Leeds Plaza Gets Redesign

The planned tower for the Plaza development in Leeds has been redesigned following the success of the first phase. Designed by local architects Carey Jones, the scheme previously had an 82 metre tall 26 floor residential tower attached to it but the success of phase 1 has seen this increased by another ten floors to cope with demand from the student population.The profile of the tower has been completely changed, previously it was a block stepping up to one corner with a fin intersecting it whereas now the tower clearly rises to the core. It will be clad in silver-grey "zinc" cladding on the entire southern side perhaps to match it with the likes of Bridgewater Place. In contrast the northern side will have a smooth dark finish making it a tower of two halves, light and dark. In the centre will be a grey service core lit at night to create a visual feature. All of this moves away from the "Leeds Look" of blue and yellow that plagued the previous designs and harked back to many of the post modern apartment blocks that have been built recently in the city centre.The new revision was presented to the planning committee of Leeds City Council last week and a full application has been filed. With this in mind, developer UNITE are clearly keen to move the tower forwards although there is no date yet for construction. Still, a September 2008 finish could be on the cards for what will be the tallest student accommodation in the country.