The international design practice Building Design Partnership Limited (BDP) has been brought in to deliver the revamp and expansion of the Premier League team Leeds United Football Club’s famous home ground – the Elland Road Stadium in West Yorkshire, England (UK) – spelling the end for design studio KSS’s involvement in the high-profile scheme.
‘AJ Architects’ Journal’ stated that the AJ100 practice KSS Design Group was appointed last year by the Premier League outfit to oversee the stadium upgrade which will boost its capacity from 37,645 to 53,000.
Manchester (UK)-based the Building Design Partnership Limited (BDP) is a major international, interdisciplinary practice of architects, designers, engineers, and urbanists. They work closely with the users, the clients and the community to create special places for living, working, shopping, culture, and learning across the world. The BDP has a leading track record in all major sectors including health, education, workplace, retail, urbanism, heritage, housing, transport, leisure, public safety, and energy utilities.
The Leeds United Football Club is a professional football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England (UK). The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.
The 37,645-capacity Elland Road or the Elland Road Stadium is a football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England (UK) which has been the home of the Leeds United since the club’s formation in 1919. The stadium is the 14th-largest football stadium in England.
The KSS is an award-winning AJ100 chartered architecture, interior and graphic design practice based in Central London and Sevenoaks, Kent (UK). The KSS specialize in the design of major sports venues and training facilities, educational projects and residential developments and have a reputation for providing high-quality design backed by sound commercial judgment and a client-focused professional service.
‘AJ Architects’ Journal’ further stated that the sports specialists had already worked up designs to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA – the process of briefing, designing, constructing, and operating building projects into eight stages) Stage 3 following public and fan consultations during April, May and June and had submitted a hybrid planning application to the Leeds City Council in July.
The submission included a full planning application for works to the West Stand including alterations to the North-West and the South-West corners as part of an initial development.
The outline permission was also sought for the subsequent redevelopment of the North Stand and the North-East corner.
A month later the club retendered the design role, a process which attracted a number of bids, including from the KSS, the AFL and the BDP.
The AFL Architects create places for communities to live, play and thrive – working alongside the people every step of the way. They are architects, master planners, urban and interior designers operating internationally from offices in Manchester and London (UK).
The contract was won by the BDP which has a studio in Leeds (City in England). The practice had previously drawn up a master plan for the land around Elland Road and its sport division, BDP Pattern, who recently completed the Premier League team Everton F.C.’s new 52,888-seat Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, England (UK).
Shared Luke Harrison, Architect Director, BDP, “The Elland Road is the heart of the Leeds United and the City itself. We know what this club means to its supporters and the wider community and that’s why we understand the responsibility to create a legacy here. With our studio team in Leeds already shaping the development across the City we can really bring the stadium expansion into our design thinking and take it to the next level. Our aim is simple: To design a ground that honors the club’s history, tells its story and gives the Leeds United and its fans a stadium that matches their ambition for the future.”
David Keirle of KSS said that the submitted planning application based on KSS’s completed Stage 3 design had been “really well-received by the club, the City and most importantly by the club’s fans and that the scheme would “transform this iconic stadium. We were surprised to learn in August that the club was going to retender the latter design stages of the project.”
He claimed that the BDP had submitted a fee proposal that “was materially lower than our own” though exact details of the bids have not been disclosed. The KSS are obviously disappointed that we will not be able to complete the design for our Elland Road Stadium expansion but hope the BDP will do justice to our carefully crafted design proposals.”
The Yorkshire club, which was promoted to play in the Premier League in April, wants to modernize and enlarge its home ground to meet the ticket demand. It said it had 26,000 supporters on its season ticket waiting list.
When the first images of the scheme were released this Summer the KSS said its design “seamlessly blended the timeless traditions of a four-stand stadium with a modern, sophisticated aesthetic.”
The Leeds United Owners 49ers Enterprises the corporate investment and business management arm of the National Football League [NFL] team San Francisco 49ers] said last year they had brought in specialist acoustic consultants “to ensure Elland Road’s unique atmosphere is retained.”
New York (US)-based the National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams it is divided equally between the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference.
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