NW2 Participation Building and Theatre Square Ipswich, WGP Architects Suffolk, New Wolsey Property Photos
NW2 Participation Building and Theatre Square, Suffolk
1 June 2022
Design: WGP Architects
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, south east England, UK
photo : Shaun Barber
NW2 Participation Building and Theatre Square in Suffolk is one of 17 projects which received a 2022 RIBA East Award.
NW2 Participation Building and Theatre Square, Suffolk, England
Jury Report
The NW2 Participation Building shows how even the most unpromising locations can start to be repaired and brought back into a proper civic dialogue.
Taking the top layer of a spiral car park ramp, the NW2 Participation Building establishes a series of spaces for community engagement and performance on an abandoned municipal site. A pleated gold roof canopy and black rubber-clad walls enclose a central public arena – giving shelter to the forecourt of the New Wolsey Theatre and creating the conditions for public performance and other events in the round.
photo : Peter Cook
This project packs a punch, succeeding in being realised, where other proposals have foundered, transforming an unpromising part of Ipswich into a place that evidently has a buzz and which is gathering interest and energy.
This project is a useful exemplar for other towns across the country who are dealing with the legacy of post-war highway schemes, relinquishing an addiction to car parking revenues and the challenge of a lack of local authority funding. The project was funded by a developer with interest on the adjacent car park site and who has had the sense to recognise that transformation of this road-blighted edge would significantly benefit the development site.
photo : Anthony Coleman
An impressive aspect of the project is the determination to place full accessibility at the forefront of the project values. It was clear to the jury that this was a project driven by the energy of Sarah Holmes, Chief Executive of the New Wolsey Theatre, who has clearly seen the potential of the project and ensured that it happened. She is to be commended for her role.
photo : Peter Cook
The predicted energy performance of this unique project addresses the RIBA 2025 benchmark, while actual energy performance is reasonably comparable to be within the benchmark range. Water conservation was also demonstrated to be one of the best amongst this year’s submissions.
The uniqueness of the project is stressed by the implementation of circular design principles to cleverly adapt an existing car park to be its substructure, while the inclusion of super insulated prefabricated timber panels had delivered an energy efficient and low carbon building fabric. The project is also commendable for the efforts made to enhance the biodiversity of its otherwise dense urban setting. Overall, the project has demonstrated meaningful engagement with the agenda to deliver low carbon solutions, and in this regard was one of the frontrunners amongst this year’s submissions.
photo : Peter Cook
NW2 Participation Building and Theatre Square, Suffolk, England – Building Information
Title: NW2 Participation Building and Theatre Square
RIBA region: East
Architect practice: WGP Architects
Date of completion: October 2020
Date of occupation: October 2020
Client company name: Charterhouse Investments with New Wolsey Theatre
Project city/town: Ipswich
Contract value: Confidential
Gross internal area: 300.00 m²
Net internal area: 282.00 m²
Cost per m²: Confidential
Contractor company name: Gipping Construction
Consultants
Structural Engineers: Price & Myers
Quantity Surveyor / Cost Consultant: Daniel Connal Partnership
Environmental / M&E Engineers: Centreline
Landscape Architects: Claire Greener Landscapes
Access Consultant: Michele Taylor
Planning Consultant: DGW Planning
Waterproofing Specialist: Aspire Consulting Engineers (Waterproofing Specialist)
Approved Inspector: Clarke Banks
Project Manager: Matt Linley Creative Projects
Awards
• RIBA Regional Award
• RIBA East Client of the Year
Photographs: Peter Cook
NW2 Participation Building and Theatre Square, Suffolk building images / information received from the Royal Institute of British Architects
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, south east England, UK
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