The newly completed Vault Youth Zone in Preston, England forms part of more than a decade of civic renewal, providing a contemporary space for young people.

Designed and delivered by John Puttick Associates for national youth charity OnSide, the project concludes a trio of interventions by the London-based studio at the site, including a wider masterplan incorporating public square landscaping and the restoration of the Grade II listed Preston Bus Station, a noted example of Brutalist architecture.

Civic context and regeneration

Together, these projects form part of a programme of public investment led by Lancashire County Council and Preston City Council. The scheme unites transport infrastructure, urban planning, and community facilities in support of social and economic development in the north of England.

The 2,912-square-metre, three-storey youth centre is located within Preston’s Harris Quarter, the city’s cultural and civic core. It is part of a wider regeneration programme supported by the government’s Towns Fund, alongside additional capital funding from the Youth Investment Fund and Preston City Council. Vault Youth Zone is conceived as a long-term resource for young people, aligned with Preston’s broader civic ambitions.

It is the nineteenth such facility in the OnSide network and the fourth delivered by John Puttick Associates.

Urban presence and massing

Positioned in the centre of Preston, the Youth Zone is readily accessible, with its location supporting independence among its members. The architects have responded to the building’s prominent setting by developing a form that is both recognisable and integrated within the townscape.

The entrance, defined by a yellow colonnade, faces directly onto the public square and bus station, establishing a clear point of arrival and a visible presence within the city.

The building’s form and layout respond to the constraints of a tight urban plot and the need to accommodate large internal volumes, including a full-size sports hall. John Puttick Associates stack the programme, positioning the sports hall and indoor kick pitch within the most sheltered part of the site. This allows the building to rise away from the street frontage, maintaining the scale of the adjacent Grade II listed warehouse and locating taller volumes where they have less visual impact on the surrounding streetscape.

Facade and material expression

The design establishes a relationship with the adjacent Preston Bus Station, adopting a lighter yet analogous architectural language. The facade is clad in light grey fluted fibre cement panels that appear almost white in sunlight, catching light and shadow across the folded geometry. This vertical rhythm reflects the articulation of the bus station’s concrete soffits, creating a visual dialogue between the two buildings.

Yellow-and-black columns and yellow metal mesh wrapping the terrace and fire escapes reference the bus station’s original steelwork. A projecting overhang at the entrance, supported by these columns, forms a meeting point at the threshold of the building.

Interior approach and collaboration

The Youth Zone is designed around the experience of its users. The architects avoid a prescriptive approach often associated with youth facilities, instead providing a framework that supports both independence and structure.

The interior was developed in collaboration with Ben Kelly, designer of Manchester’s iconic Haçienda nightclub. Colour and material are used to define zones and support a range of activities and atmospheres. Kelly’s compositional approach to bold colours relates to the modernist character of the bus station and the Youth Zone’s design.

Spatial organisation and user experience

The ground floor operates as the social heart of the building, bringing together a range of activities. These include a cafe, mentoring kitchen, arts and crafts room, makers space, gaming zone, boxing gym, and indoor kick pitch. Inclusion and enterprise rooms provide quieter areas for focused activity and support.

The first floor accommodates larger-scale facilities, including the sports hall, climbing wall, fitness suite, performing arts centre, music and recording rooms, podcast studio, health and well-being room, changing facilities, and one-to-one spaces. Staff offices and a secure rooftop terrace, enclosed by yellow mesh, are located on the second floor.

A double-height central void and climbing wall link the floors, supporting visual connections and passive supervision. This openness allows users to navigate the building clearly while maintaining a sense of safety without restriction. The open-plan layout, combined with zoned furniture and finishes, provides a range of environments for active use, conversation, and individual focus.

Martin Aberson, Associate at John Puttick Associates, said: ‘The building is designed to be dynamic and engaging for young people, with a compact internal arrangement that allows clear access and views across a central social and circulation hub. This encourages engagement with activities throughout the Youth Zone. Robust finishes give the building a distinct character that members can identify with, while ensuring the building and its spaces can be enjoyed for years to come.’

Environmental approach

Sustainability and resilience are integrated into the building’s design. The structural steel frame is optimised to reduce material use. A highly airtight and insulated envelope works in combination with windcatchers for natural ventilation and photovoltaic panels to reduce operational energy demand. Durable materials support long-term use, while the central location encourages active travel and public transport use, linking the building to the wider civic infrastructure of Preston.

Civic role

Vault Youth Zone occupies a prominent city-centre site, functioning as an inclusive civic facility for young people. Through its ongoing work across the UK, John Puttick Associates continues to develop youth buildings that are accessible, clearly expressed, and connected to their communities.

John Puttick, the studio’s director, said: ‘Vault Youth Zone is the culmination of our ten-year engagement with the regeneration of this part of Preston. The refurbished Bus Station, public square, and Youth Zone work together to form an animated and community-focused part of the city. We are delighted to see young people given such a prominent location and to see them engaging with the many activities on offer in the Youth Zone.’