Architect chosen for Preston Bus Station
New York-based John Puttick Associates is the winner of the architectural competition to design a £13m arts facility for young people within the grade two-listed Preston Bus Station.
John Puttick was chosen from five anonymous shortlisted entries by the judges, which included Preston-based Cassidy + Ashton, Flanagan Lawrence, Letts Wheeler Architects, and Sane Architecture.
The plans will see a multi-million pound investment in the bus station site, to create a public space and a home for the new Preston Youth Zone Plus, while preserving the building’s unique brutalist architecture.
See below for a gallery of the winning design
The architectural competition was run by the Royal Institute of British Architects, on behalf of Lancashire County Council and Preston Youth Zone.
The public voted for their favourite design in July, at a two-day exhibition held in the bus station and online. A total of 4,215 votes were cast, with John Puttick chosen as the winner.
The votes by the public were taken into account by the judges, as well as architectural considerations.
As an independent charity, Preston Youth Zone will be delivered as a result of a combination of public, private and voluntary sector support led by OnSide Youth Zones, a charity dedicated to providing modern youth facilities based on the model of the Bolton Lads & Girls Club. Preston Youth Zone will contribute £1m towards the construction costs with Lancashire County Council investing £5m.
The bus station will continue to be a major transport hub, with improved public areas. Maintenance and repair work on the bus station is expected to begin on site in the autumn.
The county council and Preston Youth Zone will now work with John Puttick Associates to agree on the final design, with the planning application to be submitted later this year.
Planning approval will be required for the Youth Zone Plus, as well as listed building consent and approval from Historic England, before building work can start.
Cllr Jennifer Mein, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “We always knew that the bus station had a global appeal, and the fact that the winning firm comes from New York reinforces this.
“We’re delighted that a strong design has been chosen for the new Youth Zone Plus and we’ll now be working hard to get it built.
“This is a significant investment in one of Preston’s most well-known buildings, which will bring exciting new facilities for our young people, for this generation and for future ones.
“It’s an exciting time for the city, with improvements taking place on Fishergate and the first steps in the redevelopment of Preston Market. These plans are all part of the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal, which is creating new job opportunities, providing new housing and making it easier for people to get around.”
Click any image below to launch gallery
- John Puttick associates' plans in June 2015 were for an extension to the Bus Station
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