mellor architects
Solaris Centre, Blackpool:
Originally built in the 1930s to house tropical plants as a tourist attraction in Blackpool the Solaris Centre has been rescued from dereliction, and is now a sub-regional centre for environmental action with funding assistance from various bodies including the EU and the Energy Savings Trust.
The project has been awarded the RICS north west sustainability award and the Local Government Chronicle Environmental Award.
The building uses photovoltaic cells, wind turbines, a mini combined heat and power plant, solar water heating, high levels of insulation and energy conservation technologies and generates all the power needed for its own use.
ED12 SOLARIS CENTRE.pdf
Harris Library, Preston, Lancashire:
The Harris Library was built in 1893 with generous stairs and grand vistas but without today's concern for access for the disabled.
Work to provide compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act included the installation of new ramps, lift, reception desk, handrails, signage etc. Such work needs great sensitivity to avoid damaging the quality of such a fine public building.
In remodelling the main entrance, the opportunity was taken to insert two circular ramps that surround classically inspired sculpted cylinders by Ian Hamilton Finlay.
Eagle Crag, Brathay Hall, Ambleside, Cumbria:
Mellor Architects are appointed as architects for the 10 year development programme for the Brathay Hall Trust.
The Trust works with vulnerable and disadvantaged young people providing opportunities for them to develop the skills, confidence and motivation to make positive choices in their lives.
The Eagle Crag project involves replacing existing accommodation with a new inspirational building providing residential and training accommodation for 19 young people and 4 staff.
St Kentigern's Catholic Primary School, Blackpool:
This feasibility study for a new £6 million development to replace the existing primary school premises, has exploited to great effect ideas of education on multiple storeys and elevated covered outdoor play decks, and an emphasis on ICT technlogy.
Importantly, the stacking of accommodation has allowed much of the remaining site to be given over to additional sports and recreational space including a full five-a-side football pitch.
King Edward Vll and Queen Mary School, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire:
The project involved conversion of existing school accommodation and new buildings on the King Edward Vll site to facilitate the merging of King Edwards Vll and Queen Mary schools on a common site to form a new independent co-educational day school.
New accommodation provided in the project included additional classrooms, laboratories, dining room and kitchen areas.
Later work has included a new 6th form library and new all-weather sports pitch.
Bispham High School-Arts College:
As part of a team including Blackpool Borough Council's own architects department and partnering contractor Walter Carefoot we were involved in the creation of a new teaching block, drama studios, main entrance and office suite as part of a £6 million rolling programme of improvements at the new Arts College.
City Learning Centre, Blackpool:
The City Learning Centre, Blackpool provides a range of services focussed on IT education and support facilities to the local community including schools and the business community.
Accommodation includes a learning resource centre, a range of meeting and training rooms, a large auditorium, private dining facilities and administrative areas.
The accommodation is arranged in two arms accessed from a central entrance hub off which is a multi-function space which includes an internet cafe.
Lecture Room modernisation programme, Lancaster University:
Mellor Architects were appointed to carry out a rolling programme of modernisation of all centrally -timetabled lecture theatres and seminar rooms across the Lancaster University campus.
New seating, lighting IT and digital projection facilities were provided throughout, with more significant remodelling in the larger theatres
The work was carried out in phases during summer vacations.
Water Park, Coniston:
Set in a heavily wooded 65 acre site and with one mile of frontage onto Coniston Water this large gentleman's residence has been converted into an outdoor education and adventure centre for the Eric Wright Trust. Negotiations with the Lake District National Park Authority were extensive and approval only granted following an appeal.
Substantial restoration of the main house was required and great care was taken to protect and restore items such as the main stair, oak panelling and highly decorative ceiling plaster. The building provides accommodation for 30 young people and 7 staff.
The coach house at the rear was in such a poor state that demolition was unavoidable, a new building was erected in matching style to provide storage for outdoor kit and staff accommodation.
King Edward Vll and Queen Mary School Library, Lytham:
The new library sits within an original Edwardian school building constructed in 1908.
The library is on two levels within a grand double-height space connected by a new steel and glass staircase.
The L-shaped upper floor which is primarily given over to study areas overlooks the ground floor study and reference book areas.
Great attention was paid to retention and restoration of the original ornate plasterwork.
Kirkham Grammar Junior School:
A new venture to provide primary school education at this grammar school established in 1549 resulted in a
building which provides an excellent, open, flexible and child-friendly, teaching environment.
The heart of the building is the school hall, a central space which is open and bright. The top lit hall is a genuinely multi-purpose hub where school assemblies, gymnastics, dining and many other activities take place.
Four classrooms cluster around the central hall linked to it by a 'race-track' corridor which ensures good separation to avoid disturbance of classroom activities from the sometimes noisier activities taking place in the hall.
University of Central Lancashire: School of Art, Design and Performance:
A £1.4 million fast-track project to extend existing art studios and workshops in a redundant concrete-framed industrial building.
A new fully glazed entrance atrium provides a welcoming, light and airy exhibition space for student work whilst linking existing and new facilities.
High trees to the north prevented the use of traditional northlight lighting, the ideal for artist's studios. An innovative translucent insulated glazing system allowing use of light from the south has resolved this issue.
The programme allowed nine months for design and construction resulting in the decision to use a significant amount of off-site construction.
Kendal: T: 01539 727 402 F: 01539 730 181 E: kendal_mellorarchitects.com Preston: 01772 797 788 T: 01772 7897 780 E: preston_mellorarchitects.com
