MediaCityUK so far

We went on a private tour of MediaCityUk the other day. Here are the pics.

And here are the facts.

MediaCityUK is a purpose-built community for the creative and digital industries, located on Manchester’s waterfront at Salford Quays. Owned and managed by Peel Media, Phase 1 of MediaCityUK (due to complete in 2011) covers more than 36 acres, with the potential to develop up to 200 acres in the future.

Peel Media’s vision is for MediaCityUK to become a place for everyone working in the creative and digital sectors – from TV production to publishing, gaming to software development. The first residents of the 378 apartments on site will move into their homes in Spring 2010.

Management contractors Bovis Lend Lease began construction of Phase 1 in Summer 2007.

The BBC is moving nearly 2,500 staff to MediaCityUK from 2011. This includes five departments currently based in London (Radio 5 live, Children’s, Sport, Learning and Future Media and Technology); in addition to all of the BBC’s existing Manchester city centre operations.

The University of Salford is creating a new higher education campus at MediaCityUK designed to accommodate around 700 students and staff.

The Pie Factory is a production base next door to the current MediaCityUK construction site. Formerly a frozen food factory, The Pie Factory offers three sound stages, and associated facilities such as make-up and green rooms. It’s also home to around 15 ‘on the lot’ companies offering services ranging from casting to kit hire.

The initial 36-acre site (the equivalent of roughly 18 football pitches) consists of:

- Office space – 700,000 sq ft (65, 032 ssq m) (spread across five buildings)

- Studio block – 260,000 sq ft (23,225 sq m)

- etail/leisure space – 80,000 sq ft (7,432 sq m) (divided into units)

- 378 apartments (divided between two towers)

- 218 bed Holiday Inn

- Five-acre public realm area, including piazza capable of holding 5,000 people

- Tram terminus, extending the current line

- Foot bridge across the Manchester Ship Canal, linking Salford Quays with Trafford Wharf

- 300 bicycle bays

- Multi-story car park with approximately 2,200 spaces

Owned and operated by Peel Media, the studio block will include seven high definition television studios, two audio studios (one dedicated to the BBC Philharmonic), and a technical block featuring: funny equipt sound and vision control rooms; core post facilities; CTA (central technical area); dressing rooms; make-up rooms; workshops; set storage; and green rooms.

On the 'green' front MediaCityUK is the first scheme in the world to become a BREEAM approved sustainable community, by incorporating world leading sustainability into the design. Phase 1 has incorporated many features to meet the BREEAM criteria, in particular, using water from the Manchester Ship Canal to power, heat and cool the buildings on the 26-acre site.

As for the quality of the architecture we'll be casting a critical eye over that when the buildings are finished.