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Trio of architects appointed to major £200m Gateshead Quays development

The upcoming £200m regional arena, conference and exhibition centre at Gateshead Quays is pushing ahead with plans after announcing which businesses will be responsible for the site’s design.

Three firms of architects are now in place to plan the 10-acre site on Gateshead Quays, which sits directly opposite the Gateshead Millennium Bridge and between Sage Gateshead and BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art.

World-renowned architecture firm HOK have been appointed to design the new 12,500 seat arena and international conference and exhibition centre.

HOK has designed some of the most iconic buildings in the world, including the recently opened $1.3 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit USA. Whilst HOK are also designing the new arenas for FC Barcelona & Abu Dhabi’s new Arena & district on Yas Island.

AHR Architects Ltd, a multi-award winning practice, has been selected to develop and design the overall masterplan of the site including hotels, bars and restaurants and car parking for the scheme.

And Planit-ie, with particular experience in designing outside spaces, has been selected as landscape architects, drawing on expertise both in the UK and abroad for which the firm has won a number of industry awards.

These appointments have been made by Ask Real Estate and PATRIZIA UK, Gateshead Council’s development partners for Gateshead Quays.

Gateshead Council Leader, Martin Gannon, said: “The appointment of the design team is a critical and landmark decision for this project.

“All three organisations have global reputations and that shows our commitment to bringing a world-class arena and conference and exhibition facilities to the North East.

“Gateshead Quays is already one of UK’s most iconic riverside locations. We’ve always been clear that a high quality design for this site is paramount and we’re now ever more confident that the new buildings and landscape for this site will further enhance Gateshead Quays skyline and reputation.”

Leon Guyett, Development Director of Ask Real Estate added: “Some leading firms of architects expressed interest in designing this key site in the UK. We’re absolutely delighted to announce that these appointments are now in place and that we can further push forward with plans for Gateshead Quays.”

Daniel Williams, Head of Development UK and Ireland, PATRIZIA UK said: “All three organisations were selected as they all have a fantastic reputation for designing major new centres. These new facilities will certainly confirm Gateshead Quays as one of Europe’s key cultural locations.”

The 12,500 seat arena, and conference and exhibition facilities which will be operated by SMG Europe, will replace the existing Metro Radio Arena. The development is set to open in 2021.

The design team will now commence work on a masterplan for Gateshead Quays and it is expected that a planning application will be made in late 2018.