Media City UK.

hotbed of creativity

MediaCityUK, a council:URC:developer partnership, is a 200 acre creative and technology-driven 'hub' in Salford Quays, adjacent to Manchester City Centre. As one of the biggest regeneration projects in the UK, its goal is to be a thriving, self-contained media community. It comprises a diverse spread of media-related businesses (including the BBC), retail and leisure facilities, and residential developments, with unparalleled facilities.

Our brief – won in a four-way pitch – was to consider the application of state-of-the-art technologies to a wayfinding masterplan for the entire 200-acre site. There were several exciting opportunities, not least of which was the need for MediaCityUK to have an emotional heart and soul and be a user-friendly destination in itself, not just a technology hub. We worked with architects Chapman Taylor, landscape architects Gillespies and lighting consultants Pinniger and Partners to deliver a joined up masterplan.

The masterplan addressed the needs of business users as well as visitors and locals. Concepts used cutting edge technology to inform the user, whilst also delivering elements of 'engagement delight', a key factor in delivering the necessary personality, character and emotion

"We are creating a ground-breaking creative and technology-driven urban environment at MediaCity and it was always important that we chose innovative and proactive consultancies to help us achieve our vision. fwdesign have not disappointed us and we look forward to seeing their strategy translate into a suite of exciting and revolutionary urban realm products"  Tim Partington, Director, Chapman Taylor