south street

Working with Space Architects, THAA’s David Thompson was commissioned by Silverlink Properties to convert the Grade II* Robert Stephenson and Company’s Boiler Shop into an exhibition hall with ancillary office pods and facilities.

The development is located at 20 South Street, to the South of Newcastle Central Station, and is part of the Stephenson Quarter masterplan.

The building is leased to the Robert Stephenson Trust and comprises of a two storey structure fronting South Street and a large four range workshop area to the rear. The well preserved remains of the first purpose built locomotive manufactory in the world.

 The conversion will be located in the industrial workshop, whilst the office building of 20 South Street, remained untouched.

The design concept was derived from the history of the building itself. In its day, 20 South Street was responsible for accommodating some, of the most innovative and high technology processes of the industrial revolution. The proposal takes technology as a theme and aims to follow a hard glass and metallic aesthetic, which adopts contemporary industrial high tech construction processes.  The design creates a contrast between the dark and ‘work fatigued’ of the old existing structure and shining, bright clean and colourful new technology.

The space has been used for numerous events since its completion.