Xscape (building)

Xscape buildings (named after the company that developed them) are large, strikingly designed and unusually shaped buildings. Typically they contain a real snow indoor ski slope, leisure facilities and related shops. There are currently three members of the chain, located in Central Milton Keynes and Castleford, which are both in England, and in Braehead, Scotland.

Milton Keynes

The Milton Keynes Xscape opened in 2000 and is a major feature on the skyline of Central Milton Keynes as seen from the east. The Xscape has 14 floors, making it the second tallest building in Milton Keynes after Mellish Court in Bletchley. Inside the Xscape can be found a 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 - sometimes mistaken for lifts or part of the cooling system, they are actually just stairs.

Located directly behind the Xscape building is a large square-shaped structure which houses an indoor skydiving centre named 'Airkix'.

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Castleford

The Castleford Xscape near Wakefield in West Yorkshire is built in a similar style to the Braehead one however it is of note that the many angular parts of the building, especially when seen from behind do form a shape similar to that of the Milton Keynes Xscape. The Castleford Xscape opened in October 2003 and has a convert|5500|m2|sqft|0 roof.

The Castleford Xscape was a major development for what was before, an averaged sized town in West Yorkshire and is situated next to [http://www.junction32.com/ Junction 32] , a popular outlet mall formerly known as Freeport. The two combined have really put Castleford, Glasshoughton in particular, on the map.

The Xscape at Castleford contains many shops, clubs, restaurants, and entertainment facilities including a bowling alley, multi screen cinema, lazer tag, and amusements.

Braehead

The Braehead Xscape began construction in 2005 and was opened in March 2006. It is shaped differently, more like a conventional building but with the ski slope using a sloped cuboid structure projecting out the roof. This Xscape features a wide variety of entertainment including; the indoor Ski Slope, Soccer Circus, Rock Climbing, Sky Park, Odeon Cinemas, Bowling, Fan Drop, Robocoaster (the only Robocoaster in the UK), Mini Golf, Lazer Station and the 'Fun Station'. The Complex also has a wide variety of Shops and Restaurants and Bars.

In March 2006, weeks before the complex was scheduled to open, the roof of screen seven of the Odeon Cinemas fell in and has required extensive re-building. [cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16790511&method=full&siteid=66633&headline=exclusive--lucky-xscape-as-cinema-roof-collapses-name_page.html|title=Lucky XScape as Cinema Roof Collapses|date=March 9 2006|first=Ben|last=Spencer|publisher=Daily Record|accessdate=2007-12-05] The mini-golf (which is housed below the cinema) opened in July 2006. The Odeon Cinema opened on October 19 2007, 18 months later than planned. "Stardust" was the first film shown at the cinema. The cinema is fitted with Real D (also known as Disney Digital 3D technology) in Screen 8 with Screen 1 being the largest of the Cinemas screens. The Odeon Cinema held the Scottish Pink Carpet Premiere of Universal Pictures film "Wild Child" on July 30 2008. Both stars of the film Emma Roberts (Poppy) and Alex Pettyfer (Freddie) attended, with positive opinions to the Cinema and the Xscape's facilities.

References

External links

* [http://www.xscape.co.uk/ Xscape company web site]
* [http://www.inglasgow.com/inglaig/gallery.asp?categoryid=298 Photographs of the opening day of Xscape in 2006, Braehead near Glasgow]
* [http://www.snowboardclub.co.uk/slopes-miltonkeynes.html UK Snowboard club article on Xscape MK]