Having won the design competition for a stained glass studio to create new glass for Rochdale Borough Council, Recclesia was commissioned to undertake this unusual stained glass project at the new Rochdale MBC building, 1 Riverside. The original Town Hall at Rochdale is famous for its wonderful stained glass and the council had an ambition to incorporate glass art into the new building. At the same time, a community engagement project was sought and it came to pass that the two ambitions were combined.
Following a number of strategy and design meetings with the council, Recclesia was asked to run a design competition for local schools and youth groups with the aim of creating six stained glass panels to go on display in the new Children's Library reflecting both the history and ambitions of Rochdale. Recclesia prepared a workshop pack for teachers and group leaders, and our artist Kat Walton gave guidance on how to design using glass.
Schools and groups from across Rochdale got involved with the design competition, and scores of entries were received. Six winning designs were chosen and turned into stained glass panels. The winning children attended a working session in the studio to help produce their panels alongside our team, which was a terrific experience.
The panels were installed in the children's library on bespoke metalwork which reflected the shape of the river on the banks of which the new building is built.