THE ECHO BUILDINGB O U R N E M O U T H

Today’s event is about our preliminary plans and ideas to regenerate and rejuvenate The Echo Building, an iconic landmark building, which has formed an impressive part of Bournemouth’s skyline for almost a century.

Our aim is to restore The Echo Building to its former glory and to deliver new atmosphere and life to this part of Bournemouth, for the enjoyment of the local community, businesses and visitors.

WELCOME THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAYWelcome to the new dawn of an icon for Bournemouth – transforming the old home of Bournemouth media into the future home of Bournemouth media, together with a mix of exciting new uses.

RESTORING FORMER GLORY REGENERATING A HISTORIC, LANDMARK BUILDING

We are here today to let you know more about us and our plans, whilst they are at this preliminary stage, and to listen to your views and comments about our proposals so far.

If you would like to find out more please come in; we will be here today until 6.30pm.

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Existing exterior

THE ECHO BUILDINGB O U R N E M O U T H

RESTORING FORMER GLORY REGENERATING A HISTORIC, LANDMARK BUILDING

THAT Group are urban regenerators, building aficionados and a small(ish) team with big ideas. We work with councils, businesses and local heroes to identify long-term development opportunities in carefully selected, sometimes prime and often overlooked locations.

Long-term for us is not about being developers, it’s about being the custodians of the buildings we own and together with our sister company THIS Group our aim is to show you that we don’t just build in the community, we make it our home.

THIS Group are the brands, bringing the people, places and events to THAT Group’s buildings, creating destinations for work, rest and play.

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THE ECHO BUILDINGB O U R N E M O U T H

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THIS Workspace launched in The Echo Building earlier in 2017 as a temporary installation. Located on the Albert Road side of the building and in the old “Print Room” THIS Workspace is an opportunity realised by THIS Group providing spaces for people to work that have been designed for better productivity. Our spaces are there for freelancers to whole companies, always with the aim of inspiring new ideas through collaboration. We work by inhabiting iconic buildings in central locations, immediately giving them purpose and the experience from our parent and sister companies mean we can acquire, build, design and own. This process gives us the foresight to see the opportunities ahead, creating aspirational spaces to connect and work in. This project has been so successful that now we wish to not only make The Echo Building the permanent home of THIS Workspace, but also to extend the amount of space we enjoy to further grow the offer.

THE ECHO BUILDINGB O U R N E M O U T H

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THE ECHO BUILDINGB O U R N E M O U T H

THE ECHO BUILDINGAn architectural gem

The Echo Building is an important Art Deco building, which was built in 1932 for the Bournemouth Echo by the architects Seal & Hardy, who also designed the Palace Court Hotel. The stone-faced building includes an iconic central clock tower, with stone pilaster mouldings and vertical strip crittal windows. It is considered to be a fine example of the Streamline Moderne Style, a style of Art Deco characterised by curving forms and horizontal lines, synonymous with Ocean Liners and automobiles of the time.

The use of electric lighting is a key feature of the Streamline Moderne Style; as a result some of the most dynamic images of The Echo Building are taken at night when the building is lit up. The building’s interior is also of note, including Art Deco cornicing and a stairhall with glazed tile dado and open-well staircase with steel handrails. The building is Grade II listed as ‘a notable example of Art Deco offices’.

Unfortunately, The Echo Building has declined in recent years and significant parts are now disused and the building is falling into disrepair.

RESTORING FORMER GLORY REGENERATING A HISTORIC, LANDMARK BUILDING

Our plans involve the sensitive reinvention and refurbishment of the original building. We will preserve its architectural integrity, whilst introducing appropriate new uses and additions where appropriate. This will deliver the significant investment required to breathe new life into the building, securing its long-term and viable future.

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THE ECHO BUILDINGB O U R N E M O U T H

THE ECHO BUILDINGThe Bournemouth Echo

The Bournemouth Echo moved to The Echo Building in 1934, and has remained on the site to this day. The building has seen many changes over the years, as the heavy Linotype machines and printing presses have been replaced with computers and new technology.

Due to changes in the media landscape, including the rise of the internet, the number of editorial staff and space required by the Echo has reduced in the past few years, as well as new ways of production requiring fewer people and changing business models.

RESTORING FORMER GLORY REGENERATING A HISTORIC, LANDMARK BUILDING

Importantly, THAT Group’s plans will retain office space for the Bournemouth Echo. This will ensure the Bournemouth Echo continues to retain its important links with The Echo Building and also within Bournemouth’s town centre.

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THE ECHO BUILDINGB O U R N E M O U T H

SITE CONTEXTThe Echo Building is situated in a prominent position half way up Richmond Hill. It benefits from good links on foot to the pedestrianised areas of Old Christchurch Road and The Square. The topography across this area is very pronounced, sloping steeply up from The Square at the heart of the town centre to the Wessex Way. Richmond Hill is fronted with buildings ranging from small scale Victorian villas through to large-scale modern buildings, and includes a number of prominent commercial uses.

The Echo Building is an attractive and popular 20th Century building set amongst a context of adjacent Grade II listed buildings in the Old Christchurch Road Conservation Area, including the Roman Catholic Church, Presbytery, Norfolk Hotel, Granville Chambers, Curzon Club and 38 Richmond Hill.

OUR APPROACHOur approach will be sensitive to the character and heritage significance of The Echo Building, whilst capitalising for the town’s benefit on the opportunities offered by a fine building in close proximity to wider commercial activity.

We have commenced engagement with stakeholders and the local community to explore views on the opportunities we consider are available for the future configuration and re-use of The Echo Building. Our plans will retain and preserve this heritage asset for appreciation by future generations.

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THE ECHO BUILDINGB O U R N E M O U T H

OUR ARCHITECTSIn recognition of The Echo Building’s special architectural importance, we have appointed EPR Architects as our dedicated architect for this project.

EPR Architects is an award-winning practice with a well-established reputation for quality architecture, master-planning and interior design. It has extensive experience delivering an array of buildings across workplace, lifestyle and leisure sectors. From its central London and Wrocław studios, an experienced team of over 200 talented people collaborate to produce vibrant and inventive architecture in response to client’s unique requirements. This approach, understanding and experience has ensured a continuous association with many of the country’s leading clients.

Past projects range from whole masterplans including Greenwich Millennium Village, innovative new buildings like American Express headquarters in Brighton, through to sensitive renovations and re-inventions of high profile heritage and listed buildings such as The Old War Office, the former Midland Bank headquarters by Edwin Lutyens, and the RAC Club.

RESTORING FORMER GLORY REGENERATING A HISTORIC, LANDMARK BUILDING

To ensure design synergy, EPR Architects will oversee all stages of design, including the re-planning, refurbishment and re-modelling of The Echo Building’s interior.

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EPR completed development – Scarfes Bar

EPR completed development – Rosewood Entrance

OUR PLANNERSTo oversee the planning of our project, we have appointed Terence O’Rourke, an award winning, Bournemouth based, planning and design company, delivering exceptional projects across a wide range of sectors. It has worked on high profile projects such as the Chewton Glen Hotel and Spa Tree Houses, the Goodwood Estate, the McLaren Campus, London Luton Airport, Marwell Zoo, Mercedes-Benz World, and Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden and Studio Tour – ‘The Making of Harry Potter’TM. Its work as a town planning consultant in Bournemouth town centre has included the Citrus Building, the Hilton hotel-led Terrace Mount development and Bournemouth University International College.

EPR current development – Old War Office

EPR completed development – Gainsborough Spa BedroomEPR completed development – Reception Entrance Lobby

THE ECHO BUILDINGB O U R N E M O U T H

We are mindful that our redevelopment plans for The Echo Building should preserve the building’s special architectural character. Our plans seek to retain as many of the external and internal historic fixtures and fittings as possible, including retaining the goods lift, amongst many other features.

We are currently considering the following new uses for The Echo Building:

• Creative and versatile office space – including meetings rooms and event space and a potential recording studio

• Retained office space for the Bournemouth Echo – who will continue to operate in the building

• Central reception and entrance hall – to include additional meeting spaces and a coffee bar

OUR PRELIMINARY PLANS AND IDEAS FOR THE ECHO BUILDING

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Our plans will breathe new life into The Echo Building, creating a destination where you can meet, eat, drink and work. Please take moment today to fill out a feedback form and let us know what you think about our plans and ideas.

We are also considering a number of potential additional uses, our ideas currently include:

• Residential

• Student accommodation

• Boutique cinema

• Boutique hotel

• Restaurants/bar

• Gym/leisure facilities

• New active street frontages – including retail, coffee bars and cafes

• Retention of some of the existing under-croft car parking spaces

The Echo Building existing interior The Echo Building existing interior

THE ECHO BUILDINGB O U R N E M O U T H

OUR PRELIMINARY PLANS AND IDEAS FOR THE ECHO BUILDING

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The Echo Building interior before the introduction of THIS Work Space in early 2017 The Echo Building existing exterior

Our plans represent significant new investment within Bournemouth’s town centre, including an estimated £15 million pounds to be spent to restore The Echo Building to its former glory.

The Echo Building interior (Print Room) after THIS Work Space opened

THE ECHO BUILDINGB O U R N E M O U T H

FEEDBACKThank you for taking the time to view our proposals. Your feedback is very important to us. Please take the time to fill out one of our feedback forms which are available at today’s event.

Alternatively you can visit the project’s dedicated website www.thatgroup-echobuilding.co.uk and provide us with your thoughts and comments online. All comments about our preliminary plans and ideas displayed here today need to be received by 3rd November 2017.

NEXT STEPSWe will consider and review all the local feedback we receive. We will then progress and refine our plans and hold an additional public exhibition, (future dates to be confirmed). This will enable the local community to view the final plans before we submit a full planning application to Bournemouth Borough Council.

T IMESCALESOur projected timescales for The Echo Building project are as follows:

• First public exhibition and community consultation event held – 20th October 2017

• Feedback to be received on our preliminary plans and ideas – by 3rd November 2017

• Feedback to be reviewed and plans progressed and refined

• Second public exhibition to display finalised plans – early 2018 (date TBC)

• Anticipated submission of planning application to Bournemouth Borough Council – Easter 2018

• Subject to planning permission, anticipated start on site – Summer/Autumn 2018

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