Concourse n.
1. Middle English concours, an assembly, throng, from Old French, from Latin concursus, to assemble.
2. A large open space for accommodating people.
About
Concourse was formed in 1997 and in December 1999 was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee. Charitable status was granted in August 2000. The charitable trust and the company are administered by a volunteer Board which includes representatives from: RIBA, RTPI, LI, CIOB, RICS; ICE; YORnet and Leeds Met University.
Mission
Concourse is a vehicle to discuss ideas in the fields of: design quality; ‘placemaking’ and ‘sustainable communities’. Concourse promotes of the interdisciplinary collaborations of artists, architects, academics, environmentalists, town planners, surveyors, construction managers, landscape architects, and all others concerned with the improvement of training and practice in these- Green fields.
The Concourse mission is to promote design quality in the built environment and to support those who are charged with regenerating the Leeds City Region.
Our Operating Environment; The Leeds City Region
The Leeds City Region comprises the 10 local authority districts of Barnsley, Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, Selby, Wakefield, and York. North Yorkshire County Council also provides services within the Leeds City Region.
The Leeds City region is the largest financial and business services sector in the country outside of London. It has 6 Universities producing 27,000 graduates each year.
The partner authorities have agreed an agenda which includes considering the scope for developing: eco towns, afforadbale housing and green infrastructure i.e. open spaces which are an integral part of the built environment.
Concourse will help investigate each of these priority areas, through the agenda of; Placemaking, Sustainable Communities, Low Carbon Economy and Design Quality.
Funding
Concourse doesn’t receive core funding. It benefits from a contribution in kind, the use of the City Workshop and its main seminar room which is able to host twenty one people and the continued commitment of its volunteer board. We raise funds specifically for our planned activities.