From industrial site to inspirational destination

The Junction

Leeds, UK

The Junction is a build-to-rent residential and retail scheme that will transform the former Monksbridge steelworks and adjacent Grade II listed Gritstone viaduct into a vibrant new destination in the heart of Leeds.

Buro Happold was appointed to work alongside architect Carey Jones Chapman Tolcher to realise the competition-winning design for this development.

Dubbed the ‘High Line of Leeds’, the vision encompasses the creation of a linear public park atop the historic viaduct, with touch down points at Wellington Place and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at either end. Lively cafes, bars and restaurants will fill the arches below, while five new apartment buildings will create 665 homes complete car parking and cycle storage.

A build-to-rent development that will transform a landlocked former industrial site into a lively new destination in the centre of Leeds.

The Grade II listed Gritstone viaduct will form the historic centrepiece around which five residential buildings, as well as cafés and bars, will be created.

A linear public park will run along the top of the viaduct, transforming the skyline and providing views out over the city.

Our team was challenged to fulfil the vision for a contemporary development while preserving and celebrating the site’s historic past.

Challenge

As with any historic site, one of the key concerns for this project came in unlocking the potential of the area while preserving and celebrating its past. Both the architect’s concept and our engineering interventions required a careful balance between the conservation of the listed viaduct, and our client’s brief to create a landmark destination that will draw people back to this forgotten part of Leeds.

The constrained, former industrial nature of the site presented further challenges for our team. Not least of these was the need to accommodate below-ground servicing to support five residential buildings, equipped with low energy, high performance systems.

Solution

Buro Happold maintained a high level of coordination across all members of the project team, as well as with key stakeholders. Our designs went through a rigorous approval process to ensure they were in keeping with the planner’s requirements for the listed viaduct, and we liaised with owners of the adjacent plots to ensure minimal disruption during the installation of below ground services and utilities.

The height of the buildings, in particular Block E, called for meticulous modelling, analysis and reporting to allay safety concerns and demonstrate that the new buildings will not have a detrimental effect on the surrounding areas.

Involving the contractor at an early stage enabled us to work through the construction sequence and integrate disciplines as much as possible, resulting in a more streamlined programme that saved both time and cost. We also worked closely with our client and the supply chain to determine the best equipment and accessories for building services and systems, ensuring resilience and longevity for the future.

Collaborating with the architect enabled us to contribute to realising the aesthetic vision of The Junction. Developed in line with guidance and on-site discussion with Heritage England and the Victorian Society, the concept focused on integrating the residential buildings, and the bars and restaurants below, with the forms and materials of the viaduct. To further enhance the beauty of the historic structure, we proposed and commissioned an external lighting scheme that highlights the textures and features of the original stone.

Value

The Junction will breathe new life into a disused part of central Leeds. Providing high quality new homes and workspaces, as well as retail and leisure employment opportunities, the development is set to provide a significant economic boost to the city. The linear park above the viaduct will transform the Leeds skyline, opening up both unique public realm and new pedestrians links that unlock a vital piece of history for the enjoyment of generations to come.