The Victoria Gate Arcade in Leeds stands as a landmark achievement in modern masonry, setting a new benchmark for innovative building with clay brick. Featuring a striking three-dimensional façade composed of intricate steps and pleats, the project demonstrates how modern offsite manufacturing and traditional brickmaking can unite to push architectural boundaries.
Bridging Heritage and Modern Architecture
Sourcing the right material was critical to fulfilling both the architectural vision and the stringent planning requirements of Leeds’ historic Victoria Quarter. The development team, Hammerson, alongside Leeds City Council planners, sought a specific aesthetic balance: a rich red hue with subtle tonal variations.
To achieve this, Ketley Brick supplied a blend of light and dark Staffordshire Red bricks. The resulting tonal variation seamlessly integrates the arcade’s complex, dynamic façade with the richly textured historical brickwork of the surrounding city centre.
Advanced 3D Modelling and Technical Rigour
Due to the scale and geometric complexity of the building, advanced 3D software was utilized to plot and place every single brick:
- 360,000 Bricks & Slips: Precisely mapped across 550 bespoke precast panels.
- Exposed Bed Faces: The design’s projecting headers meant that brick bed faces would be directly exposed to the elements.
- Technical Performance: Ketley Staffordshire Smooth Red Class A facing bricks were selected for their exceptional strength, low water absorption, high frost resistance, and high dimensional stability.
To ensure absolute structural integrity and weathering capability, mock-up panels featuring factory-pointed joints underwent rigorous independent laboratory testing, including freeze-thaw cycles and pull-off tests. Furthermore, the panel geometry was cleverly designed to prevent pigeons from roosting on the exposed decorative brick ledges.
Offsite Manufacturing & The "Dog Bone" Innovation
Key Technical Innovations
- The "Dog Bone" Brick: Ketley developed a bespoke Class A facing brick featuring a unique "dog bone" shape with central perforations and snaps. When snapped in half, it generated two perfectly keyed snap headers for casting without requiring mechanical cutting, maximising efficiency and resulting in virtually zero brick waste.
- Precision Casting: Each brick and Ketley brick slip was meticulously laid face down in a custom mould reflecting the negative of the pleated pattern. Concrete was then poured on top to a structural depth of 150-400mm.
- Factory-Controlled Quality: Offsite specialist Thorp managed the casting and factory pointing under controlled conditions, ensuring a high-quality finish before delivering the panels ready to be mounted directly to the building's steel frame.
The Victoria Gate Arcade demonstrates how traditional brickwork can thrive on even the most challenging, complex building envelopes. By pairing Ketley’s brick manufacturing expertise with modern 3D design and precast concrete engineering, the project has established a new architectural landmark that respects its historical context while defining the future of brick construction.
Project details
Location:Â Leeds
Brick manufacturer:Â Ketley Brick
Clay Brick:  92,000 units Staffordshire red bricks slips, 20,000 units Staffordshire red perforated bricks, 105,600 units bespoke Staffordshire red "dogbone" snap headers, 20,000 units bespoke Staffordshire red corner key specials, 11,064 units bespoke Staffordshire red double plinth snap headers, 200 units bespoke Staffordshire red 246mm solids, 1118 units Staffordshire red plinth stretchers
Architect: Acme Architects
Brickwork contractor: Thorp Precast
Brick Bulletin | Feature 309
