Town Centre, Stevenage, UK

Michael Grubb Studio was appointed by MACE, working in collaboration with the local authority and LDA Design, to provide strategy and lighting design works for the Stevenage Town Centre, the first ‘New Town’ to be developed following the Second World War.

The Lighting Design celebrates the unique qualities of the Town Square and focuses on reinstating many of the original 1960’s features, whilst enhancing and preserving others. This included the reproduction of the original street lanterns and the main central chandelier, which involved the integration of traditional forms and modern technology to comply with up-to-date standards and regulations. Michael Grubb Studio provided technical lighting designs for the supplier to deliver a solution that was aesthetically accurate and true to the original designs, whilst being optically correct, robust and easy to maintain.

The majority of the lighting was incorporated within the surrounding canopy structure, with a combination of architectural and amenity lighting used to frame the Square. The perimeter provides a well-lit route, allowing the vertical structures, such as the chandelier, the ‘Joy Ride’ sculptor, and the old town clock and associated water feature to remain the central focal pieces of the Square. Other new elements such as the seating and tree canopies contribute towards creating a safe and inviting environment after dark.

Over the years architectural design transforms, whilst people’s living and social habits change. Therefore, many towns now lack the same desirability that they were once famed for. The new high-quality mixed-use development across 14 acres of public sector land has transformed the historic town of Stevenage, attracting new people and commercial investment creating new homes, shops, bars and restaurants.

The community has also benefitted from an integrated public services hub comprising new state-of-the-art health centre, library, registry office, exhibition space and council offices all under one roof, as well as attractive new streets, squares and Public Realm, improving pedestrian and cycle connections across the town.