HCM SUMMIT
23 October 2025
Tickets available soon
Leisure Opportunities
Job search
Job Search
see all jobs
Latest job opportunities
Everyone Active
Competitive
Cleveland
star job
Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust
£47,000 - £50,000pa + pension + generous benefits package
Doncaster, South Yorkshire

Rem Koolhaas' cultural hub for Manchester wins planning approval

Job opportunities
Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust
£47,000 - £50,000pa + pension + generous benefits package
location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom
more jobs

Factory, the flagship arts building for the north of England designed by Rem Koolhaas’ Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), has been granted planning approval by Manchester City Council.

Construction will begin in Q1 2017 on the large-scale venue, which has been designed to reflect the “extraordinary creative vision and breadth of Manchester’s cultural life”. Ellen van Loon and OMA founder Rem Koolhaas are leading the project.

The £110m (US$137.2m, €129.6m) venue – which takes its name from Factory Records, the Manchester music label which launched the careers of British bands Joy Division, New Order and the Happy Mondays – will be operated by the Manchester International Festival (MIF), which will commission and host performances of theatre, music, dance, technology, film and TV. The 130,000sq ft (12,000sq m) structure will have room for 2,200 seats and 5,000 standing visitors.

The project's economic impact will be considerable, creating or supporting almost 1,500 full-time jobs and adding an estimated £1.1bn to the city’s economy over a decade. In time, it will form part of the city’s new 20 acre St. John's neighbourhood, which is being developed by Allied London in partnership with the council on the site of the former Granada TV Studios. Hotels, independent food and drink outlets, extensive public realm and open green spaces will also feature.

According to local publication Manchester Confidential, OMA’s design resembles in parts the work of surrealist architectural artist Filip Dujardin, who imagines concrete or industrial buildings introduced into unfamiliar contexts. The rear of Factory appears to feature cladding formed of a mixture of materials forming unconventional patterns – contrasting with the concrete and glass exterior at the front of the building.

“Much of my professional life has been spent undoing limitations of the traditional typologies," said van Loon, responding to the council's green light. "From classical opera and ballet to large scale performances and experimental productions, Factory in Manchester provides the perfect opportunity to create the ultimate versatile space in which art, theatre and music come together: a platform for a new cultural scene.”

Speaking last year, Koolhaas said: “It is wonderful to participate in the longstanding renaissance of this city, where real experimentation is expected.”

Sign up for FREE ezines & magazines
Factory, the flagship arts building for the north of England designed by Rem Koolhaas’ Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), has been granted planning approval by Manchester City Council.
CLD,VAT,HAM,AAC,ARC,DES
THUMB16337_933938.jpg

More News

1 - 15 of 68,411
26 Feb 2025
Toronto boutique operator, Sweat and Tonic, has announced the launch of a new reformer Pilates brand, Reformd, which will be the world’s highest capacity Lagree ... More
26 Feb 2025
Improvements in life expectancy in Europe have slowed according to a study published in The Lancet Public Health Journal, with England showing the largest deceleration. ... More
26 Feb 2025
US operator, Life Time, has started the rollout of cold plunges to more than 70 of its clubs in response to customer demand. In a ... More
25 Feb 2025
Peloton has entered into a partnership with the University of Texas to offer the first immersive Peloton workout space on a college campus. The university’s ... More
24 Feb 2025
Corinthia Hotels and Dubai General Properties (DGP) have partnered to develop a new five-star hotel and residential complex in the heart of Dubai, marking Corinthia's ... More
24 Feb 2025
Technogym founder, Nerio Alessandri, has unveiled his trademarked 'Healthness' concept at the Technogym 25th Wellness Congress. The new word joins the company's lexicon which includes ... More
20 Feb 2025
BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group has completed the 1,200sq m Jinji Lake Pavilion in Suzhou, China. Situated on the Jinji waterfront, the pavilion offers a ... More
19 Feb 2025
Four Seasons has announced plans to expand its presence in the UAE with a new luxury resort in Ras Al Khaimah, set within the flagship ... More
19 Feb 2025
Glasgow Clyde College (GCC) is introducing an innovative UK degree-level qualification: the Advanced Leadership in the Spa and Beauty Industry course. This new programme, available ... More
18 Feb 2025
Accor has released a comprehensive white paper designed to deepen understanding of wellness design and its capacity to enhance guest experiences, boost loyalty and drive ... More
18 Feb 2025
After four launches last year, Third Space is keeping up the pace of expansion with a new signing on London’s Oxford Street, as well as ... More
18 Feb 2025
Young and affluent consumers are leading health club usage in Latin America, according to research from the Health and Fitness Association (HFA) and there are ... More
17 Feb 2025
Colruyt Group’s fitness chain, Jims, is doubling its estate with the acquisition of 40 fitness clubs from NRG. The deal will accelerate the Colruyt Group’s ... More
17 Feb 2025
Global Wellness Day (GWD) is set to return for its 14th year on 14 June 2025, embracing the theme: #ReconnectMagenta – a call to restore ... More
17 Feb 2025
Merlin Entertainments has confirmed Fiona Eastwood as its CEO – she had been interim CEO following the departure of Scott O’Neil. Eastwood said: “I have ... More
1 - 15 of 68,411