Liverpool Echo Arena + BT Convention Centre

Location : adj Albert Dock, just to the east, south of city centre 2008 Wilkinson Eyre Architects Liverpool Arena & Convention Centre Address: 16 Monarchs Quay, Liverpool, L3 4FP Photos © Adrian Welch 13 Feb 2009: Aerial photographs: photos © webbaviation Image 21 Jan 2008: image : Ian Lawson Kings Waterfront Liverpool Jan 2008 Background Kings Waterfront is a vital component in Liverpool’s regeneration, and will see the transformation of an unattractive brownfield site into a vibrant urban quarter. The first phase of this development is the £146 million Liverpool Arena and Convention Centre. Co-ordinated by the city centre Urban Regeneration Company, Liverpool Vision, and funded by English Partnerships, the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), Liverpool City Council, the Merseyside Objective One Programme, Kings Waterfront covers over 14 hectares to the south of the city’s Albert Dock. photos : Tim Soar Liverpool Arena and Convention centre The scheme, the centrepiece of the city’s European Capital of Culture celebrations in 2008, comprises: an arena with 9,500 seat capacity; a convention centre with a 1,350 seat auditorium; and a 7,000sqm exhibition space. A public piazza, capable of accommodating large outdoor events, two hotels, extensive public realm and 1,600 space multi-storey car park complete the scheme, which is set within a mixed use community of residential, office, neighbourhood retail, public and open space uses. Wilkinson Eyre Architects’ design incorporates the development’s varied functions as a single complex of two unified forms, creating a contemporary landmark on Liverpool’s historic waterfront. The two forms, one housing the arena and the other the conference and exhibition centre, are joined by a central, glazed ‘galleria’, forming a common circulation space. From Birkenhead, the composition of these two sculpted forms, pivoted about the central galleria, resembles a pair of graceful outstretched arms or ‘wings’, spanning Liverpool’s famous Anglican and Roman Catholic cathedrals. The development incorporates a series of exciting new public spaces, rich in activity, providing improved access to the waterfront and strengthening connectivity to other nearby attractions. The arena and convention centre are designed to minimise energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions through heat recovery systems, natural ventilation and heat pumps. The building is designed to achieve a 'Very Good' BREEAM rating. In operation, it will run on renewable ‘green’ energy, some of it generated on-site by five wind turbines, and operate recycled rainwater and waste recycling initiatives. Arena building under construction: site photos © adrian welch oct 2007 Liverpool Arena architect : Wilkinson Eyre Architects Kings Waterfront - Project Team Client: Liverpool City Council Architects: Wilkinson Eyre Architects Structural Engineers: Buro Happold Services Engineers: Faber Maunsell QS: Gleeds Lighting Consultants: Speirs & Major Acoustics Consultants: Sandy Brown Associates Landscape Architects: Gustafson Porter Arena Consultants: Sport Concepts Conference Centre: Theatre Project Consultants Kings Waterfront Liverpool / Liverpool Echo Arena images + information from Wilkinson Eyre Architects 140108 Photos © Adrian Welch 13 Feb 2009: Nearest train station : Lime Street Contact: 0844 8000 400