Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester
About the Project
- Principal designer: Arup
- Client: Manchester City Council
- Principal contractor: Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd
- Contract value: £10 million
Piccadilly Gardens has provided Manchester with a new public space of international standing, a fantastic public amenity that is safe and enjoyable to use.
During the 2002 Commonwealth Games, hundreds of people gathered there to watch the games on large screens and the Gardens continue to be a popular meeting place.
Over the last few years the Gardens had become run down and were considered unsafe, particularly late at night. The new scheme had to integrate the major transport facilities that surround the area while providing a major green open space in the centre of the city and includes a new garden pavilion and a large, computerised water feature which provides a landmark where adults meet and children play in the water.
Elliptical in shape, the fountain plaza has 180 jets with an array of different coloured fibre optic lighting and is one of the largest fountains in Europe. The soft landscaping has provided large lawn areas where people can relax in the sun or read under the shade of the large trees.
The judges said:
"A welcome example of a substantial open green space in a major city."