Motherwell Civic Centre

{{Infobox historic site

| name = Motherwell Civic Centre

| native_name =

| former_names =

| alternate_names =

| image = Motherwell Civic Centre - geograph.org.uk - 3045184.jpg

| caption = Motherwell Civic Centre

| locmapin =Scotland North Lanarkshire

| map_caption =Shown in North Lanarkshire

| location = Windmillhill Street, Motherwell, Scotland

| coordinates = {{coord|55.7837|N|3.9825|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| built = 1970

| architect = Wylie, Shanks and Partners

| architecture = Brutalist style

| renovation_date =

| ren_firm =

| designation1 =Category B Listed Building

| designation1_offname =

| designation1_date =2 December 2020

| designation1_number =LB52545

}}

Motherwell Civic Centre is a municipal building in Windmillhill Street in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The building, which is the headquarters of North Lanarkshire Council, is a Category B listed building.{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB52545|desc=Motherwell Civic Centre complex|access-date=16 November 2021}}

History

The facility was commissioned to replace the ageing Motherwell Town Hall in Hamilton Road.{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB48305|desc=Motherwell, Hamilton Road, Former Motherwell Town Hall|cat=C|access-date=16 April 2020}} After a period of rapid population expansion associated with the growth of the Ravenscraig steelworks, civic leaders decided to procure a purpose-built civic centre: the site selected at the corner of Airbles Road and Windmillhill Street had previously been occupied by residential properties with a public house on the corner itself.{{cite web|url=https://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/275687/656264/13/101329|title=Ordnance Survey Map|year=1958|accessdate=17 April 2020}}

The foundation stone for the new building was laid by the provost, Edward McCardle, in September 1965.{{cite web|url=https://culturenl.co.uk/entertainment/motherwell-concert-hall-and-theatre/|title=Motherwell Concert Hall and Theatre|publisher=Culture.nl|accessdate=17 April 2020}} It was designed by Wylie, Shanks and Partners in the Brutalist style,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zujkDwAAQBAJ&pg=RA1-PT32|title=Clydeside: Red, Orange and Green|first= Ian R |last=Mitchell|publisher=Luath Press|year=2010|isbn= 978-1906307707}} built by Whatlings (Buildings) Limited at a cost of £2.25 million and was officially opened by the Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire, Lord Clydesmuir, in December 1970.{{cite web|url=http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=400614|title=Motherwell and Wishaw Civic Centre|publisher=Dictionary of Scottish Architects|accessdate=17 April 2020}} The main frontage of the civic centre, facing on Windmillhill Street (today part of the A721 road), featured continuous stone facing panels above and below a continuous row of windows on six floors with a separate council chamber jutting out to the east of the main structure: the design also included a multi-purpose concert hall and theatre which was built to the west of the civic centre and was part financed by the Scottish Arts Council. The complex received a Scottish Civic Trust Award in 1973.{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12409728.peter-williams/|title=Obituary: Peter Williams|publisher=Herald Scotland|date=13 January 2005|accessdate=15 November 2020}}

Following the official opening, the concert hall and theatre hosted an initial "carol pageant" and then followed this up with a regular programme of pantomimes{{cite web|url=https://www.theatre-news.com/news/UK/45742/Red-Carpet-Gala-performance-for-The-Steamie-30th-anniversary-tour|title=Red Carpet Gala performance for The Steamie 30th anniversary tour|publisher=Theatre News|date=10 April 2017|accessdate=17 April 2020}} and concerts.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/label/448489-Motherwell-Civic-Centre|title=Motherwell Civic Centre|publisher=Discogs|accessdate=17 April 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.whatsonlanarkshire.co.uk/listings/motherwell-concert-hall-and-theatre/|title=Motherwell Concert Hall and Theatre|publisher=What's On Lanarkshire|accessdate=17 April 2020}} As well as this, top-level snooker (the Scottish Masters event) was also held within the complex during the 1990s.{{cite web|url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/9798/sm97_res.shtml|title=Motherwell Civic Centre|publisher=Snooker.org|accessdate=17 April 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://archive.org/stream/NewsUK1993UKEnglish/Sep%2023%201993%2C%20The%20Times%2C%20%2364756%2C%20UK%20%28en%29_djvu.txt|title=Doherty strikes back|work=The Times|year=1993|accessdate=17 April 2020}}

The civic centre was the headquarters of the Burgh of Motherwell and Wishaw Council until it was replaced by Motherwell District Council under the wider Strathclyde Regional Council in May 1975.{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1973/65/contents|title=Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973|publisher=Legislation.gov.uk|accessdate=16 April 2020}} It remained the Motherwell District Council headquarters{{London Gazette|issue=22102|page=312|date=3 March 1987|city=e}} until the abolition of the Strathclyde Region led to the formation of North Lanarkshire Council, based at the civic centre, in April 1996.{{cite web|url=https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=28130|title=Council offices|publisher=North Lanarkshire Council|accessdate=17 April 2020}} A comprehensive programme of refurbishment works to the concert hall and theatre, costing £6 million, was completed in November 2011.{{cite web|url=https://mars.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/egenda/images/att25131.pdf|title=Motherwell Concert Hall and Theatre Refurbishment Proposals|date=3 November 2009|publisher=North Lanarkshire Council|accessdate=17 April 2020}}

The Civic Centre was designed a Category B listed building by Historic Environment Scotland in December 2020.

In December 2024, it was confirmed that the Civic Theatre and Concert hall building, which had been closed since September 2023 due to the potential risk of collapse associated with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in the roof, would cost at least £10 million to repair and it would be demolished instead, with a replacement planned to be built at Ravenscraig.[https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/lanarkshire/council-confirms-motherwell-civic-theatre-34257204 Council confirms Motherwell Civic Theatre and Concert Hall will be demolished following identification of RAAC], Daily Record, 6 December 2024