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PROJECT REPORT: ADAPTIVE REUSE
POWERING FUTURE GENERATIONS
John Puttick Associates’ converted power station is something of an anomaly and a beacon of hope – as a vibrant new space where young people can come together, socialise, learn and have new experiences
Y
oungsters are of course crucial to the UK’s future growth and prosperity, so it is troubling to learn
that for over a decade, local authority expenditure on youth services in England has been in decline.
According to the latest fi gures from the
YMCA, council expenditure on youth services in England has fallen by 73% since 2010-11, a real-terms cut of £1.2bn – and the number of youth centres has reduced by 62% over that time.
Given this bleak backdrop, Fusebox in Blackburn, by John Puttick Associates, represents something of an anomaly and a beacon of hope, a vibrant new space where young people can come together, socialise, learn and have new experiences. Situated in the heart of town at the junction of George Street and Pilkington Street, the £3.1m youth centre involved the transformation of one of the UK’s oldest electricity generating power stations, retrofi tting two main parts of the heritage building complex: the L-shaped former power station, known locally as ‘the Fusebox,’ and parts of an existing
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connected ‘Youth Zone,’ built in 2010. The disused power station’s richly decorated brick facade, and other features, were retained, and its interior spaces imaginatively adapted to incorporate a range of facilities focused on employment skills, training and opportunities for young people aged between 16 and 25. Young people were actively involved in shaping the design, including several themed ‘zones’ including a ‘Maker Zone,’ ‘Gamifi cation Zone,’ and a Music and Production Suite. Key challenges for the architect included the need to accommodate varying levels across the site and to deliver a vibrant space able to draw in a young crowd despite the anachronisms of a historic building. John Puttick, director at John Puttick Associates told ADF: “Instead of just being a heritage project, the building had to have a certain kind of brightness and exist as an exciting environment. We achieved that through features such as the unusual lighting design and the inclusion of various artworks by local artist group. Many aspects relate to the
ADF NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025
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