November 2010
The Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), the world’s leading body dedicated to the field of tall buildings and the recognised international source for information in this field, has awarded its prestigious Best Tall Building Overall award to Leeds Metropolitan University’s impressive new complex, Broadcasting Place. The striking student accommodation and teaching facility had previously been named CTBUH’s Best Tall Building – Europe.
In a year in which an exceptionally large number of tall buildings were completed, Broadcasting Place was honoured not for its 23-storey height, but for its outstanding job in creating a sense of place. The jury felt that the building succeeded in this on a number of levels, with its addressing of city and urban context, its respect for the surrounding heritage buildings and the richness of its architectural design.
The iconic building, with its unusual, angular shape and ‘rusty’ exterior of naturally corroded steel that captures the essence of Yorkshire’s rugged landscape, is a true product of its urban environment – connecting the new with the old. Described as “humble”, “economical” and “environmental”, Broadcasting Place greatly impacts the university campus and the skyline of Leeds.
Halcrow Yolles provided structural, civil and geotechnical engineering and BREEAM services for the project.