News

Lost in space

An out of this world experience comes to Urban Exchange

Urban Exchange, the retail scheme on Great Ancoats Street in Manchester city centre, is hosting a special ‘Lost in Space’ day on Saturday 18 May.  The 99th Garrison will be out in force dressed in replica costumes with realistic props.

Popular characters from the epic sci-fi trilogy including Storm troopers, Darth Vader and R2D2 will be mingling with shoppers in the Go Outdoors Atrium from 10am – 4pm.

There will be a free children’s craft workshop to keep youngsters entertained.  Face painting will also be available at a charge of £2 per person.

Captain Barnacles makes a guest appearance at Urban Exchange

Children’s favourite, Captain Barnacles, leader of the Octonauts, will be making a guest appearance at Urban Exchange on Great Ancoats Street in Manchester city centre on Saturday 30 March at intervals between 10.30am and 3.30pm.  The popular CBeebies polar bear will be in the atrium of the Go Outdoors store where he will be meeting and greeting young fans.  Entry is free.

As well as Captain Barnacles’ visit, there will be a free children’s craft workshop to keep youngsters entertained.  Face painting will also be available at a charge of £2 per person.

Laura Linton, Marketing Manager at Town Centre Securities (TCS) that own and manage Urban Exchange said: “Captain Barnacles is really popular with children so it’s great to have him visit us at Urban Exchange this Easter weekend. We know how much kids love him, so it’s bound to be very busy. Families should arrive early to avoid disappointment.”
As always there is 3 free hours free parking with over 250 spaces available on site.

Christmas at Urban Exchange

Meet Santa’s reindeer at Urban Exchange

On Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th December two of Santa’s reindeer, Cupid and Comet, will be at Urban Exchange on Great Ancoats Street. From 11am – 4pm each day the live reindeer will be outside the Go Outdoors store with Santa and his elves.  

Children can have their photographs taken, pet the friendly animals and find out what they like to eat and what they do the rest of the year when they’re not pulling Santa’s sleigh.  There’s also a chance to sit in Santa’s magical sleigh before it sets off on its journey around the world delivering presents on Christmas Eve.

The event is free.  In addition there will be complementary mulled wine and mince pies for grown-ups.

There will also be free entertainment for children including a children’s craft area where youngsters can make Christmas tree charms to take home to decorate their own tree.

A face painter can also help turn children into magical elves or frosty snowmen at a nominal charge of £2 per child.

Laura Linton, marketing manager for Town Centre Securities (TCS) that own and manage Urban Exchange said: “We invited the reindeer here last year and it was incredibly popular. The children just loved meeting them.  To have them back is great news and makes for the perfect start to the festive season. ”

The retail scheme is also offering customers the chance to win £1000 of gift vouchers to spend at M&S Outlet, Aldi, Go Outdoors and Pure Gym in their Christmas prize draw. The competition runs until 24 December 2011.
As always there is 3 free hours free parking with over 250 spaces available on site.

Now thats Partnership working

Piccadilly Partnership brings you: National Attention. Investment. Innovation.  A City Destination.

http://cityco.com/media/uploads/2012/11/01/PP_2012AnnualReview_flow.pdf

Ben and Holly make a guest appearance at Urban Exchange

Children’s favourites, Ben and Holly, will be making a guest appearance at Urban Exchange on Great Ancoats Street in Manchester city centre on Saturday 20th October at intervals between 10am and 4pm. 

From the Little Kingdom, the elf and fairy princess will be in the atrium of the Go Outdoors store where they will be meeting and greeting their young fans and posing for pictures.  Entry is free.

As well as Ben and Holly’s visit, there will be craft workshops where children can make a fairy wand like Holly’s or make insect friends to take home.

 Laura Linton, Marketing Manager at Town Centre Securities (TCS) that own and manage Urban Exchange said: “It’s really exciting to have Ben and Holly visit us and a real coup for Urban Exchange. We know how much children love these characters, so it’s great to be able to offer some free family fun.  It is bound to be busy so families should arrive early to avoid disappointment.”

As always there is 3 free hours free parking with over 250 spaces available on site.

Canal Festival comes to Manchester for the first time

The 2012 Canal Festival, now in its sixth year, will be making a bigger splash this summer by holding events in Manchester’s Piccadilly Basin for the first time.

A series of city centre canal-side cultural events organised by Piccadilly Partnership and CityCo will take place as part of the festival programme creating a great day out for all the family.

A canal-side pop-up cinema, giving the traditional American drive-in a Mancunian twist, will screen feature films over two nights in the Ducie Street car park. Showing Captain America on the 22nd August and The Life Aquatic on 23 August, this free event is in association with The Printworks, and will cater for up to 450 people each night. The screenings are not ticketed and will be ‘drop-in’ events, on a first come, first served basis. Access to the site is on Ducie Street for cars, via the Brewer Street Bridge for those walking and any barges should moor at Lock 83 of the Rochdale Canal.

Gates will open at 6pm and the show will start at 8.30pm. Bring a portable FM radio along to tune in to the film, or set your car radio, drive-in movie style. A limited number of radios and speakers will be available on the night from the organisers.

Hot noodles cooked up by Northern Quarter’s award-winning restaurant, Ning, and bottles of beer will be on sale and a limited bar from 6pm for post-work drinks before the film.

Also for the 2012 Canal Festival a permanent floating garden will be unveiled in the wharf creating a wildlife haven. Nearby the Brewer Street Bridge gets yarn-bombed with thousands of yellow and blue woollen tassels hand made by local knitting groups. Commissioned by Buddleia, a public art commissioning agency, the design, based on traditional waterways lace patterns and canal-boat colours has been created by Manchester artist Kerry Howarth.

On Saturday 18 August a special kid’s play day will take place at the Cultural Olympiad art installation called Atelier [zero] in Piccadilly Basin. The children’s chalet that already contains a ball pool will be transformed into one big play area by Studio Gil Architects. There will be a snakes and ladders game on the floor and the chance to learn the ancient Japanese craft of origami. Life-sized animals will be painted on the wall for children to measure themselves against and a designer toy box will be installed. Adults can also have fun and relax in a hammock, bash a ball around, row around the boating lake, borrow a book or play in the ball pool. The terrace street of white chalets creating an Olympic Village, housing artwork by Northern ArtPrize winner, Leo Fitzmaurice, among others, is open to the public every Tuesday to Saturday from 11 – 5pm and Sunday 12 – 4pm until 2 September.

Also for kids, on 22 August, children eight years and over can try their hand at kayaking and angling. Free taster sessions with fully qualified staff will take place from 12pm - 4pm in the Piccadilly Basin for children accompanied by an adult.

Nearby on Tariff Street, the world’s first permanent LomoWall has been erected. Containing 14,000 Lomographs, the 30 meter long LomoWall is an actual physical wall covered in thousands of snap shot-sized analogue (that’s film, not digital) photographs. Famous for the distinctive waves of undulating colour the LomoWall’s abstract appearance comes from the thousands of printed images taken by fans of Lomography cameras from around the world. Close up, visitors can enjoy each photo individually, but when viewed from afar the LomoWall reveals a fascinating mosaic reflecting Manchester’s industrial heritage.

The wildlife and urban life of Manchester’s waterways is captured in a new photography exhibition, courtesy of gallery, school and studio, Manchester Photographic. The images, taken by amateur photographers who’ve been on an urban canal photography course this summer, have been selected by a panel of industry judges. The free exhibition is at the Dale Street gallery from 18 – 26 August and open from Mon – Sat from 10am – 6pm.
Alexandra King, Piccadilly Partnership Director said: “It’s great to have the Canal Festival extending into Piccadilly Basin for the first time this year. The canals offer people a below-stairs break from the hustle and bustle of the city with vast stretches of tranquil space on the banks of the waterways. Piccadilly Basin is a really attractive part of the city centre and by animating the space with an eclectic mix of innovative cultural activity we hope to spotlight the area this summer and encourage more people to discover it, take home some enjoyable memories and consider it as a place to work, live and play.”

Lucy Rogers, Development Manager for The Canal and River Trust said “The Canal Festival has been running for the past five years engaging with the many communities the canal passes through a range of activities from illuminated boat and lantern parades to canoeing. The Piccadilly Basin programme is an exciting addition to our Canal Festival and is opening up the Rochdale Canal to a new audience in the City embracing the canal side setting.”

Suzanne Gallagher, Asset Manager for landowner, Town Centre Securities said: “Piccadilly Basin benefits from being right next to the Urban Exchange retail scheme and the vibrant Northern Quarter, yet in its own tranquil, canalside setting. We want people to discover it and enjoy spending time here. It’s great to be part of this year’s canal festival for the first time which will no doubt bring new visitors to the area. Projects like this help create a sense of place and make the area a destination in its own right, putting Piccadilly Basin firmly on the Manchester map.”
Up to three hours free parking is available for anyone visiting the canal festival at the Urban Exchange retail development off Great Ancoats Street.

For the latest information on the 2012 The Canal Festival activities in Manchester City Centre go to www.cityco.com and www.creativetourist.com.

For more information on the rest of the 2012 Canal Festival programme visit www.myrochdalecanal.org.uk. The 2012 Canal Festival takes place from 18 -26 August 2012.
Ends

For further information please contact Roz Hughes on M: 07967 800395

Lomowall Launch @Piccadilly Basin

CityCo, Piccadilly Partnership and Lomography UK have installed the world’s first ever permanent LomoWall exhibition in the Manchester Piccadilly Basin area next to the Urban Exchange at Great Ancoats Street.

http://cityco.com/initiative/lomowall-manchester/

LomoWall Manchseter was unveiled on 26th July to celebrate the start of the 2012 Canal Festival.

Win £1000 to spend at the Urban Exchange

Urban Exchange are giving you the chance to WIN £1000 to spend at the Urban Exchange this Summer!

To enter visit http://www.urbanexchange.co.uk/competitions.php

Good Luck!

TCS supports summer arts events in Manchester’s Piccadilly Basin

Leeds based property investment and development company, Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS), has joined forces with Piccadilly Partnership and city centre management company, CityCo, along with the Canal Festival 2012 to bring three high profile arts initiatives to the Piccadilly Basin in Manchester city centre this summer.  
This is part of a long-term commitment by the property company, to regenerate this part of the city with a mixed-use scheme to create a sustainable place to live, work and shop.  This includes the flagship Urban Exchange retail and leisure destination on Great Ancoats Street.

Richard Lewis, Property Director at Town Centre Securities PLC explains:  “Back in the early 1990’s we identified Piccadilly Basin as a great investment opportunity with its close proximity to Piccadilly Station and the evolving Northern Quarter.  Along with New Islington and Ancoats, who have also benefited from significant investment over the past decade, this eastern side of the city centre is becoming one of the most desirable and interesting places to locate in Manchester.”

“TCS has worked hard to transform and regenerate the area, reopening the canal and tow paths, restoring historic mills including Carver’s Warehouse and Brownsfield Mill and building bespoke, design-led new buildings including Urban Exchange and offices for Manchester architects BDP.  Piccadilly Basin is establishing itself as the home to creative, design and fashion agencies including Marketing Manchester, BDP, G-Star Raw and Harris Design Partnership – all of whom are long-term tenants of ours.  With great tram connections to MediaCity, the Basin is perfectly placed to attract more companies from the digital media sector. ”

Suzanne Gallagher, Asset Manager at Town Centre Securities added: “Piccadilly Basin is a really attractive part of the city centre, benefiting from being right next to the vibrant Northern Quarter, yet in its own tranquil, canalside setting, and we want people to discover it and really enjoy spending time here. It’s great to be able to support these three very unique projects which will no doubt bring new visitors to the area. Projects like this help create a sense of place and make the area a destination in its own right, putting Piccadilly Basin firmly on the Manchester map.”

Alexandra King, Director of Piccadilly Partnership, who has worked closely on all three projects added: “Without TCS’s generous support and assistance none of these three projects could have happened.   We are incredibly grateful to them for allowing us onto their property to create art installations and events that will not only enhance the area but significantly raise its profile and reputation.”

The three arts projects taking place at Piccadilly Basin this summer include:  Atelier[Zero],  an Arts Council funded  Cultural Olympiad art installation created by students from the Manchester School of Architecture;  the world’s first permanent LomoWall containing 14, 000 lomography images, to be unveiled on Tariff Street later this month and Manchester’s first float-in-drive-in-walk-in cinema with films screened over two nights in August.
For more information on the three summer events visit www.cityco.com and for more information on TCS visit www.tcs-plc.com.

TCS installs solar scheme at Urban Exchange in Manchester

Following the success of the largest city centre solar photovoltaic system of its time at Clarence Dock car park in Leeds, Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS) have once again called upon GMI to deliver another renewable energy scheme on the roof of their prestigious Urban Exchange retail development on Great Ancoats Street in Manchester.

Assisting Town Centre Securities PLC with their green investment strategy, GMI Energy has installed a 240w REC solar system comprising of 208 panels within a one week programme.  Having assessed the building profile, GMI used a non-penetrating roof mounted system made of aluminium and stainless steel to maintain the integrity of the building which provides a flexible longer term solution.

The new system will produce approximately 44,800 kwh of energy a year, generating a combined income and saving of £10,550 per year over the 25 year feed-in-tariff period.  It will also produce a 9% return on the investment cost.

In line with Town Centre Securities PLC’s commitment to reducing their carbon footprint, 17,813 kg of CO2 emissions will be saved per year and tenants at Urban Exchange such as Aldi, M&S Outlet, Pure Gym and Go Outdoors will be able to use clean low carbon generated energy at the site.

Ben Ziff, Managing Director of Town Centre Car Parks (TCCP), a subsidiary of TCS explained:  “We installed PV panels at the Clarence Dock car park in Leeds last year, creating the UK’s largest city centre renewable energy system in Leeds, and are very pleased with their performance so far.  Not only do they cut our energy bills, but they provide us with a return on our investment. Introducing solar systems to our estate is a part of our on-going strategy to use innovative and technological ways to improve our business and help shape the environment in challenging times.”

David Donkin, Associate Director at Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS) said: “Urban Exchange is an architecturally stunning environmentally-friendly building, which has become a successful retail destination.  The PV panels not only add to the building’s green credentials but fit with TCS’s commitment to sustainable development.”

In addition to the installation GMI will also be providing a complete operations and maintenance support package to ensure the system is fully maintained and performing efficiently to its optimum level for 25 years.  Furthermore GMI are only one of a small handful of companies that are REC Solar Professionals in the UK, bringing additional benefits such as an extended 12 year manufacturer’s guarantee.

Carl Nielsen, Managing Director of GMI Energy said:
“We are delighted to continue GMI’s relationship with TCS as the construction arm of the business has undertaken several contracts at the Urban Exchange development over the years.  It’s so important for us to fully understand our client’s properties as it forms the basis of the energy assessment and allows us to create bespoke solutions that are fit for purpose.”  

“Our hands-on and partnership approach meant we worked closely with Town Centre Securities to find the right solution, as investing into green energy is a longer term strategy that must integrate with the rest of the businesses objectives.”

Piccadilly Basin

This summer we are pleased to be working with Piccadilly Partnership and CityCo, Manchester’s City Centre Management Company, to bring a host of events and initiatives to the Piccadilly Basin. Our aim is to animate, green and promote the area for the benefit of business communities, visitors and residents; celebrating Piccadilly Basin as a vibrant and attractive destination.
Below is an outline of the key projects. We hope to see you at the waters’ edge this summer.

If you have any queries please contact Piccadilly Partnership Director Alex King on 0161 838
3250 or email alex.king@cityco.com

Lost in Space at Urban Exchange

A brilliant time was had by all at the Lost in Space weekend at Urban Exchange.

The weekend included a number of roaming costume characters from the Star Wars films such as Darth Vader, R2D2, Storm troopers, Jawa, Boba Fett, Darth Revan and many more. There were a number of static props located within the GO Outdoors atrium where customers could have photographs and also view props from the films.

Lots of children had face 's painted, which was available for free throughout the day

Peppa Pig and George come to Urban Exchange

Hundreds queued to see children’s favourites, Peppa Pig and her little brother George, at Urban Exchange on Great Ancoats Street in Manchester city centre on Saturday 14 April. 

Arianna Ali (aged 4) and her sister Amelia (aged 1) from Withington were first in the queue.  The cheeky little piggies were in the atrium of the Go Outdoors store where they did a day-long free meet and greet their young fans.

Children meet Santa’s reindeer at Urban Exchange

James Barber aged 4 from Salford and Evie and Archie Ramsbottom aged 4 and 6 respectively from Whalley Range were some of the lucky children to meet one of Santa’s reindeer at Urban Exchange on Great Ancoats Street at the weekend.

Next weekend (17th and 18^th December), Santa will be giving out treats to children and there will be mulled wine and mince pies for the grown-ups.  Festive workshops will focus on making winter bird feeders.  There will also be a free gift wrapping service for purchases from any of the stores.

The retail scheme is also offering customers the chance to win £1000 of gift vouchers to spend at M&S Outlet, Aldi, Go Outdoors and Pure Gym in their Christmas prize draw. The competition runs until 24 December 2011.

As always there is 3 free hours free parking with over 250 spaces available on site. 

Win £1000 worth of vouchers to spend at the Urban Exchange

If you get yourself down to the Urban Exchange today or any day until Christmas you could be in with a chance to win £1000 of vouchers to spend at the Urban Exchange. Pick up your entry form from GoOutdoors, M&S, Pure Gym or Aldi and post it in the post box in the GoOutdoors Atrium.  The Prize Draw will be held on the 24th December.

Terms & Conditions

The winner will recieve a collection of gift vouchers to exchange for £1000 worth of goods and services at the Urban Exchange's five tenants - Aldi, GoOutdoors, Pure Gym and M&S Outlet.

Only one entry is permitted per person.

The prize is non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for monetary value.

Urban Exchange will select a winnder at random on the 24th December 2011 and the judges decision is final.

Meet Santa's reindeer at Urban Exchange

Christmas has come early at Urban Exchange on Great Ancoats Street.  On 10^thand 11^thDecember two of Santa’s real live reindeer, Donner and Vixen, will be on hand to greet children from 11am – 4pm each day. 

In addition, every weekend in December (3/4^th, 10/11^thand 17/18^th) Santa will be giving out treats to children and there will be sherry and mince pies for the grown-ups.  Festive workshops will focus on making Christmas baubles for the tree, gifts and decorating biscuits.  There will also be a free gift wrapping service for purchases from any of the stores.

Edward Ziff, Chairman and Chief Executive of Town Centre Securities (TCS) that own and manage Urban Exchange said: “We’re very lucky that two of Santa’s reindeer are able to take time-out to visit us before they embark on their epic journey around the world delivering presents.  It’s not often children get the chance to see a real live reindeer and we hope it’ll be a truly memorable moment for them. ”

The retail scheme is also offering customers the chance to win £1000 of gift vouchers to spend at M&S Outlet, Aldi, Go Outdoors and Pure Gym in their Christmas prize draw. The competition runs until 24 December 2011.

As always there is 3 free hours free parking with over 250 spaces available on site.

Winter Sports Weekend at Urban Exchange

Urban Exchange, the retail scheme on Great Ancoats Street, is holding a Winter Sports Weekend on 26 and 27 November from 11am – 4pm.

For adults there will be a snowboard simulator, mulled wine and a chocolate fondue in the Go Outdoors atrium.  For the energetic, Pure Gym will have an open weekend and free winter sports circuit classes.  Also on hand will be Urban Exchange’s personal shopper who will help customers choose the right gear to be the best dressed on and off the slopes.

For youngsters, a free face painter will give tots a wintery make-over with snowflakes, snowmen and Snow Queen themed faces.  There will also be children’s craft workshops to create winter bird feeders. 

Edward Ziff, Chairman and Chief Executive of Town Centre Securities (TCS) that own and manage Urban Exchange said: “Winter can be a great time to wrap up warm and enjoy the outdoors.  With experts on hand, we want to help people make the most of the season.  We hope our customers will try out our free activities and have a few hours of fun.”

The retail scheme is also launching a prize draw to win £1000 of gift vouchers to spend at M&S Outlet, Aldi, Go Outdoors and Pure Gym. The competition runs until 24 December 2011.

As always there is 3 free hours free parking with over 250 spaces available on site.