The scheme comprises a building of 8,700m2 and more than one hundred meters long. It has a 7m clear internal height which allows for two storeys of office and a single storey manufacturing workshop to be to be contained within the same envelope in order to simplify the overall structure.
Due to its orientation and configuration, the offices benefit from natural north light on one side whilst viewing the workshop on the other from a gallery.
The main entrance has been emphasised so that visitors new to the development are assisted in their wayfinding. Hence, a focal point for the scheme is provided which also offers display facilities and a covered drop-off point for visitors. In addition, the prominent location of the entrance and reception increases the security of the premises by affording supervisory views of the approaches and parking areas.
Internally the reception houses display areas adjacent to the waiting spaces to show some of the successes and workings of the facility.
The building’s proportions have been designed to allow it to be located within the site with minimum disruption to the existing mature perimeter vegetation and its siting allows the planned future expansions to occur without disruption to the occupants or fixed areas such as the staff restaurant and kitchens.
Materials for the building have been selected to reflect the technological nature of the activities within with metal cladding panels.
Strips of vertical glazing have been introduced along the walls of the operations area to supply daylight deep into the plan. The fenestration pattern of the offices has been determined with both current needs and future flexibility in mind to permit rearrangement of space without the necessity of alterations to the external façade.
The offices are a mix of open plan and cellular and can be adapted to suit as the walls are non-load bearing. Raised access floors allow for easy access to services.