From the outside, it's an imposing civic building that dominates the heart of Norwich. On the inside the view is different - a stunningly big and brash playground for young people, fusing the opulence of an Edwardian-style banking hall with colourful, angular installations chosen by its teenage users.
Open, as it is called, cost £12m. It is perhaps the most expensive youth centre in Britain and the first building that received funding through the £270m Myplace programme to be completed. The centre's name was chosen by young people to project a welcoming tone but the long delay in opening has given it unwanted irony. Youth consultation began in 2003, at which point the project had a price tag of £3.5m and a launch date of April 2004. In fact it didn't actually open until October this year, although a handful of services have been run from the centre since 2005.
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