_space group and Children North East paint Newcastle pink

Newcastle architects _space group have donated almost £16,000 to regional children’s charity, Children North East, thanks to fundraising at their annual charity event, the Think Pink Ball.

The event, held at the Gosforth Park Marriott Hotel in Newcastle, saw over 200 guests come together to raise a total of £15,755 through table bookings, a charity auction and private donations.

Money raised at the ball will be used to support young people and families who are suffering from the effects of poverty and neglect, with a portion going to support Hill Court, temporary accommodation where Children North East supports children and their parents who are homeless or fleeing from unfortunate circumstances.

Jeremy Cripps, Chief Executive, Children North East, said: “We are extremely grateful to _space group for once again supporting our important work ensuring that children and young people enjoy a good childhood and fulfil their potential no matter how poor their family circumstances are; and to help families move quickly through crises such as homelessness to re-establish themselves.”

The charity auction, which saw prizes including a Newcastle United match day experience, donated by David Smailes of Morgan Sindall and a charity golf day with Ant and Dec, sourced by Janet Richardson, raised £3,750 for the good cause.

Rob Charlton, chief executive, _space group, said: “In the current climate, encouraging people to donate to charity is an uphill struggle, and we have found this is doubly so when looking at our own industry. So for us, being able to have the support of 220 guests at the Think Pink Ball, some from large construction companies, was heartwarming and a wonderful expression of peoples’ desire to help, no matter how hard times are.

“We wouldn’t have been able to make the Think Pink Ball the success it was if we hadn’t been given support and time from individuals who made it their responsibility to be involved with this cause. For example, Janet Richardson, wife of Children North East trustee Stephen Richardson, who was able to encourage prize donations from across the region. We’re so grateful to everyone who has supported us and hope that we can continue to work with Children North East in the future.”

_space group has worked with Children North East since 2007, and has raised in excess of £50,000 for the charity, thanks to donations from the Think Pink Ball, sponsored participation in the Great North Run and regular staff donations.

_SPACE GROUP IS ONLY ARCHITECTS IN TOP 25 BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR

The _space team "wear it pink" on Breast Cancer Awareness day last year

National architectural firm, _space group, has become the only architectural firm in the UK to rank in the top 25 of the ‘Sunday Times Best Small Companies To Work For’ list.

The company, which employs 130 people across offices in Manchester, Newcastle and Leeds, placed 24^th, a 23 place jump from 2010.

_space group is also the only architectural firm to be awarded three star accreditation status by the Sunday Times ‘Best Companies’ projects team, and one of only 84 organisations in the UK to receive this accolade.

_space group chief executive, Rob Charlton, said: “It is absolutely incredible to think that we are highest ranking architectural firm in the UK in the ‘Sunday Times Best Small Companies To Work For’ list.

“We aren’t the sort of organisation that looks to be validated by how many awards are on our mantelpiece, but we do judge ourselves on the happiness of our people, as we know this has a marked effect on how well we perform as a business, and the high level of service we’re able to provide our clients.

“That our team thinks _space group is worthy of being a ‘Best Company’, and that this opinion is shared externally, is incredibly heartwarming. I am very proud of each and every person who works for _space group and hope that we are able to continue performing to this high a standard.”

Best Companies accreditation is based on eight different categories – my manager, leadership, my company, personal growth, my team, giving something back, fair deal, wellbeing.

_space group achieved its highest ranking in the ‘giving something back’ category, with the most common response being “my organisation makes a positive difference to the world we live in.”

The company, which has the vision of making life better for the communities in which it works, contributes time, resources and money to charity organisations in the North East, Yorkshire and Humberside and the North West, and has fostered a special relationship with organisations such as Children:North East, and Young Enterprise, working with the latter to coach teenagers on business and enterprise skills.

Janet Woodhouse, development officer, Young Enterprise North East, said: “We’ve been working with _space group since 2008 and they have consistently helped to make a positive difference to our students and their projects, encouraging them to think differently and creatively. Their high ranking comes as no surprise and we are very pleased for them.”

_space to re-join the fold

Welcome Home: Darren Purvis re-joins _space group as an interior designer

Northern architecture firm _space group, has strengthened its interior design team, _space interiors, with the appointment of a former employee, Darren Purvis.

He will jointly oversee the _space interiors team alongside Sophia Barton, based in the company’s Manchester office. With 12 years’ experience, across the hospitality, commercial, education and healthcare sectors, Darren will lead key projects in these sectors.

Darren said: “When I heard _space group was looking for another interior designer to boost the team, I got in touch straight away. They were keen to have me back and the rest is history.

“The company may have grown since I’ve been away, opening new offices and working further afield, but it is still the same friendly and open organisation I used to know and I can’t wait to get immersed in that again.”

Darren, 35, worked for the company under its former name, Waring and Netts, before joining specialist interiors firm, Ward Robinson.

Andy Roberts, _space group’s Managing Director of Architecture, said of the appointment: “Thanks to a number of project wins with a significant interior design element, we needed to increase our interiors team and we were very lucky that Darren was keen to work for us again.

“He is a great addition to the team, and we’re extremely happy to have him back. He’s a capable, confident individual who delivers exemplary projects of the highest standard. I am sure that he will settle back in very quickly.”

As well as a successful interior designer, having worked on projects nationwide, Darren is a keen distance runner, running for his local team, Birtley Athletics Club, as well as participating in distance races such as the London Marathon and the Great North Run, having completed the latter in under 71 minutes in 2010.

Darren continued: “What I’m passionate about is the challenge that interior design brings. I have been lucky enough to work on projects as diverse as the Corn Exchange in Leeds, and _space group’s Newcastle office, with the former being a listed building and the latter my future workplace. It is this diversity that interests me and keeps work fresh and exciting.”

Darren will also be involved in helping _space interiors to pursue new business opportunities and grow its offer in different sectors.

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.

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.

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.”