The Football Factory, The Ropewalks, Liverpool

K2 Architects were approached by Grosvenor Estates to come up with a fresh original approach that addressed a particularly tricky brownfield site situated within the Old Ropewalks area of Liverpool City Centre. The Old Ropewalks is an area characterised by its cavernous streets of red brick Victorian warehouses and old artisans quarters. More recently the area has enjoyed a renaissance as a busy vibrant leisure area particularly popular in the evenings. This district presented a number of challenges to Grosvenor's traditional business model and a fresh approach to the problem was required.

K2 Architects solution to the problem was to use evidence based research to propose a multi-level, 12 pitch city centre 5-a-side football venue serving the younger population of the city over a ground floor of A3 type services linking up with the Concert Square social venues. The site is ideally situated for post game socialising and minimal commuting and is excellently positioned relative to public transport.

Cost consultants Gardiner Theobald have identified a build cost of £4.5m and a return on investment within 5 years. The building also has the built in flexibility to be converted into a multi storey car park at any time in the future.

The buildings styling is designed to fit in with the red brick Victorian industrial landscape whilst firmly positioning itself as a modern contemporary signature building.