NOMA square naming rights on offer, tea included
A competition inviting residents of Manchester to name the new public square taking shape in the NOMA neighbourhood has opened.
The new public area will sit between the CIS Tower, New Century House and Hanover near Victoria Station. During the course of the NOMA development the area is expected to attract a mix of cafés, restaurants, bars and shops nestled amongst the listed Co-operative Group estate.
The square will be officially opened in October 2015, and the developers are asking for suggestions to be submitted by 28 July. Shortlisted names will then be submitted to an expert panel, who will consider each of the entries for their originality and rationale. The favourite suggestions will be rewarded with an afternoon tea and ‘bubbles’ for two at Teacup Kitchen in the Northern Quarter.
David Pringle, at NOMA, said: “This is a great opportunity for the local community to play a real part in creating the latest piece of Manchester’s history. 4,000 postcards are being delivered to homes and businesses in and around NOMA encouraging them to get involved, and we really hope to get a great response. NOMA is an area with a rich and vibrant heritage, and we want the people who live, work and enjoy themselves here to become a part of its future.”
Cllr Pat Karney, Manchester City Council’s city centre spokesperson who is on the judging panel for the new name, said: “The city centre wasn’t gifted a huge amount of open space by the Victorians during the rapid expansion of the industrial revolution – so it’s always with great celebration when a new public square is unveiled. To have your say on the naming of the new NOMA space is to be part of Manchester’s history – and so I’m really looking forward to hearing what suggestions the public come up with.”
How to get involved: You can submit your ideas in a variety of ways: On Twitter it’s @NOMA_mcr #NameOurSquare ; on Facebook NOMAmcr #NameOurSquare ; submit via e-mail at NOMA@co-operative.coop or submit online www.nameoursquare.com . Alternatively you can drop your suggestions in at the reception of 1 Angel Square.
The new city square is being delivered by NOMA and Manchester City Council and is supported by the European Regional Development Fund. It has been designed by landscape architects Planit-IE, and contractor Casey is on-site undertaking construction works.
Kevin Redhead, principal landscape architect at Planit-IE, said: “When considering design options for the square we looked to the architectural heritage and detailing of the surrounding and listed buildings across the NOMA estate. This informed material choices, and contemporary reinterpretations of historic themes have inspired visual motifs for the street furniture and signage. We hope the square’s final name also balances past glories with future prospects; inventively borrowing from history to reflect the area’s new creative uses.”
NOMA is being delivered by a joint venture partnership between The Co-operative Group and Hermes Investment Management.
Surely Hanover Square is the one??
By Keith Igglesthwaite
My my,.. Mr. Redhead sounds like he’s presenting his second year student crit. I’m afraid a simple Heliodon exercise and microclimate survey would tell you that a good name may be “cold shady windy square that will look nothing like the computer technicians image” Recommend re – reading Elizabeth Beazley’s The Space Between Buildings, and look! a giant television screen! the height of culture..can’t we have some flagpoles too..like outside a motor dealership! ? Whoo!
By Zarathustra
Hangover Square more like.
By Patrick Hamilton
Wheyyyyy! Great one Patrick.
Looks pretty decent to me. The main thing lacking with Manchester’s open spaces is their existence, so just be grateful they’re providing one…
By mancboi