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Broadcasting House, Salford Quays & TVC

(September 2010)

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WH
Whataday Founding member
Rkolsen posted:
Call me crazy but I don’t like an exposed glass curtain wall for headquarters for a TV stations headquarters. Hopefully it’s bullet proof and or there are bollards with sufficient set back


You're crazy.

Most new developments, shopping centres, offices, headquarters are built with glass frontages. Surely you're aware of that? Of course the glass is protected against attacks.

Let's not forget the glass fronted building that took the full impact of the BBC bomb and managed to remain pretty much in tact.
NE
neonemesis
Let's also not forget the BBC's quest for transparency as a psuedo public organisation. nothing says transparent like glass!
RK
Rkolsen
Inspector Sands posted:
Not sure what point you're trying to make with that information.

I'm sure that the building will have all the proper architectural elements to protect it, the BBC does have some experience in having buildings attacked of course and is very contingency aware. Also Broadcasting House and the BBC's buildings in Salford have lots of glass in their frontages as does Glasgow I think, Channel 4's HQ is also largely glass, and that was built before the Northern Irish peace process. It's not really an unusual type of design here


Just thinking out loud. Security measures and stuff. There are buildings like that in the US but none really in DC (save for the Newseum), near me or without a large concrete podium (with either glassed in lobby or the look of glass when there’s nothing but concrete behind it) or bollards or processes that restrict movement near the building.

The thing about NBH is their entrance is sufficiently set back and I believe protected with removable bollards (isn’t the loading dock entrance in that “bridge” area by the Peel wing).
AN
all new Phil
If we cover everything in concrete and surround everything in bollards, the bad guys have won.
WH
Whataday Founding member
Rkolsen posted:
The thing about NBH is their entrance is sufficiently set back and I believe protected with removable bollards (isn’t the loading dock entrance in that “bridge” area by the Peel wing).


Let me assure you (as anyone who knows Cardiff will tell you) it is almost impossible to get a vehicle anywhere near the city centre as most of it is pedestrianised!

The same is the case for the new district around the BBC Wales HQ:

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The front of the building faces onto Central Square which is enclosed at the other side by Cardiff Central Station.

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SC
scottishtv Founding member
Inspector Sands posted:
Broadcasting House and the BBC's buildings in Salford have lots of glass in their frontages as does Glasgow I think,

Indeed...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/resources/tickets/tours/pq_front.jpeg
NG
noggin Founding member
Rkolsen posted:
Inspector Sands posted:
Not sure what point you're trying to make with that information.

I'm sure that the building will have all the proper architectural elements to protect it, the BBC does have some experience in having buildings attacked of course and is very contingency aware. Also Broadcasting House and the BBC's buildings in Salford have lots of glass in their frontages as does Glasgow I think, Channel 4's HQ is also largely glass, and that was built before the Northern Irish peace process. It's not really an unusual type of design here


Just thinking out loud. Security measures and stuff. There are buildings like that in the US but none really in DC (save for the Newseum), near me or without a large concrete podium (with either glassed in lobby or the look of glass when there’s nothing but concrete behind it) or bollards or processes that restrict movement near the building.

The thing about NBH is their entrance is sufficiently set back and I believe protected with removable bollards (isn’t the loading dock entrance in that “bridge” area by the Peel wing).


If you design buildings that are obviously 'terror proof' - then the terrorists have won.

The key thing about modern development planning is that you design access control measures in a less obvious way.

BBC NBH is not only protected by bollards, but there are also very large concrete planters full of plants that would also deflect attacks. Stone benches, large pieces of art etc. are all used in a less obtrusive way to protect buildings. UK cities are full of fully glazed buildings. And yes - we've had some nasty attacks in the past (think of the IRA bomb in Docklands or the Manchester bomb attack). However we shouldn't let terrorists become architects by proxy... Just take sensible precautions and design buildings effectively and aesthetically.
RK
Rkolsen
You are all right. There just isn’t this type of building going on in the US nowadays.
NG
noggin Founding member
Rkolsen posted:
You are all right. There just isn’t this type of building going on in the US nowadays.


Ah - it's pretty common across Europe. Natural light, and natural ventilation are good for the green credentials.
IS
Inspector Sands
noggin posted:

BBC NBH is not only protected by bollards, but there are also very large concrete planters full of plants that would also deflect attacks. Stone benches, large pieces of art etc. are all used in a less obtrusive way to protect buildings. UK cities are full of fully glazed buildings. And yes - we've had some nasty attacks in the past (think of the IRA bomb in Docklands or the Manchester bomb attack). However we shouldn't let terrorists become architects by proxy... Just take sensible precautions and design buildings effectively and aesthetically.

I've always liked the way that the designers of Arsenals stadium did it's anti-attack 'bollards', they built them into letters and a couple of large metal cannons, the latter can withstand a 7 tonne lorry
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8b/Southbridgearsenal.jpg

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44240000/jpg/_44240620_cannons_203.jpg
WH
Whataday Founding member
Rkolsen posted:
You are all right. There just isn’t this type of building going on in the US nowadays.


It's interesting to hear that. Of course, bombs have been a threat in the UK for many decades and perhaps we view things differently as a result. The increase in the anti-attack bollards here is noticeable, but that's mainly to prevent terrorists running down pedestrians rather than to stop bombs being planted near buildings (in my view anyway).

Inspector Sands posted:
I've always liked the way that the designers of Arsenals stadium did it's anti-attack 'bollards', they built them into letters and a couple of large metal cannons, the latter can withstand a 7 tonne lorry
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8b/Southbridgearsenal.jpg

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44240000/jpg/_44240620_cannons_203.jpg



We've mentioned it before but I believe the TELEVISION CENTRE lettering was meant to act as bollards, but it's yet to appear.

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NG
noggin Founding member
Whataday posted:
Rkolsen posted:
You are all right. There just isn’t this type of building going on in the US nowadays.


It's interesting to hear that. Of course, bombs have been a threat in the UK for many decades and perhaps we view things differently as a result. The increase in the anti-attack bollards here is noticeable, but that's mainly to prevent terrorists running down pedestrians rather than to stop bombs being planted near buildings (in my view anyway).


It's also to stop people driving cars and trucks into buildings (a la Glasgow Airport)

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