Liverpool One, Liverpool

Liverpool One is the regeneration of 42 acres of Liverpool City Centre.

The statistics are impressive by any standards; not least a 48 month development programme for a £1bn project with a myriad of specialist ‘stats’ behind that, for example, more than 2,000m³ of concrete a week, and 40 individually designed buildings. The scheme comprises the construction of many new landmark buildings and the sympathetic renovation of several listed period ones, each set within a cityscape which reinstated several streets lost since the 1950 and 60’s. L1 is a true regeneration project.

The scheme incorporates:

• Retail
• Leisure
• Residential
• Commercial offices
• New fire station
• Three new car parks
• Two hotels
• A brand new public park (7.5 acres over a new basement car park)

Each building had its own design team, with an architect involved only with that building. At its peak in 2005-2006 Waterman’s resource comprised eight dedicated design teams working with 17 architects simultaneously. Co-ordination and interfacing formed a major part of the structural challenge. Grosvenor’s vision was to achieve true architectural diversity in the streetscape of BDP’s architectural master plan, and of course every architect brought flair and passion for ‘their’ building. As architect appointments were spread over a period of nearly two and a half years and with many buildings supported on or abutting earlier project construction, Waterman’s role was to solve the engineering issues this generated.

The development area includes part of the internationally important Liverpool World Heritage Site and the remains of the nation’s first commercial wet dock, the Old Dock. The development takes account of the site with the remains being preserved in situ. Waterman negotiated and managed a process of archaeological investigation and building recording to inform the preservation and presentation of the Old Dock and to discharge archaeological conditions attached to the planning permission.

Liverpool One opened in several stages between spring and autumn 2008, the year of Liverpool’s European City of Culture status. Shortly after, the BCSC Conference & Showcase was held in the city and many retail industry movers had the opportunity to see the development for the first time.