Hallé St. Peter’s Ancoats Building, Manchester Concert Hall Design Competition Winner, Architect

Hallé St. Peter’s, Ancoats Building

Concert Hall Architecture Contest Northwest England: Extension – Invited Design Competition

Updated 18 Mar 2020 + 4 Mar 2016; 25 Feb 2016

Architects: Stephenson Studio

Location: Manchester, England

The Oglesby Centre

The new extension, The Oglesby Centre in Manchester, is conceived as a classically proportioned modernist metaphor of the existing proportions of St Peter’s massing.

The ‘box in box’ detailing of the main rehearsal hall at first floor level and the brick massing of the elevation base conceal voluminous spaces internally to allow daylight penetration via continuous glass roof lights, and for the rear Grade II listed façade to be on full view from within offering privacy to the neighbouring buildings.

The internal activities of the Hallé, with expanses of glazing are restricted to overlooking Cutting Room Square, therefore offering a ‘front of house’ façade to the general public with wonderful private ‘back of house’ private activity within the extension walls.

Photos: Daniel Hopkinson Architectural Photography

Extension to Hallé St Peter’s, Ancoats, Manchester: Winner announced

RIBA Competitions and the Hallé Concerts Society are pleased to announce that the competition to extend its St Peter’s facility in Ancoats (Manchester) has been won by a design team led by Stephenson Studio.

This proposed new-build extension will form the second phase of the project to transform the Grade II listed former church building into rehearsal, performance, education and ancillary spaces for the Hallé Orchestra, Choir and other ensembles. The Stephenson Studio team was selected from a five strong shortlist that also included (in alphabetical order of design team lead): Caruso St John Architects; Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios; Flanagan Lawrence and Jamie Fobert Architects.

The Judging Panel which evaluated the design submissions consisted of the Hallé’s Chief Executive, members of its Board, together with Mike Oglesby CBE DL (Retired Chairman and CEO, Bruntwood), Sir Jeremy Dixon (acting as the RIBA Architect Adviser) and Niall McLaughlin (Niall McLaughlin Architects).

In selecting the winner, the Panel reflected on the Hallé’s ambition for the new extension to provide a noteworthy addition to the architectural heritage of the former cotton mill area of the city; an appropriate adjunct to the existing building’s ecclesiastical architecture; help in consolidating the adjacent Cutting Room Square and a refreshing rather than derivative approach to embody the ethos of the Hallé as an organisation.

On announcing Stephenson Studio as winners, Hallé Chief Executive John Summers said: “We are delighted to be working with Stephenson Studio on this project in an iconic part of new Manchester. We look forward to the development of a building that will provide inspiration for generations of the City’s musicians and a focus for our community and Education programme”.

Sir Jeremy Dixon commented: “We all thought that the submissions were of a very high standard, particularly with respect to the care in making presentations and the attention to the requirements of the Hallé. It made the experience of seeing the work and hearing the architects’ descriptions a real pleasure. Indeed, as with a generally high standard, it becomes difficult to make a final choice. The Panel selected Stephenson Studio for the elegance of their proposal and their engagement with the requirements of the Hallé. We can look forward with confidence to a building that properly represents the importance of the Hallé to the city of Manchester”.

Stephenson Studio have been announced as the winners of a RIBA Competition, in conjunction with the Hallé Concerts Society, to extend the Hallé St Peter’s facility in Ancoats, Manchester.

The new-build extension will form the second phase of the project to transform the Grade II listed former church building into rehearsal, performance, education and ancillary spaces for the Hallé Orchestra, Choir and other ensembles. The Stephenson Studio team was selected from a five strong shortlist that also included (in alphabetical order of design team lead): Caruso St John Architects; Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios; Flanagan Lawrence and Jamie Forbert Architects.

Arranged over a basement, ground and first floor, the design incorporates mixed-use and shared spaces that results in an efficient design. The new accommodation is ‘cut and carved’ out of the solid, to maximise daylight in and views out. It has been crafted to create visual links to the internal spatial system and outwards to help connect with the Cutting Room Square.

A main stair in the entrance foyer connects to the basement and first floor. The basement accommodates toilets, shower, rehearsal space, storage, plant, piano lift, condition controlled instrument store room and the archive / office administration, which is designed as one space that benefits from pavement glazed natural daylight from above.

At ground floor, a singular dramatic main entrance is provided as a triple height volume with glass roof light to offer full views of St Peter’s campanile tower. This space provides legible understanding of the whole complex, making a direct link into St. Peter’s via the tower, as well as pointing to the main elements of the new building. The reception and box office monitor the ingress and egress of visitors and staff. The café, bar and kitchen have ‘front of house’ views and physical links to Cutting Room Square via an expansive glazed façade and sliding screens.

At first floor level, the acoustically detailed practice rooms are arranged around the large volume of the main rehearsal space, separated by delicate roof lights over the circulation. The practice rooms will be multi-functional to provide, audition, meeting rooms, workshops, green rooms or visiting artist’s rooms as and when required. The conductor’s room has a ‘front row seat’ overlooking Cutting Room Square. A secondary means of escape staircase has been located within the space formerly occupied by the existing St. Peter’s control room.

The new control room has been located within the heavy masonry construction of the existing tower with the existing intake/extract aperture reused as a new observation window in to the main recital space. The existing ductwork within the tower will be relocated above the control room ‘box’.

The extension has been designed to be separated from the Grade II listed St. Peter’s façade by a glass roof light which touches it with minimum intervention.

Hallé St. Peter’s Ancoats, Manchester – Building Information

Client: Hallé Concerts Society
Competition Design Team
Architect: Stephenson Studio
Mechanical and Electrical Consultant: Max Fordham
Acoustic Consultant: ARUP Acoustics
Structural Engineers: Booth King

16 Nov 2015

Shortlist for Extension to Hallé St. Peter’s, Ancoats

Extension to Hallé St. Peter’s, Ancoats, Manchester, Shortlist

16 November 2015 – The Shortlist is announced for the competition to select a design team for a project to extend Hallé St Peter’s in Ancoats (Manchester) on behalf of the Hallé Concerts Society. his proposed new-build extension will form the second phase of the project to transform the Grade II listed former church building into rehearsal, performance, education and ancillary spaces for the Hallé Orchestra, Choir and other ensembles.

Forty-two Expressions of Interest were received from practices of varying size across the UK and Europe. The Selection Panel consisted of the Hallé’s Chief Executive, members of its Board, together with Mike Oglesby CBE DL (Retired Chairman and CEO, Bruntwood) and Sir Jeremy Dixon (Dixon Jones) acting as the RIBA Architect Adviser.

The five shortlisted architectural teams (in alphabetical order of design firm lead) are as follows:

– Caruso St John Architects LLP
– Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
– Flanagan Lawrence
– Jamie Fobert Architects
– Stephenson Studio

In selecting the shortlist, the Panel reflected on the Hallé’s ambition for the new extension to provide a noteworthy addition to the architectural heritage of the former cotton mill area of the city; an appropriate adjunct to the existing building’s ecclesiastical architecture; help in consolidating the adjacent urban square and a refreshing rather than derivative approach to embody the ethos of the Hallé as an organisation.

On announcing the Shortlist, John Summers, Hallé Chief Executive, said:
“We are delighted to have attracted such an outstanding shortlist of architects to work on this phase of the project and are very grateful to the Monument and Dunard Trusts for supporting the preparation work for the extension to St Peter’s, including this design competition”.

The five design teams will be invited to present their design proposals to the Panel in early February 2016.

7 Sep 2015

Extension to Hallé St. Peter’s, Ancoats, Manchester, UK

Extension to Hallé St. Peter’s, Ancoats – launch of Invited Design Competition

Extension to Hallé St. Peter’s, Ancoats, Manchester

Monday 7 September 2015 – RIBA Competitions is pleased to announce the launch of an invited design competition on behalf of the Hallé Concerts Society. The competition is seeking to select a design team for a project to extend the Hallé St. Peter’s Building in Ancoats, Manchester. The proposed, circa 1,450m2 new-build extension will form the second phase of the project to transform the Grade II listed former church building into rehearsal, performance, education and ancillary spaces for the Hallé Orchestra, Choir and other ensembles.

The Hallé wants the St. Peter’s extension to be a worthy addition to the industrial architectural heritage of the former cotton mill area of the city, which is characterised by its powerful red brick structures. The new extension will have an important role to play in the consolidation of the adjacent urban public space, the new Cutting Room Square. It will also need to provide an appropriate adjunct to the existing building’s ecclesiastical architecture, which by offering a refreshing rather than modish response, will embody the ethos of the Hallé as an organisation.

Expressions of Interest are sought from innovative, architect-led design teams across Europe. An equal honorarium of £6,000 (+VAT) will be paid to each of the teams (up to five) short-listed to participate in the design concept phase of the competition. Honorarium payments will be made to the architect firm leading each team and will be paid following submission and presentation of design concepts at final interview.

On the competition launch, John Summers, Hallé Chief Executive, said:
“We are delighted to be working with RIBA to find a design team to deliver an inspiring building in the heart of Manchester’s Ancoats. The successful firm will demonstrate an innovative and practical approach, both to a fascinating, music focussed, brief and the unique urban context”.

Expressions of Interest should be submitted in accordance with the requirements set out in the Preliminary Briefing Paper and Memorandum of Information available via: Hallé St. Peter’s Ancoats Design Competition

Interested parties who intend to submit a request to participate must obtain a Unique Registration Number (URN) by completing the form available from:

Extension to Hallé St. Peter’s, Ancoats,

The closing date for receipt of Expressions of Interest is 14.00hrs, 13 October 2015.

RIBA Competitions

RIBA Competitions delivers choice, inspiration and value to clients through expertly run competitive selection processes. The dedicated RIBA Competitions team can help you explore the full potential of your project, for further information visit www.architecture.com/competitions or email RIBA.Competitions@riba.org.

Hallé Concerts Society

Hallé Concerts Society : Now in its 157th season, the Hallé ranks among the UK’s top symphonic ensembles, with a distinguished history of acclaimed performances in the UK and around the world; award-winning recordings, radio broadcasts and educational outreach programmes; and a visionary commitment to building audiences and developing orchestral repertoire.

For further information about the Hallé and its history please visit Hallé Manchester