The centre of the world's steel industry, Sheffield is one of Britain's greatest cities.
Famed for its industrial and sporting heritage, the city has recently been transformed into a modern urban hub yet features more than 1,100 listed buildings.
Among the traditional mills and steelworks which decorate the city and its surroundings, new industrial centres have emerged. This article takes a closer look at five of the great commercial buildings that Sheffield has to offer.
Sheffield Town Hall (pictured)
Constructed over a seven year period and completed in 1897, the Town Hall resembles the now-destroyed St Paul's Church. Built from stone, the building incorporates a 64 metre high clock tower and features statues, carvings and other edifices on its exterior. Inside, a grand marble staircase forms an impressive centrepiece, while there are council offices and miscellaneous galleries located throughout the building. The adjacent area features the Peace Gardens, which has been recently converted into a popular space for children and families to gather.
Millennium Gallery
Funded through the 2001 Heart of the City scheme, the Millennium Gallery is a magnificent glass and concrete structure which houses public galleries, permanent and temporary exhibits, cafes, office space and conference facilities. It is among the most visited free attractions in the UK, and its workers take care over precious collections, including artefacts from the city's industrial heritage, a unique metalwork collection, Peak District archaeological finds, and much more. The site provides learning experiences for students and researchers.
Meadowhall Centre
One of the UK's largest shopping complexes, the Meadowhall is home to over 280 stores and attracts more than 30 million visitors each year. It forms a major commercial and shopping hub, and is located at the apex of Sheffield's impressive transport network. Constructed in 1990, the centre occupies over 1.5 million square feet, and boasts food and entertainment outlets alongside its host of popular high street and designer shops. Meadowhall is renowned for its recycling policies, and was the first UK shopping centre to install its own recycling depot. The complex even uses rainwater and condensation to help maintain its sculptured gardens and landscaped areas.
Beehive Works
The Grade II listed Beehive Works was a purpose-built 1850s cutlery workshop located in the Devonshire Quarter. A traditional red brick structure, the Works has now been converted into smaller industrial units, and is listed by English Heritage as one of the most prominent examples of the city's commercial history. The building is still home to a cutlery manufacturer alongside a range of other businesses. It features distinctive "bays" and a slate roof, and is three storeys in height, with buildings arranged around internal courtyard spaces.
Crucible Theatre
Constructed in 1971, the Crucible is a Grade II listed building which is is one of several homes to the Sheffield Theatres group. It is of course best known as the venue for the annual World Snooker Championships, which receives worldwide television coverage each April. The staging areas are highly adaptable, and can cope with all manner of operatic and theatrical performances, whilst keeping the audience very close to the action. The theatre underwent major renovations from 2007 to 2009 at a cost of approximately 15 million pounds.