Jobs open to revive Manchester

Graphics consultants will be sought in the new year to work on proposals to revive the bomb-damaged heart of Manchester.

Edaw, the winning team chosen to revitalise Manchester last week, has put forward a series of linked pedestrian spaces through the centre joining new leisure and entertainment facilities with a revamped Arndale Centre. The team includes Benoy, along with local architectural practice Simpson Associates.

Nick Lamb, operational director of Benoy’s London office, claims that in addition to opportunities for new graphics and interiors from individual land- owners, there will also be new signage on the approach to Manchester and within the city centre as part of the new masterplan.

“There will be comprehensive signage and identity packages for each of the public spaces linked to the new pedestrian route,” comments Lamb. “Each will be named and have a different size, feel and function, much like Piccadilly Circus or Trafalgar Square in London.”

The Edaw team will be working on refining details of the winning masterplan and urban design proposals over the next two months. It has been asked to advise on the appointment of further consultants to be decided by the Manchester Task Force.

At the same time, Building Design Partnership has been chosen to refine its proposals for the area around Manchester Cathedral, taking in Chatham’s School of Music and the River Irwell frontage. These include a new cathedral green and pedestrian footbridge and will be worked up within the Edaw framework.

Benoy has promoted Christopher Radcliffe, head of interiors, and Samantha Dakin, head of graphics, as associates of the group. There are also plans to extend graphics and interiors to the London office which opened last year.