Designed to be an
important and integral part of Leeds’ vibrant Cultural Quarter, sitting side by
side with the West Yorkshire Playhouse, the Quarry Hill Campus is one of the
first developments to be completed as part of an exciting £300m redevelopment of
the area.
Welcoming students for
the first time in September 2019, the new £60m Leeds City College development
provides a stimulating, state of the art new home for the college’s School of
Creative Arts and School of Social Science, as well as providing expansion for
Leeds College of Music.
As part of the larger development, including Gateway
Court and Playhouse Square, approximately 0.4ha of existing green space will be
enhanced, and a further 0.2ha created, including 33 new trees, shrub planting
and grassed terraces.
Situated next to the west Yorkshire Playhouse,
planners were keen to develop a continuous public realm throughout the site.
Leading Leeds landscape architects Re-form, used landscaping and planting to
soften what was previously a hard-urban space.
The use of trees along the front of the building, as
well as around the entrance and raised parking area, add welcome greenery,
while three large planters break up what would be an exposed area at the lower
level front corner.
The Green-tech team worked with Howard Civil
Engineering, providing the unique, patented ArborRaft tree pit system.
ArborRaft’s shallow profile not only protects the soil from compaction, but
also reduces intrusion into the rooting area. Combined with Green-tree’s
specially formulated AborRaft soil and subsoil, this will give the trees the
very best chance of successful establishment.
Terram Root Guard was used where necessary
and the tree pits were finished off with the Fortress grille, allowing paving
to be laid seamlessly, practically up to the trees themselves. Irrigation is
provided by the tried and tested Mona Relief Grande. The perforated pipe
sits around the root ball and, via a capped filler pipe provides a cost
effective, easy to use irrigation solution.
Callum Dawson – Green-tech Technical Sales -
commented; “It is always great to be involved in high visibility projects in
prime city centre locations, and this was no exception. We have worked with
Howard Civil Engineering on many projects to date, and seeing the completed
site gives a tremendous sense of satisfaction. It is amazing the difference
that well thought out planting makes to a city centre location.”
Howard Civil Engineering added; “This was a key
project, and as part of a larger development, it was critical that all the
parts of the puzzle came together on schedule. The ArborRaft tree pit system is
so easy and quick to install, and the Green-tree soils so easy to work with, it
makes dealing with them a pleasure.”
