Text from the Hadrian Award brochure:

Urban economies are frustratingly like buckets with holes; plug one hole and leak springs out elsewhere; boost economic activity in one area, but another is in decline. The Place in Sunderland faced its own challenges of transforming the stigma of a marginal business area into a place to be - a bold attempt using one building as a nucleus within and around which the distinctive energies of small businesses could thrive and become synergies. It worked.

Occupying a corner site allowed the scheme to combine office and studio space in listed Georgian teracces overlooking a pocket park with an opportunity to create contemporary front house facilitis flooded with light.

These go way beyond conventional expectationsof supported business space by creating a hub venue capable of hosting cultural events as easily as conferences or client presentations. The decision to do this with artistic expression gives the building strong appeal to younger tenants who dominate enterpreneurial SMEs. This ethos extends to the flexibility of space, with reception, cafe, galleries and meeting spces all informally inter-related - another chracteristic of the target market. Added to which, the energy saving measures give the building the conscience they would expect, as well as bills they can afford.