Westgate House, Newcastle upon Tyne

Westgate House, Newcastle upon Tyne
Westgate House, Newcastle upon Tyne
Westgate House, Newcastle upon Tyne shown within Tyne and Wear
OS grid reference NZ247639
Coordinates 54°58′08″N 1°36′54″W / 54.969°N 1.615°W / 54.969; -1.615
List of places
UK
England
Tyne and Wear

Westgate House was a 46-metre (150 ft) office block that was situated on Westgate Road opposite Newcastle Central Station in the Grainger Town of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The 12 storey Brutalist building was completed in 1972.[1]

It was demolished in the latter half of 2006 and January 2007[2] by its owners, development agency OneNorthEast, although its neighbour Norwich Union House that will allow for the site's redevelopment is still awaiting demolition. It had to be taken down piece by piece as neighbouring buildings were too close to allow for a controlled explosion.[3] Demolition started off slowly at first as a result of the unique construction method used on the 11th floor, which was a plant room, and the 12th floor which was stronger than other floors because of the roof slab.[4] Demolition was completed upon the removal of the 'stilts' at the base of the building.

It was planned for the building to be reclad and to convert the building into a 140 bedroom, 4 star hotel. If approved, it would have cost an estimated £5 million, however, the development did not get proposed.[5]

It was featured on the Channel 4 television series, Demolition where it was voted as one of twelve buildings to be demolished.[6] However, in BBC News Magazine, it was nominated as an 'unsung landmark'.[7]

References

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