Beginning in 1821, a series of granary warehouses was constructed in the centre of Grimsby Town and later converted to a maltings. Now Grade-II Listed, these historic buildings have considerable presence in the townscape, directly facing the River Freshney and accessed via a pedestrian bridge.

Our design revives these buildings to provide a centre for the young people of the area – introducing facilities including arts studios, performance space and a sports hall as well as social spaces and a café. Entered via the bridge, the largest warehouse will be opened-up to create a generous central gathering space. The historic fabric of the buildings will be restored and large spaces such as a martial arts gym and a music room will occupy the impressive internal volumes. A boathouse will directly access the river.

A series of new-build structures completes the composition. The zinc-clad sports hall is designed with a saw-tooth roof, reflecting the industrial nature of the site and bringing indirect sunlight inside. A metal-mesh volume houses the climbing wall, while a single-storey grey-brick addition provides the performance space and supporting facilities. An area for outdoor activities with a kick-pitch and a skate park is sheltered by the L-shaped plan.

The project is currently under construction.