Hawkins Brown Win Consent for �26.1 Million Corby Hub

published Jan 31, 2007
Hawkins Brown Win Consent for 261 Million Corby Hub
Hawkins Brown won planning permission this week to build a �26.1 million civic hub in the centre of Corby.

The practice's competition winning scheme for a 21st century civic hub interlinking council administration, commercial facilities and cultural activities is part of a major regeneration project driven by North Northants Development Company (NNDC) which will completely reinvent the former steel town.

Planning consent was given to the first phase of the Parkland Gateway development, which comprises the Corby Hub by HawkinsBrown and a new landmark 50m swimming pool designed by S&P Architects.

Both buildings are set within a new town square and linked to the rest of the town by a treelined polychromatic paved walkway, the Corby Walk, designed by Grant Associates.

By setting the building in the centre of the new town square, rather than to one side as suggested in Edaw's town centre masterplan, the Corby Hub will become a dynamic heart of the town.

Maximising its central location, the Corby Hub is a building in the round with four "live" elevations.

The concept has been to contain a dynamic array of facilities within one simple form.

The Corby Hub is a pure glistening object with an elevation pattern of black and reflective glass, animated by a series of openings and "open drawer" projected spaces.