Lead Architect Announced for West End Development at Manchester Cathedral
Manchester-based property consultant, Dooleys, has announced that the Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios has been selected as the lead architect to the £7m West End Development at Manchester Cathedral.
On behalf of Manchester Cathedral, Dooleys invited architectural practices to submit proposals through the OJEU for the position of lead architect on the ambitious West End element of the £15 million Manchester Cathedral development project in September this year.
Responses were very strong, with a large number of practices entering the competition. Dooleys managed the shortlisting process for the panel which included Manchester City Council and Historic England. The shortlisted practices included BDP, Buttress Architects, Purcell and Richard Griffiths Architects alongside Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios.
Practices were asked to produce a design that is aspirational and symbolic and that will both preserve and enhance the heritage and character of the Cathedral’s existing west façade, helping the Cathedral to become a more recognisable symbol with the ambition of creating a medieval tourist and cultural quarter for the city.
The chosen architect will now work with the Cathedral to develop the design toward a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) bid to be submitted this year.
Speaking about the response to the competition Dooleys’ Managing Director, Brendan Dooley, said:
“The response to the tender for the Cathedral West End project was phenomenal and following detailed interviews with five practices, the panel selected Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios as one of two practices that stood head and shoulders above the rest. The panel concluded that Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios’s innovative yet pragmatic approach was the best and most deliverable solution for this high profile and sensitive site.”
Anthony O’Connor, Director of Fundraising and Development at Manchester Cathedral said:
“The Cathedral has embarked on its largest building intervention in its history with a planned completion on its 600 year anniversary in 2021. It is great, that thanks to our sponsors, volunteers and partners, several projects are already on site.”
Dooleys was appointed by Manchester Cathedral in January 2014 to work as project manager and quantity surveyor to co-ordinate and control 17+ packages of work involving cost planning, procurement and delivery of projects, the largest of which is the West End Development at £7m. The appointment also includes the installation of the new 14 tonne organ on the medieval screen and a new lighting and sound installation being developed with Manchester design consultants BDP.
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios opened a new Manchester office in 2015.