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The Sage Gateshead £70m Project

The Sage Gateshead is set to become a landmark, not only in architectural terms but also in the history of music in the Northern region.

The £70m project on the south bank of the River Tyne will complement the major regeneration taking place in the Gateshead Quays area including BALTIC The Centre for Contemporary Art and the world famous Gateshead Millennium Bridge linking the Gateshead and Newcastle quaysides.

The Centre will be a regional, national and international resource. It will operate alongside, and in support of, other musical organisations working in the North providing programme, teaching, and training and participation opportunities. It will also act as a partner in the regeneration of the region, making its facilities available for special events of regional importance.

Why this location?
While the North has a strong and proud tradition of music creation and appreciation, over the years its lack of performance venues has often resulted in many touring orchestras and groups omitting the area from their tour schedules.

The foundation of Northern Sinfonia in 1958 helped to increase classical music audiences by stimulating the quality and quantity of instrumental tuition in the region. However this only made the need for a purpose-built performance space, which could sustain and strengthen this audience, more pressing. Research was shown that there are no facilities elsewhere in the North, which would compare with the nearest facilities in Manchester to the south and Glasgow to the North. This means in many cases a round trip of between four and six hours to attend concerts of national standing so resulting in a 'gap' in the country's concert hall map.

So in 1990 a campaign began, prompted by Northern Sinfonia, to explore the possibility of developing a venue, which would not only provide a world -class music venue but also be committed to the development of a wide range of music.

The Architectural Brief
In 1997 an international architectural competition was launched in conjunction with the Royal Institute of British Architects, to design this unique building that was won by one of the world's most renowned architectural practices - Foster and Partners.

The brief to Fosters was to produce:
* A 1650 seat concert hall committed to achieving excellence for acoustic music of all kinds and adaptable for speech and amplified music.
* A flexible 400 seat hall able to present all musical forms in an appropriate and intimate setting.
* A rehearsal hall for resident and visiting musicians but also suitable for small-scale performances and large educational projects.
* A music school with teaching, practice and rehearsal facilities for all forms of music.
* A music information centre linked to the region and the world by new technology.
* A spectacular concourse and foyers, busy for 16 hours a day with catering, retail and box office, which can also serve the more private needs of the school and the halls and capitalise on the views of and over the Tyne and its bridges.
* New homes and touring bases for two of the partners - Northern Sinfonia and Folkworks.
* A model of accessibility for all.
* And to do all this within a single building of world class standard.

In early 2000 the main building contract was awarded to Laing O'Rourke. The foundation stone was laid in May 2000, and work is due for completion winter 2004/2005.