With the aim to create economic success and cultural diversity, Middlesbrough's redevelopment focused on the attraction of leisure and retail facilities, the redesign of major streets and, as a key project, the redevelopment of Middlesbrough's central Victoria Square, including the new art gallery.

The new gallery houses Middlesbrough's collection of modern fine and applied art, five temporary exhibition galleries over 4000 sq metres, as well as informal exhibition spaces, a cafe, shop, roof terrace, sculpture garden and lecture rooms.

Citizens are invited to engage with the square to create public life and embrace the gallery as heart of the new cultural quarter of Middlesbrough.

The design of MIMA presents an ideas and architectural approach to the master plan of a central site, including the location of the gallery and its relationship to the proposed square and other existing civic buildings.

The project is defined by a single public open space, clearly identifiable with distinct areas, that encourages active use, strengthens connections with the surrounding streets and supports pedestrian movement throughout the town centre.

The scale of gallery and square relates to the surroundings and the use of materials respects the existing buildings. White limestone and glass make the gallery a light, transparent and accessible building. The interplay of grass combined with a subtle pattern of oxidised metal panels creates connections across the square and gives the once neglected area a friendly and inviting appearance.

The Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art and adjoining public square, are part of the redevelopment of Middlesbrough's town centre. The landscape architects specified and collaborated on the design of the external lighting for the scheme which included the Peak lantern, part of the Olivio exterior range offered by Woodhouse. The fittings are located on a sunken grass square in front of the gallery.

These contemporary luminaires are inspired by the simplicity of the head of a match, a conical pole leading the eye line to a glowing flame at the top. The IP65 rated luminaire with an overall height of just below 6 metres is available in 70 watt and 150 watt with either metal halide or sodium light sources. It is also available with specular louvres and refractor systems.

Landscape Architects West 8 specified the external lighting for the scheme and collaborated in the design of the Brugge fittings, part of the Olivio exterior range offered by Woodhouse. The central idea was to deliver a sense of scale of the space by illuminating the whole grass area of the square using a minimal total of 8 fittings. This specification was met by Woodhouse's technical expertise with a 20 metre pole each mounting 6 lanterns at different heights on the pole for a visually dramatic yet functional and directional solution.