When Contemporary Design and Old-World Charm Collide

The glory days of Manchester, England’s, industrial past have long faded, and recent decades saw the city fall on hard times. Though many may have left Manchester for dead, a 1996 IRA bombing in the heart of the city had the unexpected effect of uniting and inspiring the city to rebuild and revitalize itself. City leaders focused on the downtown core and provided political cover for the international planning firm EDAW to give the city a new heart - one reliant on good design. In this exclusive TPR interview, EDAW’s Jason Prior and City Council Leader Richard Leese explain how inspired planning brought new life to an old city.