Broadmarsh, Nottingham, UK

Michael Grubb Studio was appointed by Nottingham City Council to deliver a Lighting Strategy and detailed designs for Broadmarsh – a new public realm development in the very heart of the city.

The Lighting Strategy creates a cohesive lit environment to unite the various developments within the site in order to create a destination, as well as adding drama and interest to the different routes and spaces within.  It was developed with people in mind, with the site being celebrated as a cultural hub that can be enjoyed by young and old after dark.

Numerous stakeholders were consulted during the development process in order to ensure a wide variety of requirements can be balanced and achieved on a tight schedule. This included the PFI team who will be tasked with operating and maintaining the lighting scheme for years to come. To assist with this Michael Grubb Studio organised and managed a common procurement process, where a pre-selected choice of suppliers tendered for all aspects of the project.  This includes a variety of bespoke designs developed by Michael Grubb Studio, as the Lighting Designers for the project, to help inspire and create a unique identity for the Nottingham development.

The site is complex, with a wide variety of level changes and use, from highways, skate park, amphitheatre, intimate pocket parks and a vibrant Public Realm which required significant collaboration between the various design teams in order to achieve the aspirations of the Lighting Strategy.

Broadmarsh is a key access point into the city from the south.  The regeneration of the area is vital to the success of the south side of the city. Broadmarsh area developments (currently underway) include the creation of a new city centre college hub and a new central library development.  These adjacent developments will be linked together by rationalising the existing road network, removing traffic from streets between the developments (Carrington St. and Collin St.) to create high quality public spaces.