Skating in golden screen glory as a glamorous new leisure development is designed for Venture Fields.
The glory of the golden screen is set to return to Widnes, in Merseyside, after a twenty-five year ticket queue. Reel cinema is just one of the exciting new leisure features planned for Venture Fields - a former brownfield site beside the Mersey.
Venture Fields had remained vacant for 15 years, until the leisure complex project was revealed, as part of Halton Borough Council and St Modwen Properties' Widnes Regeneration scheme.
RPS is the lead concept designer and executive architect from the project's inception, using 3-D CAD modelling technology and fly-through video to present the concepts of the scheme and make the proposed buildings fully accessible to the client and planners in the pre-construction phase. Halcrow Worcester is behind the structures of the project, and NDC Manchester is providing the services.
The leisure complex is a glamorous new development that is equivalent in size to the QE2 - mixing sleek modern and post-modern architectural design. The building will feature a 3300 sq. m (36, 000 sq. ft) ice rink, a 650 sq. m (7000 sq. ft) Quasar Laser Unit , a bowling alley, and a six screen cinema -with two standalone restaurants at the entrance gateway, additional retail facilities, and 600 parking spaces.
It will also further help in reducing local unemployment by bringing an extra 350 jobs to the new Widnes waterfront economic zone. The £7M project will be complemented by further budget allocation for unit fit out on completion of the structure.
Pedestrian access to the new commercial site will be provided at the Earle Road car park, and linking Venture Fields to the town centre from its northern corner. The access benefits from the car park's full lighting at night, and CCTV coverage for increased public safety.
Three-dimensional art deco style geometric entrances clearly marked in red and blue will mark the different areas of the leisure complex. The arced roofs curve gracefully and the gable walls feature a wave design with contrast trim to echo the waterfront location. The roof uses a state of the art self-curving profiled system, and syphonic drainage.
The rink and retail section uses a double-storey (5 m/16 ft height) aluminium curtain walling with horizontal blade capping providing a stimulating visual feature.
The building's powerful visual presence is enhanced by the inclusion of full height curtain walling, and specially commissioned neon-trimmed up lighting and down lighting on the exterior. Bright and attractive wind sail signage has been planned to highlight the facility from the sites Ashley Way entrance, and complement the riverside theme.
RPS Technical Director, Alan McBeth says 'The local population of Widnes will now benefit from a long awaited, state of the art, thoughtfully designed leisure centre that will not only provide recreational facilities for local people to enjoy during the day and in the evenings, but much needed jobs for the area - this is what regeneration is all about!'
For more information please contact:
RPS Birmingham - Planning & Development
T: 01212 135500