own pace and walk into a building that makes coming to school exciting and challenging.

“Our social responsibility is central to the business ethos, and we want our success to enable sustainable communities wherever we operate.”

Farrans’ contracts manager Warren Wright said: “As with every major construction project, this one brought its own distinct set of challenges. From day one, it became clear that the scale of the project involved building new educational facilities that would be a big deal for the region, and that would receive a very high public profile. There were also expectations of a high quality product, ready on time.

“Space maintained the pace and balanced contractors’ demands, providing timely information and expertise to bring value in a very competitive market. The team maintained good practice and at the same time gave precedence to maintenance and life cycle costs for the end user.”

The £40million construction projects included the new build of three schools and an extension to Stranraer Academy.

The key design aspiration of the Stranraer Academy extension was to create a ‘bold beacon’ - a landmark building that stands out and encourages lifelong learning for the secondary school students and wider community.

The existing building was retained and refurbished while the new building, which is hoped will become an important symbol of the community and the ‘face of Stranraer’, was designed as a simple, adjoining geometric cube.

The other projects included the amalgamation of two existing primary schools on the Kirkcudbright Primary School site to house pre-five and primary age students under one roof. The school was designed to be a landmark, featuring a multi-use games area which will be utilised by the local community.

The school has been separated into two zones, with the academic accommodation and a brand new sports hall flanking the entrance. The classrooms have been laid out as a natural evolution, with the pre-fives at the front of the school, graduating to Year 5 and Year 6 near the rear, towards the existing Academy, thus expressing progression throughout the pupils’ school lives.

Castle Douglas Primary School includes pre-five, primary and Additional Support for Learning Scotland (ASFL) students, who are due to move in this September.

The overall design provides specialised accommodation for each age group and the aim is to create a harmonious community under one roof.

The school is zoned to promote an open and welcoming learning area for students and the larger community, whilst also allowing for individualised learning spaces.

The building has been designed to embrace the surrounding landscape. The upper ground piggybacks the lower ground, forming a green roofed learning terrace that overlooks the scenery. This was designed to create a physical metaphor for ‘finding their own way’ as the students progress throughout their school years.

Wallace Hall Primary School and Academy are co-located on one site, incorporating a pre-five, primary and secondary school. Whilst the schools are separate, the accommodation has shared areas such as the sports, dining and administrative rooms.

This design is aimed to give the site a feeling of ‘one school under one roof’ and providing a thematic, consistent teaching approach throughout the students’ educational life. Inspiration for the location and design of this school was drawn from the surrounding landscape and the desire to create something bold and stimulating.

RIGHT ENVIRONMENT FOR NEW RECRUIT

Space Group’s new senior urban designer Richard Charge.

LEEDS based architecture practice Space Group will further strengthen its position in the environment sector with the appointment of Richard Charge.

Mr Charge, has joined the firm’s integrated regeneration urban design and environment service as a senior urban designer.

The 29-year-old brings with him seven years’ expertise in developing masterplans and urban design frameworks for a range of national and international projects. His masterplanning experience across England and Northern Ireland includes contributing towards West Hull Masterplan as part of the emerging Area Action Plan.

Mr Charge previously worked as a senior urban designer for Tribal’s Urban Design and Masterplanning Team where he worked alongside ARUP on a Science City Masterplan, looking at ways to integrate science into the city of Magdeburg in Germany.

He was also a finalist at the 49th International Federation of Housing and Planning (IFHP) International Design Competition, where he received a commendation at the at the World Congress in Rome.

His expertise covers site specific design guidance, dealing with major planning applications and community consultation design workshops.

Mr Charge said: “Space Group’s ethos of people focused, sustainable design really appealed to me, and I’m looking forward to contributing to such a dynamic and creative team and at a time when the sustainability agenda and creating sustainable communities is of all time importance.

“I am looking forward to using my regional, national and international experience to build up this area of Space Group’s business.”

Space environment associate director Tony Wyatt said: “Welcoming Richard as our latest recruit confirms that Space Group is committed to creating and developing sustainable buildings and communities for people in Yorkshire and the Humber and his expertise will only enhance this.

“Richard really displays the attitudes and values that we look for in new recruits. We are delighted to be welcoming him to our ever growing team.”

As well as being a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI), Mr Charge is also a qualified BREEAM Eco Homes Assessor and has a degree in town planning and a diploma and masters specialising in urban design.

STUDENTS HELP TO CREATE SPACE FOR NEW ECO SCHOOL

Image of the proposed Eco Centre.

STUDENTS in the North East have been working with an architectural firm on provisional plans for a new Eco centre at their school.

Students at Haydon Bridge High School in Northumberland have worked closely with Newcastle architectural practice Space Group and the initial design for the new zero carbon eco-centre has now been unveiled.

A planning application will be presented to Northumberland County Council in September, with work scheduled to start in January.

If planning approval is given Space Group will work with constructor GB Building Solutions as part of the Northumberland Council Framework.

A group of sixth form students who attended agricultural courses in old buildings, decided to undertake a feasibility study on creating new classrooms within a new Zero Carbon Eco centre.

With the help of the council, they lodged a £1m bid with the Government’s Department of Children, Schools and Families, which was successful.

It is planned that half of the money will fund the new Eco centre and the other half on improving the energy performance and carbon footprint of the existing school, which is a typical 1960’s flat roofed building.

The renewable energy measures will apply to the Eco centre and the existing school, and will encompass, Photovoltaic panels, solar water heating, a small scale wind turbine, a biomass boiler, that will serve the existing school, and an air sourced heat pump for the new Eco Centre.

The school has the largest catchment area of any school in England, with a total of around 700 pupils, 60 of whom are boarders. Plans for the eco centre, which would deliver agricultural, sustainability and environmental education, include a flexible science lab, greenhouses and land for horticultural needs.

Space Group project lead Keith Handy said: “For us, this has been a really great project to work on.

“We initially met with year 12 student focus groups and drew up plans that encompassed some of the original ideas which the students spent so much time researching. We used our own valuable experience to develop a design that was pleasing to all, and which delivered in terms of both functionality and sustainability.

“This is an exemplar project that has to deliver on number of sustainability issues, it is also intended that this project will help to influence future schools for both refurbishment projects and new school buildings.

“The use of renewable technologies incorporated into both the new and existing buildings will be monitored in great detail to appreciate the benefits in both energy usage and carbon reductions which can be achieved. The design also has to be sustainable in functional content, allowing it to meet a wide range of end user requirements and flexibility is a key feature of the design, allowing the spaces to be used for a wide range of activities from science labs to lecture space.

“It’s not often you get to work on a something that’s going to have such a real life impact and the students have put a lot of work into the research, their enthusiasm has been infectious.

“Our design philosophy for the Eco Centre incorporates the key elements of Passivhaus principles, this is a sustainable design philosophy, which focuses on both minimising heat loss through the building fabric and maximising heat gains by both the environment and internal usage. This reduces the reliance on over complicated, building services and exploits basic good practice design principles, for example, orientation, fenestration, building envelope and air tightness. This is fundamental to the wider design of quality management procedures, we as a practice are adopting.”

If planning approval is given, the centre will be built by the school’s existing greenhouses, so the ‘statement’ structure can be highly visible, without being a hindrance to any potential future redevelopment of the rest of the school.

It will be centred around two rooms – a science lab and a general classroom – and will also feature a ‘break-out’ centre space and external sections for outdoor learning.

Benches in the lab will be movable to create space for events if required, with the centre already being billed as an educational hub not only for Haydon Bridge, but for its partnership schools and the community.

It will also form a new centre for students undertaking the diploma in environmental and land-based studies.

Aluminium, wood panelling and glass will feature heavily in the design, with sophisticated double glazing meaning heat loss is minimised and overheating prevented.

A sedum roof over the larger classroom will reduce the surface water run-off into the existing sewers prevent the need for drainage systems, while water flowing from the other large roof will be utilised on the allotment gardens through a simple irrigation system. This is an essential requirement of all new developments.

Wind turbines and other renewable technologies will form the main power sources, in order to minimise the reliance upon energy sources from elsewhere.

SPACE’S GRAND DESIGN

York Hospital, deputy chief executive Mike Proctor’s new home completed by Space Group.

A HEALTH chief was so enthused by ward refurbishments at his hospital - he asked a Leeds architectural firm to complete a Grand Designs-style project to create a stunning new family home.

Following the success of work at York Hospitals, deputy chief executive Mike Proctor tasked Nigel Pilkington, associate director at Leeds-based Space Group, with designing a striking four bedroom home for himself, his wife and two children.

Mr Proctor originally considered extending a small 1950s bungalow on the site in Haxby, North Yorkshire, but soon realised that this would not maximise the site’s potential or provide the family’s dream home.

Amongst its many features, the interior design includes glazed partitions, timber framed picture windows and a dramatic skylight over the central staircase.

Space Group project architect Tania Kosma said: “We asked the family to compile a scrapbook of different buildings and interior images that reflected their aspirations for their new home. Following the initial consultations it became apparent that a ‘Grand Designs’ style project would satisfy their brief.

“It was clear that they wanted something very modern that would also be practical for a busy family life. The long, narrow 1,200 sq metre plot presented many design problems, but also many opportunities to adopt a creative design approach resulting in an elegant and minimal solution.”

York Hospitals’ deputy chief executive Mike Proctor said: “Space Group rescued us from the design wilderness; its ideas and vision fired our own imaginations and opened our eyes to possibilities we would never have been able to consider without them.

“We now have a wonderful home that works on every level. My experience in this project has reaffirmed my long held belief that to achieve success in anything in life you have to surround yourself with good people and trust their judgements. Our fabulous home is testament to the quality and skills of the architects.”

Space Group worked to take full advantage of the beautiful surrounding views, which start from the grand oak double door entrance, with glazed surround, allowing glimpses of the landscape beyond.

The interior opens up to the main living and dining area, which utilises a five metre wide sliding-folding glazed-screen to ‘bring the outside in’ and maximise the views to the garden.

“It was a great opportunity for us and fulfilling to know that following the successful healthcare projects that Mike would also commission us to build his family home,” Tania added.

As these Grand Design-style projects don’t come around as often as the architects would like, it’s now business as usual for Space Group, successfully winning ProCure21 contracts with North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust and Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust.

Rob Charlton on _space life

In May 2009, national architectural firm Space Group launched its online and social media portal, _space life.

CEO Rob Charlton discusses how the idea came to life and the online developments made since the launch.

Bunny Hill Comes Alive With Space

Bunny Hill in Sunderland was designed by national architectural firm Space Group.

As the exemplary health and community facility celebrates its third birthday, we go back and find out how the good design has helped change lives and bring a community together.

FACE OF SPACE SEES DESIGNER TAKE STARRING ROLE

Star of the show: Space Group’s 3D visualiser Hugh O’Neill with the Space Group marketing picture which he stars in.

AN architectural firm committed to encouraging a creative working culture has turned one if its people into a star of its annual marketing campaign.

Space Group’s 3D visualiser Hugh O’Neill is the talk of the office after securing a starring role in a contemporary set of new company images, which will be used extensively to market the business.

Just as hardware store B&Q announced that it has used more than 500 staff in its TV advertisements since 2006*, Space Group has also utilised its people to be the face of ­its new website and the company’s online social media portal ‘Space Life’ which houses its Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube and blog posts.

Hugh, 32, adopted a pilates pose in the company’s last campaign and has this year swapped his jeans for a pinstripe suit, Blackberry and briefcase.

The image, taken on the roof of Gateshead’s Baltic Place, was taken to portray the ‘work’ element of the firm’s six divisions - work, play, care, learn move and live.

For the second year running Space Group has commissioned local creative photographer Sasa Savic to shoot the images, to reflect the company’s community work.

Sasa’s work went on display at _spaceworks’ own gallery in Gosforth, Newcastle, in June, where the company holds a monthly Think and a Drink event to support local talent.

Space Group chief executive Rob Charlton said: “Instead of turning to a pricey modelling agency we decided to utilise our own people in our marketing efforts.

“Each year, Space Group commissions a photographer to reflect our work in the community.

“Following the success of last year’s images, which included my own little daughter Daisy, we have re-commissioned Sasa, an emerging professional photographer, to really bring our brand to life.

“Space Group is passionate about nurturing up and coming talent and we have been very delighted to support Sasa’s work once again.

“These images will be used extensively to market the business and are featured on our website and have been displayed in space gallery throughout June.”

Hugh said: “I have been involved in the Space promotional pictures for the past two years now so people have been calling me the ‘face of space’ which is fun.

“In my day job, I take the architectural elevations and transform them into 3D visualisations or artists’ impressions so to actually be involved in front of the camera is really interesting and I’m pleased to have been given the experience.”

The images will be exhibited at ‘Space Gallery’ during its Think and a Drink event on Thursday 25th May until the end of July or can be seen on www.spacegroup.co.uk



*Campaign Magazine.

_SPACE CADETS ZIP OVER THE TYNE

_space cadets zip slide off Newcastle's Tyne Bridge...

NEW ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AT SPACE GROUP

Tony Wyatt, Associate Director of _space architecture

THE man who led the award winning urban design and conservation input into Newcastle’s historic Grainger Town and East Quayside regeneration has joined architectural firm Space Group.

Tony Wyatt, former Urban Design and Conservation Group Manager at Newcastle City Council, has been appointed as Associate Director of _space architecture. The 54-year-old from Gosforth, Newcastle, will be responsible for the firm’s integrated regeneration urban design and environment service.

He brings with him more than 30 years’ public and private sector experience and is also an independent National Specialist Advisor.

Tony said: “This was a terrific opportunity for me to take on a new challenge and join a really progressive company.

“My job is to develop the Group’s urban design, master planning, historical and natural environment and landscape services.

“I look forward to using my national and public sector contacts to build up this area of Space’s business.”

Tony is currently an urban design advisor on the CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) national Design Review Panel. He was selected in 2006 and his term has recently been extended until 2011.

His extensive experience also saw him being invited to join the Home Office design review panel in 2008, with a position on both the North-East and North-West regional design panels following this year.

Tony has been an Executive Member of the national Historic Towns Forum since 2006, serving as Vice Chairman in 2007.

Space Group CEO Rob Charlton said: “To attract someone of Tony’s calibre is a real coup for us.

“He is extremely well regarded in his field and we look forward to further building our urban design reputation with his help.”

BUILDING MAKEOVER TO CREATE HAPPY SHIP

Space Group associate director Nigel Pilkington (far right) shows the Sea Cadets the new design proposals.

YOUNG sea cadets across Bradford are riding on the crest of a wave after triumphing in a regional building makeover competition.

Earlier this year, Leeds-based _space architecture, part of Space Group, called for charity groups in need of a makeover to come forward to win a free renovation or refurbishment.

Bradford T.S Aurora Sea Cadets, a voluntary organisation for youngsters aged 12 to 18, has beaten off 20 other hopefuls and will now have its rundown premises overhauled.

Space Group has already visited the old school building and discovered the premises all at sea.

Now they are working on plans to redecorate the toilet and classroom areas, re-design the changing rooms and make the building shipshape.

Space Group’s Yorkshire office hopes to team up with local suppliers and contractors to help support the costs of the materials.

Space Group associate director Nigel Pilkington said: “We have visited the building and the main priorities are the classroom, toilets and changing rooms. As well as designing better storage zones, we will decorate the toilets with fresh paint, add more privacy screens in the changing rooms and add mirrors and shelving to make it a nicer and friendlier place to be.”

Alan Mandreit from the Sea Cadets said: “We have been trying to fix the building ourselves for years but it has proved to be an endless task. We have worked hard to improve things by painting as much as we can, but time constraints and lack of budget means it has been a slow process.

“We have also been trying to raise funds but the majority of this money is to fund a new minibus so I really am thrilled that Space Group has been our saving grace.”

Space Group opened up the competition in Yorkshire after successfully renovating a North-East children’s centre in the style of a TV 60-minute makeover.

Space Group CEO Rob Charlton said: “Working in communities is what our business is all about and we are particularly interested in supporting young people.

“The entire architecture team at the Yorkshire office has spent a lot of time whittling down the shortlist of entrants and we agreed that the sea cadets’ premises were most in need of a facelift.

“By applying our architectural and design skills, together with hands-on help such as painting and decorating, I’m sure we can make a real difference.

“Simple things, such as the clever use of colour and shape, can make a huge difference to how the area is perceived and used. I can’t wait to see the cadets benefitting from their new building.”

WORK UNDERWAY ON TRANSFORMING CARE AT LEEDS TEACHING HOSPITALS

THE transformation of hospital wards has begun as the first stage of a £34 million scheme to centralise children’s hospital services at Leeds General Infirmary and adult acute medicine and older people’s services at St James’s University Hospital.

Leeds architecture firm Space Group and Laing O’Rourke, Britain’s biggest privately owned construction company, has started the build for the Clinical Services Reconfiguration programme at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

The entire programme is due to be completed during 2011. The project team will bring together the existing paediatric services, currently based at both St James’s University Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary (LGI), by refurbishing and renovating areas in the Clarendon and Jubilee wings at LGI to provide much improved facilities for children on a single site. Space freed up at St James’s will allow the centralisation of older people’s wards and acute medicine on that site.


The main changes at LGI include additional specialist facilities for children suffering from cancer, cystic fibrosis and serious liver conditions.

New draft ‘air lock’ lobby areas between each of the single patient rooms for children suffering from cancer have been designed by Space to reduce cross infection. The draft lobby area will be a separate room that nursing staff will have to walk through first before they enter the patients’ room from the outside ward.

“It’s a really challenging and interesting project,” explains Gordon Fawcett, Project Manager for Laing O’Rourke.

“The paediatric accommodation is being constructed within the existing buildings, so the Design Team has had to accommodate clinical and spatial requirements on a confined works site. Plus, the new works are adjacent to many wards and departments which are still operational – a major logistics challenge for the construction team.”

The project team has proposed a range of sustainable measures to reduce the impact of the works that could affect patients and the environment.

Space Group CEO Rob Charlton said: “Reusing existing fabric and materials where feasible reduces the environmental impact and lessens the toll on patients and staff.

“Upon completion, the community will benefit from the feel of both brand new paediatric facilities as well as better facilities for acute medicine and older people; a wonderful example of sustainability where the best elements of the old are preserved and augmented with state-of-the-art materials and design techniques.

“The new site will aid the health and well being of the children and the new environment will make their stay more comfortable and pleasant.”

MECHANICAL ENGINEER MAKES HIS MARK AT SPACE

Space Group’s new recruit Mark Richards with space Facilities managing director Duncan Johnson.

_space Facilities – part of the Space Group – has appointed a mechanical and electrical engineer to enhance its offering to clients.

Mark Richards, from Spennymoor, County Durham, has joined the _space Facilities team, which provides a range of services for clients in both the public and private sectors.

Mark, who comes to Space Group with over 15 years’ experience in building services will complement the existing range of services on offer which include building surveying, DDA access consultancy, fire risk assessment and strategic integration FM advice.

Mark’s new role will see him assisting _space Facilities’ surveyors - one of the biggest building surveying teams in Newcastle - in all aspects of designing mechanical and electrical services.

Speaking of his new role Mark said: “The skills and knowledge that I bring to the facilities team means that we can now offer clients a mechanical and electrical design service in-house that we would have previously had to outsource. This shortens the communication chain and cuts costs for clients whilst offering them a higher level of service.

“With resources so precious there will be no building owner or occupier not currently giving cost consideration.”

Mark will work on projects from the initial brief, through to the design and development stage, project management and final completion. He will design and implement cost-effective equipment modifications to help improve safety, reliability resulting in a positive cost benefit.

Mark will also manage projects from a mechanical perspective, plan and design new production processes and use research, analytical, conceptual and planning skills, particularly mathematical modeling and computer-aided design.

_space Facilities managing director Duncan Johnson said: “Mark has joined _space Facilities to broaden and enhance the group’s offering to both existing and prospective client. His appointment will enable _space Facilities to swiftly meet clients’ needs on a one-to-one basis.

“By completing mechanical and engineering projects in-house _space is now able to offer clients a significantly streamlined and efficient service. This in turn provides cost savings, which we are sure will be very welcome in these difficult economical times and which once again demonstrate _space Facilities’ ethos of setting the pace in everything we do.

“_space Facilities is continually developing and looking for a range of different services that will benefit a wide client base; we ensure that the client is at the centre of what we do.”

FACILITIES FIRM GIVES FREE MAKEOVER TO YOUTH CENTRE

Children North East chief executive Jeremy Cripps with _space facilities associate director Andrew Moore outside of the WEYES building on Graingerville North looking at the plans.

A facilities firm has pledged to redesign a Newcastle youth drop-in centre free of charge in a bid to keep the vital service on its feet.

The West End Youth Enquiry Service (WEYES) project, run by charity Children North East, has been operating out of a rundown Victorian building in Graingerville North, West Newcastle, for the last decade.

Now Tyneside-based _space facilities, part of Space Group, has pledged to give the charity free design and surveying services to completely renovate the building.

The building is currently in such a bad condition that the charity has been forced to move into temporary accommodation on Grainger Park Road in the city until the renovation is complete.

_space facilities has already begun drafting the designs for a suite of new treatment rooms, a new waiting area, kitchen and toilet facilities, an office and ‘open zone’ rehabilitation area.

The WEYES project, which has also gained support from Geordie actor Tim Healy, is an advice and health centre for some of the most difficult to reach young people who live, work or go to school in the West End.

Over the past 10 years, 7,500 young people have passed through its doors looking for advice on a range of issues. Counsellors and nurses are on-hand to give advice on general, sexual and mental health, as well as education, housing and employment issues.

_space facilities associate director Andrew Moore, who is heading up the scheme, said: “We are well underway with the new designs to bring the building up-to-date and make it a brighter and more welcoming place to help support young people living in Newcastle, who may otherwise have limited chances.

“Creating and maintaining sustainable communities and helping charities, such as this, bring the community together and are things we are very passionate about as a business.

“As Children North East is one of our chosen charities, we will do everything we can to help them keep this service going and that is why we have donated our services in kind.

“We are urging more sponsors and supporters to come forward to help donate building materials, interiors features and so on.”

Children North East chief executive Jeremy Cripps said: “We previously rented the building so we were unable to do anything to it. It has become a really horrible site - inside and out - and needs a lot of work done to make it a bright and welcoming place for young people to want to come.

“Children North East has since bought the building so now we are really able to do things to it to make it look fabulous – which is where _space facilities comes in.

“We are really grateful for Space Group’s help in making this building a centre for the future for the young people of today.”

Work will start once planning permission has been granted, with completion due by the end of this year.

Children North East needs to raise £250,000 to help make the project come to life and fund building materials.

To help support the refurbishment of the WEYES project, donate online at www.justgiving/weyes or call Children North East on: (0191) 256-2444.

Construction students to rebuild the Gherkin

Photo caption: Northumbria University’s School of the Built Environment students during the first workshop at Space Architecture.

70 students from Northumbria University are to rebuild the Gherkin and two other world famous landmarks.

Three North East companies have teamed up with Northumbria University to invest in the future of young people entering the construction industry, providing them with a more unusual form of hands-on experience. Construction firm GB Building Solutions, recruitment consultants Corepeople and Space Architecture, part of the Space Group, are all helping provide 70 students with a creative building challenge at Constructionarium.

The students, who are studying construction related degrees at Northumbria University’s School of the Built Environment, will build scaled down versions of three of the world’s most iconic buildings: the Swiss Re building in London, better known as the Gherkin, Sheffield’s Millennium Galleries and the magnificent canopy roof of Naples Airport underground station.

Martin Smout, Chairman and Chief Executive of GB Building Solutions says: “This is the third year we have supported and invested in Constructionarium and we didn’t think that the recession was any reason not to. The UK economy is heavily reliant on the construction industry and it is vital we take the time and money now, to invest in the people who will be fundamental to our growth of tomorrow.”

Ian Storer is Executive Director for recruitment consultants Corepeople. He says: “We are the longest established and largest recruitment agency in the North East, specialising in the built environment, and receive regular comment from employers in the region that graduates rarely have the appropriate practical experience that employers need when they leave university. We are particularly pleased to have the opportunity to support this initiative as it helps meet a real need for employers.”

As part of Constructionarium, the students will spend a week at Bircham Newton in Norfolk. Working under the supervision of professionals from GB Building and Space Group, they will be fully responsible for all aspects of the construction work from planning, costing, programming and health and safety considerations through to labouring.

Workshops have already been held at the University and at Space Group where the students discussed and planned how they would take the project from a bare site, through to fully completed scaled-down buildings.

The students will learn how to use Revit, the latest construction software from Autodesk. Space Group has invested in the package for several years and has seen the benefits of bringing several disciplines together to work on a single building database.

Space Group Chief Executive Rob Charlton said: “We are hugely committed to allowing time to invest in developing talent for the future and investing in multi skilled professionals in the industry. It is essential now more than ever that students leave university with project management, cost control and hands on experience and Constructionarium helps them in this.”

Constructionarium works through the triangle of a university, a contractor and a designer working in partnership to deliver a new learning experience, which combines the academic perspective with the practical demands and skills of the design and construction professions.

Dr Paul Chan from Northumbria University says: “Constructionarium gives our students the opportunity to experience the entire construction process, with the invaluable support of our industry partners. It means that when our students graduate, they will go on site, not just with an excellent academic background, but also with the necessary practical skills to give them the confidence to take part right from day one.”

Northumbria University is the only North East University to take part in the project and the students will be attending from Sunday 26th April to Friday 1st May 2009. Other universities taking part this year include Southampton, Leeds, Cambridge, Nottingham and Imperial College.