Bradford’s natural drainage point will be transformed into a landmark water feature and a showcase for the entire city. Known as ‘The Bowl’ this area of the centre will play host to an innovative mirror pool. This tranquil body of water can be drained quickly to create a large space for public events such as ice-skating, outdoor theatre and art installations.

Centenary Square is rapidly becoming a cultural focal point within the city centre with a selection of cafes, restaurants and bars framing City Hall. Key to the public square is the BBC Big Screen, which is one of seven in major cities across the UK. It has already brought together Bradford’s communities by showing a selection of sporting, charity and cultural events.

Complementing the mirror pool in the Bowl will be a dynamic Business Forest office park, the Interchange transport hub and an enlarged and enhanced Exchange Square Concert Hall (St George’s Hall).

Major Projects within The Bowl:

• The mirror pool – The signature feature of the Alsop Masterplan will create a unique, flexible space for community events and concerts which can be used throughout the year. The pool will form the centrepiece and include infrastructure to hold major public events beside the Grade-I listed City Hall, along with children’s play areas, quiet spaces for reflection, and bars, cafes and restaurants. A lottery bid for £24.5m funding was launched in 2007 with the scheme making the final shortlist from over 300 schemes, however the bid was unsuccessful. Despite this setback, city leaders are committed to making the scheme a reality for the people of Bradford and are currently looking at alternative funding methods.
• Lightwave – The Centenary Square Video Screen has already had a large impact on the use and  quality of life in Centenary Square. The screen televises high profile events and news from around the world. The screen also acts as a local news portal and after the success of the first opera event is now holding several key events uniting the city.
• The Business Forest office park – This key three-stage development creates Bradford’s central business district alongside the potential new legal quarter, complementing developments taking place in other areas of Bradford. This mixed-use development will also bring the highest quality city living to the heart of Bradford.
• Interchange Station – The current railway and bus station will be transformed into a twenty-first century public transport hub, also providing up to 200,000 sq ft of high quality office space and a new multi-storey car park.