MSA President Ged Couser widens agenda to include Greater Manchester
Manchester Society of Architects (MSA) is hosting a Symposium on Tuesday 19th June at which senior figures in the building design community will hear from speakers including Theresa Grant; the Chief Executive of Trafford Borough Council, Paul Dennett; the Mayor of Salford and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority portfolio holder for housing, and Shelagh McNerney; the Head of Development at Salford City Council.
The free-to-attend annual symposium’s scope has been widened from the city centre focus of last year, as seen in this year’s title A Greater Manchester Symposium.
President of the MSA and BDP Principal Ged Couser says: “The symposium will discuss the important issues by showcasing some of the significant developments being built across Greater Manchester today,” he says.
“We will be extending our sights to the town centres in the boroughs outside the city core. We will engage with the issues relating to how the current boom within the city is affecting or is being influenced by development opportunities in Salford and in the towns that surround Manchester.
“We are very excited about the symposium and again expect a capacity audience to take part in a topical design-driven debate about our region and the contribution that Manchester architects, along with the wider construction industry, can make towards the making of ‘A Greater Manchester’.”
This year programme will include a panel discussion chaired by Stephen Hodder OBE of Hodder + Partners featuring:
- Paul Dennett – Mayor of Salford and the Executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority portfolio holder for housing.
- Shelagh McNerney – the Head of Development at Salford City Council.
- Theresa Grant – Chief Executive of Trafford Borough Council
There will also be presentations from:
- David Rudlin (Academy of Urbanism)
Chair of the Academy of Urbanism and Honorary Professor at Manchester University, on Greater Manchester’s growth and the methodology for that to happen in a sustainable and design-focused context.
- Andrew Bamford & Robert Evans (Project 3 Architects)
The partners in the Altrincham-based practice will talk about their role working there and how regeneration in the town is being driven by design quality.
- Jon Matthews, Director 5Plus
Jon will talk about the practice’s work in Salford, both at the university and in the city, which is focused upon high quality appropriate development rather than that driven by value.
- Tom Dobson, Hawkins Brown
Tom will talk about the firm’s work in Trafford and their masterplan for the UA92 project.
Last year’s event attracted the biggest number of attendees for a MSA event. Over 250 people observed presentations on issues relating to transport, living, working and culture within the City, thanks to representatives from BDP, Hodder + Partners, 5Plus, SimpsonHaugh and OMA.
Mr Couser added: “It is a cross-industry event so those who commission and collaborate with architects will find the event valuable.
“It’s important that developers, contractors and others in the built environment process have a deeper dialogue with Manchester’s leading architects.”
The venue will be at 53Two, close to the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, which provides a fantastic and very Mancunian setting under the arches.
The Manchester Architects Awards will be held in the same venue on following Thursday 21st June 2108, there are 14 categories including a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mr Couser adds: “Both the Symposium and Awards will feature an awards exhibition with the work of Manchester’s finest architects on show.”
A complimentary bar and food will be provided at both events with great thanks to the MSA’s sponsors.
