Designing science buildings for innovation and collaboration
Landing space with blackboard in the Beecroft Building, Oxford University (Hawkins Brown) News that scientists are testing for a Coronavirus vaccine at Oxford University prompted Future Cities Forum this week to speak to architects Hawkins\Brown, about the science buildings and laboratories that they are designing for the university where medical breakthroughs are happening. Partner Oliver Milton heads up the education and science sector at Hawkins\Brown which has completed O
Behaviour and future transport use in crisis-hit cities
At this time when city councils, infrastructure operators and investors are likely to be re-assessing plans for future transport, due to the way Covid-19 has created changes to how people work and travel, Future Cities Forum spoke to Immense - the firm providing a simulation platform for future mobility systems. Solutions Director, Dave Williams at the Milton Keynes-based company described the current approach: 'Immense is involved in emerging transport technologies and these
Master planning the city through 'hand-drawn' textiles
Make Architects is launching its Architecture Drawing Prize this summer 2020, hoping that during Covid-19, architects will be spending more time sketching and fine tuning their presentation drawings. The firm is in the midst of getting organised for a July launch in the run up to the World Architecture Festival in Lisbon this December. The Prize is curated by Sir John Soane's Museum, Make Architects and the World Architecture Festival. In the spirit of great architects of the
Balfour Beatty VINCI moves forward with HS2 work
CGI of HS2 trains at Birmingham Curzon Street station Future Cities Forum has been reporting on the investment and policy decisions with regards to the UK government's infrastructure programme. On the morning of our February forum, it was announced that HS2 would go ahead. News has now been released that construction company Balfour Beatty VINCI is to start preparatory works following Notice to Proceed from High Speed 2 (HS2) with its two main engineering contracts worth a co
Exeter's fortunes to revive with new hotel investment
View from Exeter's cathedral green with proposed rooftop bar on House of Fraser building visible to right of Clarence Hotel and to left of St Martin's church (CGI from Expedite / Prydis) This week Future Cities Forum - in its' series on investment to save UK high streets - looks at the development of a new hotel to be sited in Exeter's former House of Fraser store. Managing Director of Wealth Manager Prydis, Joe Priday, spoke to Future Cities Forum about the business case fo
Swansea beckons private developers
SA1 waterfront development for University of Wales Trinity St David by Stride Treglown Swansea is yet another UK city to take up the challenge of constructing an NHS Nightingale hospital in the battle against the coronavirus, using Kier to build an 850-bed facility in a disused former factory and film studio. This comes in the midst of a new launch by Swansea City Council to attract private developers to invest in the city. Before the lockdown, city councillors were asking fo
Schroders finds new uses for historic department stores
Dept W in Whitechapel London interior (refurbishment of Wickhams Department Store: courtesy SREF) Department stores - often with historic facades and interiors - have been closing in significant numbers across UK high streets in the last year. This week it was announced that Debenhams has entered administration putting the future of the department store chain at risk. However, as Future Cities Forum found out through talking to Jessica Berney, Fund Manager at Schroders Real E
New models for London's energy networks
Bunhill 2 Energy Centre in Islington, London (Cullinan Studio) Transport for London is looking at new models of public-private partnership in the area of 'waste heat' and part-funding a PhD with London Southbank University to expand research. Alex Gilbert, at Transport for London, has been talking to Future Cities Forum about this important area of innovation in the capital. 'We have done a huge amount of work to identify all the waste heat across our transport network with
Manchester's Northern Gateway housing receives £50 million
Manchester has successfully bid for £51.6 million from the Government's Housing Infrastructure Fund to unlock land for more than 5,500 new homes over the next ten years. Manchester City Council led the bid process supported by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (CMCA) which focused on 20 hectares of brownfield land that will support the initial phases of the Northern Gateway project - and the joint venture between the City Council and the Far East Consortium (FEC). The
Future Cities Forum online discussion: stadium-led regeneration
CGI of proposed stadium for Everton Football Club at Bramley-Moore Dock, Liverpool (MEIS / Dan Meis) As Everton Football Club waits to hear about its' planning application for the Goodison Legacy - the second part of the 'People's Project' which includes a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock in Liverpool - Future Cities Forum held an online discussion this week on the impact of stadium-led regeneration in cities. The Covid-19 outbreak has slowed construction throughout the UK