Rem Koolhaas to Design £110M Arts Centre in Manchester

Rem Koolhaas and OMA have won the competition to design The Factory, a new £110 million arts centre in Manchester. Located on the site of the former Granada Studios, the glass cube will be the first major public building by Koolhaas in the UK, with a capacity of 7,000 people and completion scheduled for 2019. The project is part of Manchester's strategy to position itself as a cultural alternative to London, alongside the development of the St. Johns district by Allied London and the city, covering over six hectares with hotels, shops, restaurants, and green spaces. The Factory aims to host visual and performing arts, including dance, film, new technologies, TV, and theatre, and is expected to create nearly 1,500 jobs, boosting the region's economy. The approval from the city council marks a turning point. Koolhaas had previously been a vocal supporter of Bremain during the Brexit campaign, criticizing Brexit supporters in a BBC interview for not understanding the consequences.