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On the second day of it’s opening and after a heavy snow storm I popped over to take a little look at the new Trinity Centre, Leeds, taking my camera with me because although I wasn’t expecting much I was quietly hoping to see something worth a photo or two. When I walked in through the Briggate entrance I hadn’t really thought a shopping centre would have an impact on me but by the time I arrived at the heart of the complex all I could think of was that Leeds is finally back on the map.
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I was made redundant last December and have seen my previous job move to Manchester along with a great many I’ve heard about along the grapevine. I’ve felt Manchester has been ruling the north for quite some time and have been annoyed that my home town has seen it’s economy dwindle with no recent improvements to make it stand out from other cities. However with this new venue, our shortly to open arena, talks about the remodeling of the Leeds Market and HS2 on it’s way I can once again say I feel proud and inspired to build something of my life here in Leeds, lets hope this will be the turn around we need to bring our community back to the forefront of the UK economy.
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Tourists and shoppers alike I’m sure will soon be swarming into Leeds to see the architectural structure that joins the old Leeds Shopping Plaza to the all new encompassing Trinity Centre, from the great stone curving walls that lead you into the warren of shops and the multi-layered domed roofs that mirror aspects of the elegant domed ceiling in the corn exchange you can’t fail to be impressed with the design. The previously shadowed Holy Trinity Church has been thrown out of the dark, projecting itself into the colossal heart of the complex and adds to the majestic magnificence of Andy Scott’s sculpture which towers almost 50 feet above the hustle and bustle of the Leeds shoppers. The kings of retail obviously overshadow the smaller retailers with the Apple Store concurring pride of place on the ground floor in the arcade and Next showering the hub with it’s logo but, with many shops in Leeds closing over the past few years, it’s a sight for sore eyes to see smaller retail chains open. After the truly impressive grandeur of the structure and the sculptures by Andy Scott the main attraction, for me, are the amount of restaurants and as this building remains a novelty there will surely be a positive turn in our local economy. The test will be to make sure our local retail chains benefit against the mass corporate governing body that surely owns and drives the business it wants to see in there.
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I’m not one for writing or even voicing my opinion much but I have to say that I believe this has changed the face of Leeds.
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