Groups come together

Event Communications and US consultancy Joseph Wetzel are competing to design an exhibition masterplan for Newcastle’s landmark Lottery project, the International Centre for Life.

Both consultancies were chosen from an initial shortlist of six which included Met Studio, Imagination and US designers Zalisk Martin and Rouse Wyatt.

A spokeswoman for the Tyne & Wear Development Corporation, which is backing the 54m scheme, comments: “The chosen designer will work on a fixed fee basis and create a masterplan. Once this is done we will either continue to work with them solely or appoint other consultancies.”

The Millennium Commission has granted 27m towards the centre, which will focus on genetic research and combine a visitor centre with research facilities within a building scheme designed by architect Terry Farrell & Partners.

Details have also been announced for another North-east Lottery project- a South Bank-style arts complex based in Gateshead.

The 100m project includes the refurbishment of the Baltic Flour Mills into an art gallery with an adjacent concert hall and footbridge over the Tyne. Architect Dominic Williams has been working on the flour mill conversion but interior designers have not yet been appointed.

Labour has warned it would not bail out the Greenwich Millennium Exhibition if costs rise above the 500m budget, despite speculation that more Lottery cash will be needed. Millennium Central is battling against the clock to raise matching private funds for the event and is due to present its business plan to the Millennium Commission early next month.