Highlights of 2012

Today's xsite is Anna...

So we are coming to the end of another busy year here at xsite. We have seen a few projects come to completion, more start, some new faces and a whole new venue open...

There was a little bit of a coffee theme to start the year with the completion of 9Bar cafe on Grey Street, part of the Theatre Royal; and the opening of the Ouseburn Coffee Company roastery within our own Foundry Lane Studios. If you haven’t investigated either of them yet you are missing out.

It was a busy year for awards with the Toffee Factory scooping lots of prestigious prizes including The RIBA Award 2012, North East Sustainable Building and North East Project of the Year 2012, RICS Best Commercial Building and Project of the Year 2012, RTPI Regional Award Winner 2012.

The Fabrick Housing Offices came to completion in September; an office fit out for the social housing provider in Middlehaven, Middlesbrough, full of honey pots, upturned boats, beach huts and copper tea sheds. We’re very proud of how it has turned out.

Small fit out projects at The Cycle Hub on the Quayside and Poetic Gem in Hoults Yard both opened. Ouse Street Arts Club, our meanwhile project in 2 shipping containers, in the Lower Ouseburn finally opened. It provides creative event space in the valley and has so far been part of the Late Shows and Ouseburn Open Studios, as well as hosting some supperclubs, our Summer School crits, exhibitions and a cinema. We have launched the Ouseburn Social this year too so watch this space for future events throughout 2013.

On site we have more to look forward to throughout 2013, with work due to finish at Dovecot Street creative offices in January, the Palace Hub in Redcar completing in February, Green Lane student accommodation in Durham completing in July. Work continues at Rivers House office fit out and Planning has just been granted for another student accommodation scheme at Ainsley Street in Durham. Work is also starting on a planning application for a new incubator workspace in Middlesbrough.

Thanks to everyone we have collaborated with this year, here’s to more of the same for 2013...