Preston Bus Station design contest launched
Lancashire County Council has launched an international design contest through RIBA Competitions to design a £13m arts facility for young people at Preston Bus Station.
The design brief is to improve the connectivity from the bus station through to the wider city centre, offering an attractive new civic space and encouraging further development of the surrounding area.
The new Preston Youth Zone will occupy around half of the space on the Holiday Inn side of the building, with a separate sports hall on the apron outside. The Youth Zone will feature an indoor sports hall, outdoor pitches, a climbing wall, fitness suite and areas for music, dance, arts and crafts.
After the initial stage of the contest five submissions will be shortlisted. Judging will be anonymous, with bidders' names removed from their entries. Phase two will require more detailed designs and additional information.
The construction contractor for the project works will be appointed from the county council's own construction framework.
The concrete bus station was completed in 1969 and designed by BDP.
For many years Preston City Council sought permission to demolish the building, citing excessive maintenance costs. The building was listed for protection due to its heritage value as an example of brutalist architecture in 2013. Lancashire County Council purchased the building in December 2013.
