Great Central Square Leicester, UK

The regeneration site also features a 152-bed Novotel hotel and 100 bed Adagio “aparthotel”, along with the refurbishment of the old Great Central Railway Station, including its glass canopy and front façade. A new traffic-free public space will include part of Great Central Street so that the refurbished station becomes integral to the development.

The five-storey office’s V-shaped form evolved with the design of SGP’s masterplan; the splayed footprint creates a new public realm which focuses onto the former railway station. Double storey height curtain walling at ground and high level achieves a critical lightness whilst the twisting roof parapet adds further visual interest to the building, creating an attractive and aspirational place for future tenants to work and do business.

The main feature of the project is the slanting element in the façade – a conscious design decision to reduce the building’s scale in respect of its neighbours, creating street harmony and bringing forward the once neglected Great Central Railway Station.

The development had to be carefully designed to client’s wish to not overshadow the two hotels on site. This challenged us to develop a practical yet contextual design, controlling the building’s height, service core position, the extent of glazed façade and its levels.