St Stephens Ferensway opened on September 20th– architecture by Holder Mathias Architects.

We were appointed by ING for St Stephen’s Hull in 2001 for the mixed use retail scheme at the heart of the project. The commission was then extended to include the transport interchange to the south of the shopping centre. In addition to the retail and transport interchange, Holder Mathias is also responsible for the Albemarle Music Centre, the hotel and residential elements of the scheme.

A major design feature of the scheme is an undulating curved, 14m wide, glazed roof over a covered street creating a bright, naturally ventilated and vibrant environment, open 24 hours a day. This “wave” roof will become a new landmark for Hull. Within it is the “pod” which is a mezzanine level feature coffee shop that will be operated by Starbucks.

The Albemarle Music Centre, the new music facility for Hull’s local schools, is located in the NE corner of the site on the soon–to-be Theatre Square, which it will share with the new Hull Truck Theatre.

The Transport Interchange, which was designed by Wilkinson Eyre lies to the south of the site and includes the new bus and coach station which wraps around the north wall of the Paragon railway station.