Architecture firm Carmody Groarke has been selected to lead the design of a new permanent home for S1 Artspace, a Sheffield-based charity that will relocate to a historic building in the city's Castlegate district. The charity, which has never had a permanent location, will move into the former Yorkshire Bank Chambers next to Fitzalan Square after purchasing the building in August 2024.
S1 Artspace had previously operated from a former pub on the Park Hill estate since 2015, but faced significant challenges in recent years. The organization was forced to vacate its Park Hill building in October 2023 due to safety concerns and has been operating without any publicly accessible facilities since then. Originally, Carmody Groarke had designed a gallery for the Park Hill estate that received approval in 2019, but the project encountered funding difficulties and was eventually removed from updated plans by Mikhail Riches for Phase 4 of the regeneration project.
The new venue is housed in a historically significant sandstone building constructed in 1871 as a post office. The structure later served as the Sheffield Stock Exchange for more than 50 years before becoming a Yorkshire Bank branch until 2014, after which it remained vacant. The charity's acquisition of the building is supported by funding from multiple sources, including the UK Government, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Sheffield City Council, and the Architectural Heritage Fund.
Initial restoration work began in February with contractor Pinnacle Conservation handling the repairs. Carmody Groarke's involvement was officially announced recently, coinciding with a public exhibition showcasing their vision for the space that opened last weekend on October 24-25. The architectural firm has revealed plans to create public galleries spanning two floors, workspace areas for artists and other creative professionals, a gallery shop, and a basement bar. However, the practice has only released one image of their new design plans so far.
"The public are invited to help shape what happens to this remarkable building, which has been empty for far too long," said S1 Artspace director Louise Hutchinson. "We now have the chance to bring it back to life as a place for culture, creativity and community. This is about more than simply restoring a building – it's about reclaiming a piece of Sheffield's history and giving it a new purpose and future."
The conversion project is part of a broader initiative called the Gateway to Sheffield project, which will bring comprehensive changes to the Castlegate area. These improvements include the creation of a new public green space, a music event venue, and the de-culverting of a section of the River Sheaf to restore its natural flow.
S1 Artspace has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1995 by Sheffield artists who sought to establish a dedicated creative space in the city center. Over nearly three decades, the organization has made a significant impact on the local arts community, supporting more than 250 artists through the use of its studios and presenting work by over 650 artists, including six Turner Prize winners. The relocation to the restored Yorkshire Bank Chambers represents a major milestone in the charity's mission to provide a stable, permanent home for Sheffield's thriving arts community.
