Astra Group wins award for Co-op Live signage contract

Astra Group has won an award for its work, after creating a range of signage and displays for a major UK music venue.

The contract, spanning two years, saw Astra tasked with designing, manufacturing, and installing exterior, infinity mirror, neon graphic, and large format LED Displays at the Manchester Co-op Live arena. Astra also has its headquarters in Manchester.

The graphics were reportedly designed and produced using environmentally friendly materials, to keep with Co-op Live’s vision to be the most sustainable arena in Europe.

The graphic signage brief was one of four components within Astra’s contract. Challenges included varying substrates of the building including brick, block, and concrete, which necessitated the use of versatile and adaptable material. The evolving nature of the venue also required all graphics to be easily and cleanly removed.

The contract was recently recognised at the annual UK Graphic Awards, winning Silver in the Hospitality and Leisure category.

The 23,500-person capacity Co-op Live venue holds the title of the UK's largest entertainment arena and has the largest maximum capacity of any indoor arena in Europe.

Outside of Astra’s work, the venue was embroiled in controversy in the lead up to its opening on May 14^th 2024. Due to a slew of technical, safety, and security issues, several headlining acts had their shows postponed, some with less than 48 hours’ notice. This included comedian Peter Kay and singer Olivia Rodrigo.

On April 25^th, Co-op Live’s then general manager Gary Roden resigned, in the wake of backlash against him claiming that grassroots music venues were often “poorly run”.

Speaking about the contract, Astra chief executive officer Jim Kerr says: “This was a unique and complex brief brilliantly executed by the team, who drew on their collective extensive graphic design, production and installation expertise to deliver a suite of products that fulfilled Co-op Live’s requirements to the highest of possible standards."

Speaking of the UK Graphic Awards win, Kerr continues: “To see this work recognised at this prestigious event and amongst so many industry peers is fantastic. It’s a win not just for Astra but for Co-op Live to whom we’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks for entrusting us with this world-class signage project.”   

Among Astra’s other contracts, it has previously worked with Manchester City Football Club, delivering new large-format LED displays in the City Square Fan Zone. Located at the northern gateway of City’s Etihad Stadium, City Square is an entertainment arena with a large fabric canopy, food and beverage refreshments areas, and an outdoor covered stage.