Baart Harries Newall were appointed as architects in November 2004 to design the conversion and extension of a Victorian Market Hall to provide a comprehensive centre for the arts.

The development stages of the project included extensive public consultation and involvement in brief formulation and the design process – to ensure relevance and foster ownership.

The project includes a gallery, theatre/cinema/performance space, café bar with second performance space, education rooms for art and IT, and a music rehearsal room with recording facility. A dedicated club room for young teenagers will cater for this under-represented age group, and will attempt to foster their interest in the arts.

Offices on the upper floor will be let to provide an ongoing revenue stream for the project.

The design philosophy is to faithfully repair the existing granite building, and contrast its dark solidity with modern extensions in glass and white render. Sparing use of granite, slate and copper will allude to past and present industries of this mining and quarrying area.