Leading landscape architect Gustafson Porter has just completed a major £7M redevelopment of Old Market Square in the centre of the City of Nottingham. The 11,500m² public square is one of the oldest in the UK and the second largest after Trafalgar Square in London. It will be officially opened by Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal on 03 April 2007, echoing the Prince of Wales' famous visit in May 1929 to mark the opening of the Council House and the earlier square design.

A recent report given to the local Nottingham Post estimated that the development could create 400 jobs and boost the economy by £12M each year. It was calculated that potential benefits could include an increased number of visitors enticed into the city by special events and a more attractive environment. A two week long celebration will begin next week, including a concert with an expected audience of 10,000.

Gustafson Porter Director, Neil Porter said, "Our contemporary design aims to provide a beautiful and relaxed new city space for the people of Nottingham, as well as a destination for tourists from around the world, in addition to the Castle and the wonderful local art galleries. It is a far cry from many UK public squares that are dominated by road traffic, signage and clutter, and we hope that it helps spark a new phase in the city's process of regeneration, particularly to the west, which has suffered from a recent period of commercial decline.

"It was especially important that we provide a flexible space that can change character, from day to night, from season to season and as varying events require," adds Porter. "It connects the various districts of the city and aims to bring the communities of those districts together at its heart. 78%* of the public used to avoid the centre of the square, because it was difficult to negotiate, however the new design provides a seamless, easily-traversed space suitable for everyone."

Councillor Jon Collins, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said, "The new design is one of the highest quality, reflecting the square's strategic location at the heart of the city and importance in creating an impressive public space for the future, inline with our corporate objectives. Over the past 18 months, we've watched the exciting transformation of the square taking place and now the hoardings are down we can see what a fantastic asset the square is for the city. It's the city's central focal point to show off everything that's great about Nottingham."

Gustafson Porter's bold new design will be enchanting to watch, providing endless fun for visitors. It includes a spectacular water feature consisting of four tiered layers of reflecting pools, surfaces, water falls, rills and jets which can shoot up to 5 metres high. The terraces can be switched off when required and used as a stage or as a seating area for public events held in the centre of the square. It fuses the past, present and future, incorporating the organic topography of the original medieval square and the formal geometry of the 1930's Cecil Howitt designed Council House, alongside contemporary features that echo the historical uses of the square, including a return to its original
function as a marketplace.

At night the water feature will be lit up to shimmer and sparkle with fibre optics set below each water jet. Long Row will be transformed into an ambient boulevard with atmospheric lighting cast from the refurbished 30's lanterns and on South Parade the four lighting masts will ensure the centre of the Square feels safe and inviting. The new design has also realigned the square's axis with the adjacent Council House building, providing a spacious, informal and yet elegant and adaptable space. It provides over ten times more seating space than the previous formal layout.

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For more information please contact:
Robert Torday at ING MEDIA on 0207 247 8334 / 0771 4242 910
E-mail: robert.torday@ing-media.com
Gemma Wood at ING MEDIA on 0207 247 8334 / 0775 1187175
E-mail: gemma@ing-media.com
Notes for Editors:
Gustafson Porter is an international landscape design practice based in London, operating across the diverse disciplines of landscape, architecture, engineering and design.

Gustafson Porter has collaborated with some of the leading international architectural practices and has projects in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. Completed projects range from the 1km long Westergasfabriek Cultuurpark in Amsterdam to the interior landscape of the Great Glass House at the National Botanic Garden of Wales. Gustafson Porter is currently working on landscape schemes for the cities of Beirut, Jeddah, Liverpool, London and Nottingham and has recently won a major international competition for the 'Gardens by the Bay' scheme, Singapore.

Despite the media frenzy, their most famous project, the Diana Memorial fountain, has just been selected for a prestigious 2007 International Architecture Award by the Chicago Athenaeum. The fountain receives more than 1M visitors each year and is the UK's second biggest visitor attraction.

General information:
- Gustafson Porter's design was chosen following an international design competition 'Square One' which received 200 entries from across the world.
- The new plans for Old Market Square were drawn up in 2004.
- The project started on-site in August 2005, following extensive consultations with the public, stakeholders, political and local interest groups, health and safety experts and the police.
- Over 6,000 tonnes of earth has been moved to level the square.
- Over 4,000 tonnes of concrete base slabs have been placed to provide a solid foundation.
- Over 6,000 metres of electric cabling has been laid to provide power for events.
- Over 10,000 square metres of new granite stone paving has been laid - an area bigger than a professional football pitch.
- A 4,400 square metre water feature has been built
- The old toilets now hold a water tank the size of a small swimming pool and a state-of-the-art control room for the technology behind the Square's electricity and water supplies.
- 13 beautiful new Gingko Biloba and Pin Oak trees have been planted around the Square.
- Five lanterns, two flag poles from the former design have been lovingly refurbished and returned.
- Following the opening celebrations 800 new shrubs will be planted, as well as 4000 bulbs.

Credits:
Landscape Architects: Gustafson Porter Ltd
Engineers: Arup
Contractor: Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd
Main square lighting: Speirs & Major Associates
Public realm designers: Space Syntax Ltd*
Water terrace lighting: Group C Ltd
Water feature specialist: Ocmis
Conservation Consultant: Jules Renfrew Associates
Quantity Surveyors: Davis Langdon LLP