New stone floor for historic #Nottingham arcade
Monday 12th May sees an exciting development for The Exchange,
Nottingham’s oldest shopping centre, as it embarks on a wholesale
replacement of the stone floor of the main arcade.
Having absorbed
the pounding of millions of feet over the 85 years since it was
originally laid; the current floor has reached the end of its natural
life. After sourcing a quarry to supply a stone which is as close as
possible to the mellow honey-coloured original, the new floor will be laid in sections over a period of six weeks.
Once completed, the new flooring will return the arcade to the look that greeted visitors on the day of its opening.
The Exchange has become a noted landmark in the city over the 85 years
since it was officially opened by HRH The Prince of Wales, later Edward
VIII, on 22nd May, 1929.
The Council House, Exchange Buildings and
adjoining shops were built between 1926 and 1929 and modelled on Milan's
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele by architect T.C. Howitt. On Howitt's death
in 1968, The Times described the building as 'probably still the finest
municipal building outside London', and English Heritage cited the
Council House and Exchange as 'an exceptional example of C20th civic
architecture.... enhanced by the consistently high quality of the
decorative art found throughout.'
Since 2010, The Exchange and
Council House have been Grade II* listed, putting the centre in the top
4% of important buildings of historical interest in the country.
Replacing the floor will be a complex process, carried out by
Nottingham-based firm UPC Management Services. MD Jonathan Simpson
commented,
“UPC are hugely proud to have been chosen to carry out
the laying of the new flooring for what is, arguably, Nottingham’s most
noteworthy structure. Our team will be carrying on the work begun by the
local craftsmen and stone masons involved in the original build – a
legacy I’m confident we can do justice to.
“The work will be carried
out at night, with the floor laid in sections, so there’ll be no
restrictions in access for retailers and customers.”
The Exchange
Centre Manager, Neil Fincham added, “This is a massively significant
investment for the centre and its owners. Not only was the floor in much
need of replacing, but the listed status of the building meant we had
to be very diligent in sourcing the right stone. We’ve undertaken
extensive consultation with the conservation and planning departments, a
process that has taken two years, so I’m confident the new floor will
be a fitting evolution for the centre, entirely in keeping with the
building’s heritage. I feel sure it will immeasurably enhance the
overall appeal of The Exchange for our tenants and customers alike.”
The new floor is scheduled to be laid by Sunday 15th June.