Broadcast Place, Leeds



Architect
 Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Date Built
 2009
Location
 Woodhouse Lane, LS2 9PD
Description
A cluster of buildings, old and new, occupy this site beside Woodhouse Lane.  Together the buildings are known as Broadcast Place, described by the architects as, "... a striking mixed-use development close to Leeds city centre. A public/private partnership for property group Downing and Leeds Beckett University, it provides approximately 110,000 square feet of new offices and teaching spaces, and 240 student residences in a landmark building rising to some 23 storeys. A new Baptist Church completes the scheme."

At one end of the site is the Grade II Listed former Baptist Church built in 1863-4 to a design by Cuthbert Brodrick.  It is now used as offices.




At the other end is "Broadcasting House", a Grade II Listed former Friend's Meeting House built in 1866-68 designed by Edward Birchall.  Used today as part of this complex.








Between and behind these two buildings are the modern buildings clad in cor-ten steel. 



Without question, the most dramatic element of the development is the tower.  An article in the Daily Telegraph on October 25, 2010, declared that the tower had been awarded the accolade as "The World's Best Tall Building" by "The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat".  As the article suggests people either love or hate it.  The unusual design with sections oriented at different angles is one aspect of its unusual design.  The CTBUH explain on their website that, ".... A key design element at Broadcasting Place is the irregular elevations which have been tailored to optimize daylight and reduce solar penetration. The proportions of the glazed façade were carefully examined and derived using special software. An innovative analysis of the building façades was undertaken, which calculated the optimum quantity and distribution of glazing/shading at all points on the façade in order to ensure high levels of natural daylighting without overheating."