Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne

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The Life branding used by the Centre for Life - the f is meant to resemble a chromosome.
English: The Centre for Life (www.life.org.uk), branded simply as Life, is a science village and event location in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Designed by Sir Terry Farrell, it opened in 2000, and occupies the site directly to the west of Newcastle Central Station. It contains research, education and conference facilities, some retail units, and a visitor attraction - the Life Science Centre.

Location & components

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The plot it occupies is roughly rectangular, aligned N-S, bounded by:

  • Central Parkway to the east
  • Westmoreland Road to the north
  • Marlborough (road) to the west
  • Forth Banks to the south

There are two buildings on the site, whose exteriors together describe a rough oval shape. Cutting diagonally SW-NE through the northern half of the oval is the former alignment of Scotswood Road, through a wide open gap in the SW 54°58′03″N 1°37′18″W / 54.967493°N 1.621578°W / 54.967493; -1.621578 and through a narrower gap in the NW 54°58′06″N 1°37′15″W / 54.968235°N 1.620789°W / 54.968235; -1.620789, bridged by a lattice and also featuring a walkway connecting both halves. Inside the oval, this gap has been widened to form Times Square, an open space. The building on the north and west side of square is Biomedicine West. On the southern side of the square is the Market Keeper's House, a small rectangular Grade II listed building, dating back to 1840 when this area was a cattle market. South and east of the square is the other building, which forms the larger part of the site, incorporating various uses. Taking up the portion along most of the east side of the square is Biomedicine East, with a bar, restaurant and nightclub on the ground floor/basement levels, fronting onto Times Square. Taking up almost the entire bottom semi-circle area is the Life Science Centre. In between those two main uses is a space occupied by the Life Educational Laboratories (Lifelab) and the Life Conference and Banqueting facility. Both of these areas have their entrances on the outside (eastern facade), although conference centre occupies the outer half of this space and Lifelab the inner half, with the entrance being at the end of an E-W internal corridor. The locations of all these features are as follows:

The Biomedicine wings are mid-rise buildings with between 3 and 5 levels of window floors on their exterior (there are more the west side due to the slope of the ground). The eastern half comprising Life Educational Laboratories, Life Conference and Banqueting and half of the Life Science Centre are lower, have no discernible floor levels on their largely sheer exterior sides walls (again, being taller to the south than the north due to the prevailing slope). The western half of the Life Science Centre doesn't have an exterior wall as such, with the walls and roof being moulded from a single copper canopy, which has the metal's distinctive green oxidised colouring.

Images

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General views

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  • Viewed from the NE, from left to right:Central Parkway, the conference centre, Biomedicine East, the NE gap into Times Square, Biomedicine West & Westmoreland Road 22 February 2011
    Viewed from the NE, from left to right:Central Parkway, the conference centre, Biomedicine East, the NE gap into Times Square, Biomedicine West & Westmoreland Road
    22 February 2011
  • Viewed from NE (Clayton Street), showing Biomedicine East (left) and Biomedicine West (right), either side of the north east entrance to Times Square 9 March 2012
    Viewed from NE (Clayton Street), showing Biomedicine East (left) and Biomedicine West (right), either side of the north east entrance to Times Square
    9 March 2012
  • The Centre for Life as viewed from the south, from the Redheugh Bridge 8 March 2010
    The Centre for Life as viewed from the south, from the Redheugh Bridge
    8 March 2010

Exterior views

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North eastern

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  • The view south through the NE gap into Times Square, along the side of Biomedicine East on the left, to the entrance to the Life Science Centre in the distance 11 February 2009
    The view south through the NE gap into Times Square, along the side of Biomedicine East on the left, to the entrance to the Life Science Centre in the distance
    11 February 2009
  • The view south west down Clayton Street, through the NE entrance to Times Square, across it and beyond to Scotswood Road 27 July 2011
    The view south west down Clayton Street, through the NE entrance to Times Square, across it and beyond to Scotswood Road
    27 July 2011
  • 27 July 2011
    27 July 2011
  • 16 October 2007
    16 October 2007
  • The NE gap into times Square and Biomedicine West, viewed from the north east 22 June 2012
    The NE gap into times Square and Biomedicine West, viewed from the north east
    22 June 2012
  • The NE gap into times Square, viewed from the east 7 September 2005
    The NE gap into times Square, viewed from the east
    7 September 2005
  • The view west along Neville Street (Central Station on the left) to the NE entrance to Times Square 25 April 2009
    The view west along Neville Street (Central Station on the left) to the NE entrance to Times Square
    25 April 2009
  • The NE facade of Biomedicine East 4 September 2013
    The NE facade of Biomedicine East
    4 September 2013
  • The NE facade of Biomedicine East 4 September 2013
    The NE facade of Biomedicine East
    4 September 2013
  • The NE facade of Biomedicine East 4 September 2013
    The NE facade of Biomedicine East
    4 September 2013
  • The NE facade of Biomedicine East 4 September 2013
    The NE facade of Biomedicine East
    4 September 2013
Walkway/sign lattice over the NE entrance
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  • The view south west down Clayton Street, through the NE entrance to Times Square, across it and beyond to Scotswood Road 30 June 2007
    The view south west down Clayton Street, through the NE entrance to Times Square, across it and beyond to Scotswood Road
    30 June 2007
  • 12 March 2011
    12 March 2011
  • The view north up to the walkway over the NE entrance to Times Square, connecting Biomedicine West on the left to Biomedicine East on the right 4 September 2013
    The view north up to the walkway over the NE entrance to Times Square, connecting Biomedicine West on the left to Biomedicine East on the right
    4 September 2013
  • The view NE up to the rear of the lattice over the NE entrance to Times Square that holds the Life sign 4 September 2013
    The view NE up to the rear of the lattice over the NE entrance to Times Square that holds the Life sign
    4 September 2013
  • The view SE between the NE entrance lattice and walkway, to the stairwell at the north end of Biomedicine East 4 September 2013
    The view SE between the NE entrance lattice and walkway, to the stairwell at the north end of Biomedicine East
    4 September 2013
  • The view NW under the NE entrance between the walkway and lattice, to the stairwell of Biomedicine West 4 September 2013
    The view NW under the NE entrance between the walkway and lattice, to the stairwell of Biomedicine West
    4 September 2013
  • The view west to the east end of the Biomedicine West building, underneath the walkway to Biomedicine East 4 September 2013
    The view west to the east end of the Biomedicine West building, underneath the walkway to Biomedicine East
    4 September 2013

Eastern

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  • The entrance to Life Conference and Banqueting in the east facade, viewed from the SE from railway lines on the approaches Central Station 17 April 2007
    The entrance to Life Conference and Banqueting in the east facade, viewed from the SE from railway lines on the approaches Central Station
    17 April 2007
  • The east facade of Biomedicine East 4 September 2013
    The east facade of Biomedicine East
    4 September 2013
  • Looking south at the point where the lower and higher rise portions of Biomedicine East meet 4 September 2013
    Looking south at the point where the lower and higher rise portions of Biomedicine East meet
    4 September 2013
  • The east & NE facade of Biomedicine East 4 September 2013
    The east & NE facade of Biomedicine East
    4 September 2013
  • The east & NE facade of Biomedicine East 4 September 2013
    The east & NE facade of Biomedicine East
    4 September 2013
  • The east entrance to the Life Educational Laboratories (left) and the NE facade of Biomedicine East (right) 4 September 2013
    The east entrance to the Life Educational Laboratories (left) and the NE facade of Biomedicine East (right)
    4 September 2013
  • The east facade of the centre, including the entrance to Life Conference and Banqueting (left), the east entrance to the Life Educational Laboratories (middle) and the NE facade of Biomedicine East 4 September 2013
    The east facade of the centre, including the entrance to Life Conference and Banqueting (left), the east entrance to the Life Educational Laboratories (middle) and the NE facade of Biomedicine East
    4 September 2013
  • The view north along the east facade of the centre, to the entrance to Life Conference and Banqueting 4 September 2013
    The view north along the east facade of the centre, to the entrance to Life Conference and Banqueting
    4 September 2013
  • The colourful metal work on the eastern facade 18 April 2009
    The colourful metal work on the eastern facade
    18 April 2009

South eastern

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  • The SE facade of the Life Science Centre/Life Conference and Banqueting 4 September 2013
    The SE facade of the Life Science Centre/Life Conference and Banqueting
    4 September 2013
  • The SE facade of the Life Science Centre 4 September 2013
    The SE facade of the Life Science Centre
    4 September 2013
  • The SE facade of the Life Science Centre 4 September 2013
    The SE facade of the Life Science Centre
    4 September 2013
  • The SE facade of the Life Science Centre, from Forth Street 11 February 2009
    The SE facade of the Life Science Centre, from Forth Street
    11 February 2009

Southern

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  • The south facade of the Life Science Centre, from Forth Street 29 May 2009
    The south facade of the Life Science Centre, from Forth Street
    29 May 2009
  • The south facade of the Life Science Centre, from Forth Street 11 February 2009
    The south facade of the Life Science Centre, from Forth Street
    11 February 2009
  • The south facade of the Life Science Centre from the SW, across the car park on the south side of Forth Street 28 November 2011
    The south facade of the Life Science Centre from the SW, across the car park on the south side of Forth Street
    28 November 2011
  • The south facade of the Life Science Centre from the SW, across the car park on the south side of Forth Street 28 November 2011
    The south facade of the Life Science Centre from the SW, across the car park on the south side of Forth Street
    28 November 2011
  • The view NW across Forth Street to the south facade of the Life Science Centre 5 January 2009
    The view NW across Forth Street to the south facade of the Life Science Centre
    5 January 2009
  • The sign on the south facade of the Life Science Centre 26 December 2012
    The sign on the south facade of the Life Science Centre
    26 December 2012
  • 27 June 2008
    27 June 2008
  • The sign at night 1 October 2011
    The sign at night
    1 October 2011
  • The view north east along Railway Street, to the Life Science Centre 27 June 2008
    The view north east along Railway Street, to the Life Science Centre
    27 June 2008

North western

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  • The north west facade of Biomedicine West 4 September 2013
    The north west facade of Biomedicine West
    4 September 2013
  • The north west facade of Biomedicine West 4 September 2013
    The north west facade of Biomedicine West
    4 September 2013
  • The north west & west facades of Biomedicine West 4 September 2013
    The north west & west facades of Biomedicine West
    4 September 2013
  • The view ESE from St James' Boulevard to the NW facade of Biomedicine West 11 October 2009
    The view ESE from St James' Boulevard to the NW facade of Biomedicine West
    11 October 2009

Western

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  • The west facade of Biomedicine West 4 September 2013
    The west facade of Biomedicine West
    4 September 2013
  • The western facade & southern end of Biomedicine West 4 September 2013
    The western facade & southern end of Biomedicine West
    4 September 2013
  • The southern end of Biomedicine West 4 September 2013
    The southern end of Biomedicine West
    4 September 2013
  • The view SE across Marlborough to the west entrance to Times Square, with Biomedicine West on the left, and the western half of the Life Science Centre 4 September 2013
    The view SE across Marlborough to the west entrance to Times Square, with Biomedicine West on the left, and the western half of the Life Science Centre
    4 September 2013
  • The view SE across Marlborough to the west entrance to Times Square, with Biomedicine West on the left, and the Life Science Centre in the middle 4 September 2013
    The view SE across Marlborough to the west entrance to Times Square, with Biomedicine West on the left, and the Life Science Centre in the middle
    4 September 2013
  • The view east into Times Square, with the Market Keeper's House on the left, Biomedicine West in the distance and the Life Science Centre on the right, whose roof sculpture continues across the front of the scene 4 September 2013
    The view east into Times Square, with the Market Keeper's House on the left, Biomedicine West in the distance and the Life Science Centre on the right, whose roof sculpture continues across the front of the scene
    4 September 2013
  • The view north east across Times Square, showing both the West and NE gaps, with Biomedicine West on the left, Biomedicine East on the right, the Market Keeper's House in the centre, and the start of the Life Science Centre roof bottom right 24 July 2010
    The view north east across Times Square, showing both the West and NE gaps, with Biomedicine West on the left, Biomedicine East on the right, the Market Keeper's House in the centre, and the start of the Life Science Centre roof bottom right
    24 July 2010
  • 24 July 2010
    24 July 2010
Life Science Centre copper covering
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  • The western half of the Life Science Centre, viewed from the NW 4 September 2013
    The western half of the Life Science Centre, viewed from the NW
    4 September 2013
  • 24 July 2010
    24 July 2010
  • 9 January 2012
    9 January 2012
  • 9 January 2012
    9 January 2012

Exterior paving

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  • The view north across the NE edge of the site, to Westmorland Road (E-W) 8 March 2010
    The view north across the NE edge of the site, to Westmorland Road (E-W)
    8 March 2010
  • The view west along the south facade (right) of the Life Science Centre 25 October 2010
    The view west along the south facade (right) of the Life Science Centre
    25 October 2010
  • The NE view out of the NE entrance to Times Square to the spire of St Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne 11 March 2012
    The NE view out of the NE entrance to Times Square to the spire of St Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne
    11 March 2012
  • To St Mary's, Biomedicine East stairwell on the right 4 September 2013
    To St Mary's, Biomedicine East stairwell on the right
    4 September 2013

Times Square

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  • The view NE across Times Square to the interior facade of Biomedicine East, with the Market Keeper's House on the left and a Nissan EV-12 electric car in the foreground 29 April 2010
    The view NE across Times Square to the interior facade of Biomedicine East, with the Market Keeper's House on the left and a Nissan EV-12 electric car in the foreground
    29 April 2010
  • The DNA Spiral sculpture in Times Square, with Biomedicine West in the background 11 February 2009
    The DNA Spiral sculpture in Times Square, with Biomedicine West in the background
    11 February 2009
  • The view north across Times Square to Biomedicine East and the NE gap 5 January 2009
    The view north across Times Square to Biomedicine East and the NE gap
    5 January 2009
  • The view north along the eastern facade of Biomedicine West 4 September 2013
    The view north along the eastern facade of Biomedicine West
    4 September 2013
  • The southern end & eastern facade of Biomedicine West 4 September 2013
    The southern end & eastern facade of Biomedicine West
    4 September 2013
  • The sign on the southern end of the dividing wall which parallels the east facade of Biomedicine West 27 June 2008
    The sign on the southern end of the dividing wall which parallels the east facade of Biomedicine West
    27 June 2008
  • The southern end of Biomedicine West 4 September 2013
    The southern end of Biomedicine West
    4 September 2013
  • The interior (west) facade of Biomedicine East, viewed from the NW across Times Square 11 February 2009
    The interior (west) facade of Biomedicine East, viewed from the NW across Times Square
    11 February 2009
  • The western facade of the Life Educational Laboratories, and the door to the centre Management Suite. The digital sign refers to a nightclub beneath the building, whose entrance doors are just out of shot to the west 4 September 2013
    The western facade of the Life Educational Laboratories, and the door to the centre Management Suite. The digital sign refers to a nightclub beneath the building, whose entrance doors are just out of shot to the west
    4 September 2013
  • The DNA Spiral sculpture in Times Square, with Biomedicine East in the background 6 October 2011
    The DNA Spiral sculpture in Times Square, with Biomedicine East in the background
    6 October 2011
  • The west facade of Biomedicine East 4 September 2013
    The west facade of Biomedicine East
    4 September 2013
  • The view south across Times Square to the entrance of the Life Science Centre, with Biomedicine East on the left, the Market Keeper's House on the right 16 October 2007
    The view south across Times Square to the entrance of the Life Science Centre, with Biomedicine East on the left, the Market Keeper's House on the right
    16 October 2007
  • The view south across Times Square to the entrance of the Life Science Centre, with Biomedicine East on the left, the Market Keeper's House on the right 15 March 2013
    The view south across Times Square to the entrance of the Life Science Centre, with Biomedicine East on the left, the Market Keeper's House on the right
    15 March 2013
  • The view south at the western end of the north facade of the Life Science Centre, which houses a shop and cafe 4 September 2013
    The view south at the western end of the north facade of the Life Science Centre, which houses a shop and cafe
    4 September 2013
  • The view SE out of the west entrance to Times Square, along the alignment of Scotswood Road. The metal object is part of the roof of the Life Science Centre 4 September 2013
    The view SE out of the west entrance to Times Square, along the alignment of Scotswood Road. The metal object is part of the roof of the Life Science Centre
    4 September 2013

Life Science Centre entrance

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  • The entrance to the Life Science Centre, on the south side of Times Square 16 October 2007
    The entrance to the Life Science Centre, on the south side of Times Square
    16 October 2007
  • 21 July 2012
    21 July 2012

Market Keeper's House

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  • The west end of the Market Keeper's House 30 November 2008
    The west end of the Market Keeper's House
    30 November 2008
  • The south facade of the Market Keeper's House, with Biomedicine West on the left, and the NE gap and Biomedicine East on the right 11 March 2012
    The south facade of the Market Keeper's House, with Biomedicine West on the left, and the NE gap and Biomedicine East on the right
    11 March 2012
  • The south facade of the Market Keeper's House, with Biomedicine West on the left and Biomedicine East on the right 6 October 2011
    The south facade of the Market Keeper's House, with Biomedicine West on the left and Biomedicine East on the right
    6 October 2011
  • The south facade of the Market Keeper's House 4 September 2013
    The south facade of the Market Keeper's House
    4 September 2013
  • The Market Keeper's House from the NE, with the western edge of the Life Science Centre on the left 2 March 2006
    The Market Keeper's House from the NE, with the western edge of the Life Science Centre on the left
    2 March 2006
  • The Market Keeper's House from the NE across Times Square, with the western edge of the Life Science Centre on the left 31 January 2010
    The Market Keeper's House from the NE across Times Square, with the western edge of the Life Science Centre on the left
    31 January 2010
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