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On Saturday, 21st March, we delivered the penultimate design session of the 2025-26 Studio programme, which saw young people from across the Northwest contribute their vision for the former Merseyside Police HQ at Canning Place with Gold Sponsors Avison Young.

The workshop focused on transforming the site into a vibrant, mixed-use landmark. Working in teams, the participants acted as professional committees tasked with making strategic decisions regarding the site’s future. Teams evaluated the merits of retrofitting the existing Police HQ to future-proof the structure versus demolishing it to allow for the total design flexibility of a new build. They also navigated complex urban planning challenges, such as Liverpool’s ‘Tall Building Policy’, debating whether to accept existing height limits or propose landmark structures of over 30 storeys to address the housing crisis.

The design process consisted of three phases: mapping access points, creating 3D massing of the site, and designing public realms and green spaces to complete the masterplanning process. During the final presentations, each group highlighted the specific priorities they believed the site should meet, while also identifying and integrating missing elements. They discussed their strategic choices, including the decision to retrofit or rebuild, and used their models to showcase whether they opted for low-rise, mid-rise, or landmark buildings, outlining how these designs would benefit the city.

A huge thank you to Avison Young for sponsoring and supporting the session. We would also like to thank Joe Smith (Avison Young), Liz Stein (EPD Landscape), and Anu Ibinayo (PLACED Pathways) for taking the time to support the students and for providing invaluable advice and encouragement throughout the day!

PLACED Academy is designed to tackle barriers young people face in accessing professional careers in the built environment, including architecture, planning, urban design and landscape architecture. We seek to support greater diversity in the sector, enabling young people to develop a wide range of skills, grow in confidence and feel empowered to shape the places of the future. PLACED Academy Studio runs from July 2026 – March 2027 with monthly sessions and is funded by some fantastic practices and organisations and we can support travel costs (subject to circumstances). You can find out more about the programme and who sponsors us here.

Applications close Sunday 7th June, there are just 60 places available. The link to the application form is HERE.

As part of the programme, young people will;

• Participate in monthly creative projects and professional development activities through collaborative sessions and independent work (face-to-face in Liverpool and Manchester)
• Develop knowledge and skills in design, communication, problem-solving, leadership, teamwork and public speaking
• Grow in confidence, input on real life projects, and feel empowered to shape future decisions about where they live
• Learn more about careers in the built environment and opportunities available to them and be mentored by professionals from the sector, gaining unique insight
• Gain experience that will enhance their CV and applications for higher education and employment, helping them stand out from the crowd.

If you have any queries, please get in touch via kim@placed.org.uk.

On Tuesday, 10th March, we delivered our annual CV, cover letter, and LinkedIn workshops across Liverpool and Manchester. The workshop’s aim was twofold: to encourage participants to value their contributions to live projects and to equip them with the ability to showcase these skills on applications for higher education or industry roles.

We kicked things off with peer-to-peer activities, creating a space for the young people to recognise the significant achievements and skills they have gained over the last 9 months. We explored effective CV layouts, discussing what to include to stand out from the crowd, before moving on to cover letters and how to best distribute their experiences across both documents.

The session then shifted to interview skills. Working in pairs, participants practised interviewing one another and providing constructive feedback. This exercise was designed to boost confidence by helping them articulate the wealth of experience they already possess. Finally, we wrapped up by looking at LinkedIn as a professional networking tool, analysing effective profiles and strategies for the platform.

Huge thanks to Jeff Gillbanks & Luke Piggin (Cityheart), Adam Trafford (Stantec), Gracie Turpin (PLACED Student Ambassador) and Grace Baker (PLACED Student Ambassador & Academy Pathways participant) for their support and encouragement throughout the session. We would also like to thank the Liverpool School of Architecture and the Manchester School of Architecture for generously hosting us.