A planned office block that would be a key landmark in Newcastle city centre has been renamed as part of efforts to get the project off the ground.
Plans for the 100,000 sq ft Pioneer office building were first announced last March as the centrepiece of the Stephenson Quarter development behind Central Station. Now the building has been re-branded as One Founders Place, with hopes that the new name will help attract a tenant that is necessary for the scheme to go ahead. The planned 10-storey block has been designed by RIBA Stirling Prize-winning architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris.
It would be the centrepiece of the Stephenson Quarter development being led by Newcastle City Council, igloo Regeneration and Thriving Investments. However, with work on the building only set to start when a tenant has been signed up, the block has been rebranded after research published by Historic England suggested the best way to boost a city’s economy is to invest in its cultural past. The study found that linking heritage and cultural history to the new business communities leads to greater economic productivity and business growth.
Joe Broadley from igloo Regeneration commented: “One Founders Place will sit on an incredible location with an industrial legacy that few UK cities can boast. Many historic sites have been lost over the decades and so we wanted to ensure that the Stephenson legacy, such as the soaring brick railway arches, will be visibly reflected throughout the scheme. Businesses increasingly want something different for their workforce, a space that makes a statement whilst respecting its heritage but still utilising 21st technology and sustainable solutions to help the planet. One Founders Place ticks all the boxes.”
Councillor Alex Hay, cabinet member for thriving city at Newcastle City Council, said: “Founders Place is a key part of our city’s history. By working in partnership with igloo Regeneration, we are committed to reinvigorating this historic and distinctive part of Newcastle. The successful opening of The Pattern Shop, following its renovation earlier this year, demonstrated that this area is an important part of our plans to create an inclusive, green economy that also preserves the proud heritage of our city. Taking inspiration from its historic location and connectivity to the station and Forth Yards, One Founders Place will deliver high quality space for business and growth, with sustainability and well-being in mind.”
Efforts to regenerate the Stephenson Quarter area behind Newcastle’s Central Station—so called because Robert Stephenson had his locomotive works there—date back to 2004, with an office block, car park, technical college and hotel all built, as well as historic buildings being converted to new uses. The scheme has suffered a number of delays, however, with recent setbacks caused by the pandemic and a leading contractor going bust. The Pattern Shop, a historic building that has been converted for business use, was opened earlier this year, though it has yet to attract any tenants. The building’s developers said there had been “a lot of interest” in the site.
It is clear that the renaming of the planned office block to One Founders Place is a strategic move aimed at tapping into Newcastle’s rich industrial heritage to attract tenants and stimulate economic growth.
