The Florence Institute for Boys or ‘The Florrie’ as it’s known to most, is a stunning Grade II listed building in South Liverpool that has a rich tapestry of history dating back to 1889. It’s a social, cultural, and educational hub, much-loved by the local community. Open from the 1930’s until the 1980’s when it closed its doors and fell into disrepair, it remained closed for 23 years, until in 2012 the local community raised £7.5 million and restored it to its former glory. The refurbishment addressed most parts of the building, with the exception of the huge basement which was simply left as bare storage rooms with no distinctive purpose or use. The Florrie originally provided ‘an acceptable place of recreation and instruction for the poor and working boys of this district of the city’ and quickly became a hub for nurturing Liverpool’s local bands, musicians and sporting heritage with many championship teams including gymnastics, baseball, basketball and of course, football. With funding from the Youth Investment Fund (YIF), the Florrie appointed architects Unit3 Design Studio to come up with concept designs of how the redundant basement floor could be transformed into a place that would nurture young talent, provide a safe and secure space for young people, and facilitate areas that would spark ideas and offer opportunities to children from disadvantaged backgrounds that they otherwise might not have. ‘The Basement’ was re-born! Working with the client and a number of specialist consultants, Unit3 provided a series of inter-linked, fresh and vibrant spaces that merged together a number of functions and uses, including; a cafe space, games and recreational areas, digital radio station, work spaces, group activity spaces and a new state of the art cinema. In order to harmoniously bind the spaces together, the architects worked closely with local graphic designer Anna Farrell who created a bespoke 3D timeline of the Florrie’s history and its significant events spanning from the present day back to 1889 – providing a fun and interactive way of illustrating the history of the building to a new generation of young people. Anna’s design strategy utilised historical fragments of the buildings architectural design, which was then re-imagined as signage and wayfinding, and carried through all the remaining spaces, linking the whole concept together whilst also giving the Basement its own unique, but historically familiar identity. The star of the Basement however is a state of the art cinema with luxury armchairs and the latest 4K projection technology and digital surround sound. As well as being able to hold lectures, e-sport tournaments, talks and seminars, this space allows young people the opportunity to come and see the latest films for free in a safe, luxurious and secure environment. The sophisticated feel and aesthetic of the cinema empowers young visitors and gives them a sense of maturity, pride and ownership. Since opening, the Basement has had a big impact on both the L8 and wider community, and has been continuously in use by local schools, charities, youth and community groups. Due to its popularity, the Florrie has also been successful in gaining further funding to support the employment of two additional youth workers. Unit3 are both honored and privileged to have worked with the Florrie, and to have played a small part in the historical evolution of this fantastic community building and organisation. Shortlisted for the Northern Design Awards 2024 – Best Social Space