Preston's £45m Animate leisure complex on tenterhooks

By Limitless PR

10 May 2024

Website
Bonnie Craig.jpg.jpg

A local artist’s homage to the history and culture of Preston has been completed at the city’s £45m-plus Animate leisure complex, one of six major projects planned under the Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme. 

Maple Grove Developments, the local developer delivering the project for Preston City Council, commissioned local artist Bonnie Craig to create a pattern for Animate's metal façade cladding, which wraps the top third of the leisure complex. These distinctive bronze coloured cladding panels form a key feature in its design. 

Bonnie, a Lancastrian who also completed glass artwork for the University of Central Lancashire's student centre, was appointed to the project and took her inspiration from Animate's location on Tenterfield Street.  

Its name comes from the tenter fields, where outdoor frames held the woven fabric as part of the production process. The stretched fabric was held in place by tenterhooks, and the shape of these hooks was employed throughout the cladding design.  

Preston was awarded £20.9m from the Government's national Towns Fund initiative in March 2021, and the Harris Quarter is a unique part of the city centre undergoing a £200m investment programme to transform its historic buildings, sites and public realm into a diverse culture, leisure and employment offering. 

Animate is being brought forward by Maple Grove Developments, part of Preston-based contractor Eric Wright Group, in partnership with Preston City Council. 

The leisure complex is being built on the site of the former indoor market and car park and due to open to the public in early 2025. 

Bonnie said: "When asked to create designs that explored the area around the Animate site, I was intrigued by the interesting shape and name of Tenterfield Street, as well as the art-deco style design of Lancastria House on one corner of the street. 

"I developed a simple shape based on the tenterhook and the street itself. The motif repeats over the metal panels in a grid pattern inspired by the windows, interior wall panels and stonework used in Lancastria House and aims to explore the idea of tension – created in both the tenter frames and the meaning of 'on tenterhooks' – and resolution/visual balance." 

John Chesworth, chair of Preston's Towns Fund Strategic Board, explained: "Completion of the Tenterhook design represents a sympathetic and welcome acknowledgement of Preston's industrial heritage and the part Lancashire played in building an economy that was incredibly important to the nation's prosperity.  

"While it's important to recognise our heritage, we must also look to the future and create a Preston that’s recognised as an attractive place where people can invest, visit, live and work." 

Sarah Threlfall, deputy chief executive of Preston City Council, said: “Key to the development of Animate was ensuring acknowledgement of the site’s former use and by commissioning Bonnie, a well-respected Lancastrian artist, we knew she’d produce a striking modern design to echo the city’s heritage.

"Animate proves the commitment of the city council to employing local talent and skills as we strive to make Preston a unique and creative place for everyone to enjoy.”  

Nick Hague, project director at Eric Wright Group, added: “Bonnie’s creation of an innovative and eye-catching pattern for Animate’s metal facade, reflects the past and present of Preston in the city’s latest development and represents a major feature of what we’re delivering at Animate for the people of Preston.” 

Almost fully pre-let, Animate will feature an eight-screen cinema, 16-lane bowling alley with gaming zone, five family restaurant units, a food hall, public realm, a competitive socialising unit and 164-space basement car park, with national leisure brands including Hollywood Bowl, ARC Cinemas, Zizzi, Cosmo, Las Iguanas and Loungers already signed up as tenants. 

Enjoyed this? Read more from Limitless PR

Latest news

1

Champion Accountants strengthens team with Preston appointment Liam Thompson

Champion Accountants strengthens team with Preston appointment

06 Dec 2024

2

Plans approved to re-develop iconic Grade II listed Harris Institute Harris Building

Plans approved to re-develop iconic Grade II listed Harris Institute

06 Dec 2024

3

VARS Technology prevents £630,000 in fuel theft annually for leading forecourt group Valli Forecourts

VARS Technology prevents £630,000 in fuel theft annually for leading forecourt group

05 Dec 2024

4

Park Hall Hotel and Spa joins Radisson Individuals and unveils new facilities Park Hall Hotel and Spa

Park Hall Hotel and Spa joins Radisson Individuals and unveils new facilities

05 Dec 2024

5

EDF extends life of Heysham nuclear plants EDF Heysham

EDF extends life of Heysham nuclear plants

05 Dec 2024

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
The Lancashire Festival of Business
FOB 315
Exhibitions
30 Jan 2025

The Lancashire Festival of Business

Impact Conferencing, Burnley, BB12 6QP

09:00 - 16:00

Skills Bootcamp in Procurement - Cohort 2
Blue-Modern-Land-Travel-Youtube-Thumbnail-2-1024x576.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
15 Oct 2024 - 17 Dec 2024

Skills Bootcamp in Procurement - Cohort 2

Community & Business Partners CIC, Blackburn, BB2 3UA

09:30 - 13:00

RKMS Quarterly Networking Event - Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde - Festive Fun
image00005.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
12 Dec 2024 - 12 Dec 2024

RKMS Quarterly Networking Event - Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde - Festive Fun

RKMS Group , Blackpool, FY42DP

09:30 - 11:30

CQI and IRCA Lead Auditor Training Course ISO 9001 – Quality Management Systems (QMS)
IRCA-Certified-Course.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Webinar
16 Dec 2024 - 20 Dec 2024

CQI and IRCA Lead Auditor Training Course ISO 9001 – Quality Management Systems (QMS)

Via MS Teams Link - RKMS Group , Blackpool, FY4 2DP

09:00 - 17:00

Skills Bootcamp in Procurement - Cohort 3
Blue-Modern-Land-Travel-Youtube-Thumbnail-2-1024x576.png.png
LBV Hub Awards
14 Jan 2025 - 18 Mar 2025

Skills Bootcamp in Procurement - Cohort 3

Community & Business Partners CIC, Blackburn, BB2 3UA

09:30 - 13:00

Preston Tech Connection - January Meet-Up
Nov Preston Tech Connection event banner-4.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
15 Jan 2025 - 15 Jan 2025

Preston Tech Connection - January Meet-Up

Society1 Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Red Rose Awards 2025
Red Rose Awards 2025
Awards
13 Mar 2025

Red Rose Awards 2025

Winter Gardens Blackpool

18:00 - 11:59

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV118 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin