Victoria Gate Arcades

The new arcade building is designed as a two storey, twin arcade with a complex roofscape continuing the grand history of Leeds’ 19th century arcades.

A large casino is located above the arcade, partially over-sailing it and creating a four storey civic frontage on Eastgate.

The three-dimensional texture of the brickwork, and how we could form pleats and steps, was an important factor in the decision to form the external façade from brick-faced pre-cast concrete panels. As we developed and refined the complex geometry of the pleated brickwork we devised a series of width modules which could be repeated – panels are seven, nine, eleven or thirteen bricks wide, but their height varies across the façade.

The rooflight continues the tradition of sculptural glazed arcade roofs in Leeds. The design of the glazed steel roof structure was optimized for steel section and glass panel sizes, and to eliminate any twisting and warping of glass whilst keeping the panels as large as possible.