• BCO Home
• BCO Awards
• BCO Conference

• Bookmark this Page
• Email a Friend
• Print Page

Corporate Workplace

Projects listed below are the winners for the Corporate Workplace Award 2009.

 

NATIONAL AND REGIONAL WINNER
SCOTLAND

THE POTTERROW DEVELOPMENT, 10 CRICHTON STREET /3 CHARLES STREET, EDINBURGH

The School of Informatics is important to both Edinburgh University and Scotland’s economy and is designed to attract the best academic minds not just in the UK but the world. Sitting in a prominent location within a world heritage site, it stands as a confident original high quality modern building whilst respecting its surroundings.

The six story atrium provides a dramatic and light space which links the building. Worm hole stairs also add a sense of fun creating a physical and visual link between floors through the atrium space.

The offices function well and provide high quality space with clear floor to ceiling heights of 2.875 metres to the exposed concrete structure. The floor plates are flexible to accommodate many different configurations.

The building has an excellent BREEAM rating. Ventilated by displacement, corridors act as extract ducts to channel return air in to the atrium. Exposed concrete soffits aid cooling while gas powered CHP provides heating and cooling.

The judges felt that the final product is worthy of its lofty purpose and location, creating an interactive environment and a confident building that compliments the city as well as meeting its users requirements.

REGIONAL WINNER
LONDON AND THE SOUTH EAST

EVERSHEDS HQ, ONE WOOD STREET

One Wood Street is the Corporate Headquarters of Eversheds the UK’s largest legal practice.

An early pre-let from Land Securities enabled Eversheds and their fit-out architect Woods Bagot to plan a new home which rivals all other legal practices in London.

Led by Senior Partner, Cornelius Medvei, the design brief was to provide a vibrant, healthy, and sustainable workplace, a culture friendly, non-hierarchical and open firm. This project moved away from cellular offices into a studio environment with three quarter high glazed screens, offering both privacy and an open environment whilst maintaining and improving on Land Securities’ ‘Excellent BREEAM’ rating.

With the high quality of finishes and careful thought as to how clients will have a first class experience, the London judges felt that this unique law firm was worthy of recognition.

REGIONAL WINNER
THE MIDLANDS AND EAST ANGLIA

BOURNVILLE PLACE, BOURNVILLE LANE, BIRMINGHAM

This project demonstrates how an occupier can use an existing building to best effect. A marvellous example of an occupier thinking hard about its options and understanding the capabilities of existing structures. To replace two "contemporary" and outmoded buildings by converting a much older canteen building - and to carry it out in a way that heralds everything that is great about the Cadbury brand

The way in which this project has been a catalyst for change within the company is clearly evident from the outcome - opening the office community to a more more sociable, flexible and collaborative space.

JOINT REGIONAL WINNER
THE NORTH OF ENGLAND, NORTH WALES AND NORTHERN IRELAND

AV HILL BUILDING, UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

The University of Manchester's AV Hill Building was designed to encourage interaction among researchers across several blocks. The approach was bold, linking buildings with "sky tubes" that allow researchers to interact. It achieves this by creating a variety of spaces around the central void/tube that runs through the building. The spaces are suited to the occupants, allowing their diverse characteristics to be expressed, yet not destroying the character of the building. This building is a step change in provision for research in Manchester. The links enable widely differing space uses - offices and laboratories - to be separate but within easy reach of one another.

The cafe/interaction area is proving a great success and mobile subdivisions have not been activated because they would have limited the way space is already being used.

Open plan has been balanced by provision of more personal quiet space. Each floor has two open areas separated by a service section. Flexibility is also built into the laboratory area through modular service provision.

The national panel were concerned that the building was too specifically designed for a university, with compromises that would not suit a traditional occupier. Although they agreed that it was extremely successful at the function for which it was intended.

JOINT REGIONAL WINNER
THE NORTH OF ENGLAND, NORTH WALES AND NORTHERN IRELAND

BDP MANCHESTER STUDIO, 11 DUCIE STREET, MANCHESTER

BDP have used their relocation in Manchester to kick start the regeneration of the Piccadilly Basin. They also set themselves the challenge of creating a totally naturally ventilated office.

Quite often we see environmental aspirations dictating to the designers to the detriment of the quality of the workplace, but not here. BDP have harnessed the environmental agenda to create a very particular workplace of real quality. The building section says it all: a firm edge to the street, a soft glazed area overlooking the canal. Simple and elegant.

REGIONAL WINNER
SOUTH WEST OF ENGLAND AND SOUTH WALES

PENALLTA HOUSE, HENGOED, CAERPHILLY

This striking HQ for Caerphilly County Borough Council completes a four phase redevelopment of Tredomen Engineering Works, delivering major regeneration including a site for a new General Hospital within the Borough. Penallta House provides the Council with offices, a council chamber, Registry Office and ceremonial rooms under one roof. The building set out to establish high environmental standards and includes ground source heating and cooling and rain water harvesting and can be commended for its Excellent BREEAM rating.

The BCO Specification has been carefully followed and directly influenced the floor plate configuration, adopting a depth of 13.5 meters to maximise natural daylight from both the outside and central atrium. The use of a steel frame for the superstructure enabled the design team to adopt a clear span minimising the impact that columns could have. A mixed mode ventilation strategy provides fresh air, heating and cooling and coupled with ground source heat pumps (promoted as the largest in Wales) endorses the councils sustainable objectives.

The overall approach embodies Caerphilly County Borough Councils regeneration objectives. The new building clearly demonstrates quality, flexibility and suitability for the occupier whilst delivering services and wider amenities that the community feels enormously proud of!

• Award Categories
• Judging Process
• Winners
• How to Enter
• Awards Events
• Sponsors
• Enquiries

© 2008 British Council for Offices. Design & Development by Reading Room. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Statement