Xscape (building)

Xscape is a brand name for buildings developed by X-Leisure, now part of Land Securities. Typically they contain a real snow indoor ski slope, leisure facilities and related shops. As of 2017, there are two members of the chain, located in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and Castleford, Yorkshire (both in England).[1] A former member in Scotland has been sold. Xscape Milton Keynes and Xscape Yorkshire were designed by FaulknerBrowns Architects.[2]

Xscape Milton Keynes

Xscape Milton Keynes
Xscape Milton Keynes seen from across Secklow Gate
Xscape Milton Keynes seen from across Secklow Gate
Map of Milton Keynes showing location of Xscape
Location in Milton Keynes (zoom in)
Mapping © OpenStreetMap
General information
Address Avebury Boulevard at Secklow Gate, Central Milton Keynes MK9 3XA
Town or city Milton Keynes
Country England
Coordinates 52°02′29″N 0°44′56″W / 52.0414°N 0.7489°W / 52.0414; -0.7489
Elevation 105 metres (344 ft)
Opened 2000
Client X-Leisure
Height
Roof 44 metres (144 ft) (max)
Design and construction
Architecture firm FaulknerBrowns
Website
www.xscape.co.uk/milton-keynes

Xscape Milton Keynes (Buckinghamshire) opened in 2000 and is a major feature on the skyline of Central Milton Keynes as seen from the east. The Xscape is 44 metres high,[3] making it the second tallest building in Milton Keynes after Mellish Court in Bletchley. Xscape Milton Keynes features a 170m long real-snow ski slope, a 16-screen cinema, a number of shops and restaurants and a climbing wall. An interesting point is the two large funnels on the front of the building are sometimes mistaken for lifts or part of the cooling system; in fact they are stairs.

Located directly behind the Xscape building is a large square structure that houses an indoor skydiving centre named 'iFLY' (previously known as 'Airkix' until September 2016[4]).

The cinema features 4DX, a type of '4D' cinema which shows full-length films. As of August 2015, it is the only one of its kind in the UK.[5]

Xscape Yorkshire

Xscape Yorkshire (53°42′37″N 1°20′30″W / 53.7103°N 1.3418°W / 53.7103; -1.3418) in Castleford, West Yorkshire is built in a similar style to Xscape Braehead – the many angular parts of the building (particularly when seen from behind) form a shape similar to that of Xscape Milton Keynes. Xscape Yorkshire opened in October 2003 and has a 5,500 square metres (59,202 sq ft) roof.

Xscape in Glasshoughton, Castleford

Xscape Yorkshire was a major development for what was before, an average sized town in West Yorkshire and is situated next to Junction 32, a popular outlet mall formerly known as Freeport.

Xscape Yorkshire contains a number of shops, clubs, restaurants, and entertainment facilities including a bowling alley, multi screen cinema, laser tag, crazy golf and amusements. The cinema is one of the few Cineworld cinemas in the UK that has D-Box motion seating. It utilises complex ventilation technology.[6]

Xscape Braehead Renfrew

Xscape formerly had a centre in Renfrew. It was sold to Intu Properties.

References

  1. ↑ AJfocus - Volume 18 - Page 76 2004 A void behind the panels allows visual inspection from the warm side on an annual basis, and allows thermographic surveys and airtightness tests to be carried out. The ski box in the second-generation Xscape building, Xscape Castleford, which opened in September 2003, was slightly different. Only part of the ski slope was surrounded by spaces used for other purposes (cinema, fitness suite), with the remainder of the box projecting above the surrounding roofs. As at Milton Keynes, ...
  2. ↑ FaulknerBrowns Architects – see Home, then Millenium
  3. ↑ "Xscape Building, Milton Keynes - SkyscraperPage.com". Retrieved 2 January 2009.
  4. ↑ "From Airkix to iFLY". iFly Indoor Skydiving. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  5. ↑ "4DX Now At Milton Keynes". Cinewold Cinemas. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  6. ↑ "Xscape Ski Slope & Retail Development". Caswell Engineering Services. 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
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