Pankhurst Place and Oasis Square raised as names for NOMA public realm
A competition inviting residents of Manchester to name the new public square at NOMA has received hundreds of suggestions, inspired by famous people, the Manchester music scene, and local history.
The square will sit between the CIS Tower, New Century House and Hanover near Victoria Station. During the course of the £800m NOMA development the area is expected to attract a mix of cafés, restaurants, bars and shops.
Some of the names suggested commemorate Manchester icons such as Emmeline Pankhurst, Alan Turing and Anthony Burgess, alongside contemporaries Peter Saville, Anthony Wilson and Kevin Cummins.
Others have been inspired by famous local musicians and bands, such as Happy Mondays Square, Joy Square after Joy Division, Stone Square after the Stone Roses, Oasis Square and Gallagher Square.
Some creative suggestions include Circle Square, All Square and Fairand Square.
A shortlist of names will now 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.
The city square is being delivered by the Co-operative and Hermes Real Estate alongside Manchester City Council as part of the 20-acre £800m NOMA development, and is supported by the European Regional Development Fund. The square has been designed by landscape architects Planit-IE, and contractors Casey are on site undertaking construction works.
The scheme will open in October 2015.
