The 94,500 square feet building is formed by a wing shaped roof, spanning 45 meters in a single sweep. The building has been designed using 3D modeling software from day one, to translate the complicated brief into the finished design.
The building is designed to house two large, open plan, double height workspaces, for a total of 850 employees, along with ancillary training and meeting accommodation. It will incorporate full backup facilities for staff, including a 300-seat cafeteria.
The design revolves around the provision of two large connected open plan halls with central support facilities, and first floor balcony accommodation to one side. The design is inspired more by a film studio rather than a traditional office workspace. The ground floor area has been divided into two walls accessed by the central core. Functional areas such as the cafeteria and training rooms are situated on the first floor.
The GBP15 million ($24.7 million approx.) warehouse-like structure features a safe exit strategy. The space can be effortlessly converted into a storage facility upon troubled times, with the interiors being completely temporary. The facility has car parking to accommodate 420 vehicles.
The north, south, east, and west orientation of the building has allowed the design of each of its external elevation to respond to the building’s aspect, providing better viewing corridors and solar conditioning. The north elevation has a large 15 meters long by four meters high picture window that allows light in without solar heat gains. The south elevation has a large undereaves full width, high level window, which follows the line of the curved roof.
The building features a totally recyclable shell made of steel and mineral wool. Two office halls, each of around 3,000 square meters, are linked by a central core. The central core houses meeting rooms, ancillary accommodation, and a large catering kitchen and cafeteria. A two-story housing management and training facilities is also incorporated into the design.
Daylight-controlled lighting is fitted in the main halls to maximize the use of natural daylight and to minimize the use of electric lighting. Rainwater storage facility will be installed, and stored rainwater will be used to flush the toilets. RPS modeled the acoustics and was responsible for the external landscaping. The facility features outside courtyard and recreation areas to enhance the bold external features of the building.
The building has been designed as a contact center and a regional center of excellence for Vodafone UK PLC, in Stoke-on-Trent. It involves the relocation of company offices in and around Stoke into one single office.
