Millions of visitors are about to enjoy a remarkable new shopping experience in an exciting, rejuvenated city, Liverpool, the European City of Culture 2008. Comprising six distinct districts in one central location, with 26 architects, 37 sites and 1.65 million square feet of shopping – plus residential, leisure, transportation and commercial use – this is a hugely complex undertaking.
Concept Architects include:
Allies & Morrison, CZWG, Pelli Clarke Pelli, Glenn Howells, John McAslan, Marks Barfield, Groupe Six, Austin Smith Lord, Wilkinson Eyre, Stephenson Bell, Dixon Jones, Haworth Tompkins, Page & Park, Brock Charmichael, Greig & Stephenson and Owen Ellis.
The Paradise Project delivering Liverpool One, is the largest city centre retail-led mixed use development project in Europe at the present time. The project commenced on site in October 2004. The key design principle behind the project is that of “buildings in the city” which integrate with the existing city centre. The project is being undertaken by Grosvenor in association with Liverpool City Council, the masterplan architects are BDP, whilst individual architects are appointed for specific sites.
The works comprise some 40+ separate construction projects including retail, leisure and residential, new open streets, basement and above ground car parking, extensive public realm and major infrastructure and enabling works.
The 1.65 million square feet of gross retail space includes three anchor department stores, forming the nucleus of one of Europe’s largest and most exciting retail developments. Leisure space totals 230,000 square feet, including a fourteen-screen cinema and two hotels housing 350+ rooms.
There are also 600+ residential units, a new BBC building, a variety of commercial units, 3000 underground and multi-storey car parking spaces, a fire station and a new transport interchange.
A major challenge for the project is the number of relocations within the overall site area which necessitates critical phasing to maintain the continuous operation of various facilities.
We were appointed to act as Quantity Surveyors for the developer, Grosvenor in 1999 and work commenced on site in 2004 with overall completion to coincide with Liverpool’s status as European Capital of Culture this year.
In a prime example of our interdisciplinary approach, Davis Langdon Mott Green Wall has assisted the merger of all the utility services required across Paradise Street into a single management contract. Electricity, gas, water and sewer management across the development is being efficiently procured and delivered.
Timescales have been especially demanding on this project, to ensure fulfilment of quality requirements within the four year construction period. Forms of contract used include JCT Major Projects Form and Single Stage Design and Build (JCT98 WCD).
The site includes 37 buildings, with many existing buildings renovated and brought back into use, creating a new and lasting city centre for Liverpool's people and businesses. Davis Langdon’s specialist teams provided a fully integrated service across the whole project, utilising a wealth of experience and expertise in this demanding sector, and more particularly, this project.
