Client: Building Systems UK
Architect: TACP Architects
Location: Shotton, North Wales
Originally a warehouse used to store steel coils and steel products based at Tata Steel’s Shotton site in North Wales. This 1940s warehouse fell into disrepair until 2006 when the building was briefly used to test new sustainable building / construction products such as thermal heat producing cladding systems.
Building Systems UK are an Enterprise of Tata Steel, providing a full range of steel building envelope products, steel flooring and steel processing services. Their existing office on site was becoming dilapidated, outdated and in need of a full refurbishment. After some consideration the decision was made to fully showcase how Building Systems UK products can be used to refurbish and breathe new life into the historic warehouse spaces on the site. The decision was made to refurbish the existing warehouse space.
During the design process the project was tendered and three potential architects were shortlisted with the final decision being TACP Architects based in Wrexham, North Wales. This practice has a long history, established in 1906 with vast experience working on an array of different project types throughout the UK. We felt it vital to use local organisations to complete the project.
Andy Clarke, Director, TACP Architects said:
“’Building Systems UK reinstated a former industrial building and rejuvenated its use into a mixture of offices, meeting rooms, auditorium, internal social space, workshop areas and more… all allowing flexibility of use.
This is an outstanding example on how to successfully transform a redundant industrial warehouse into a vibrant, flexible working space. Working within the shell of the building we brought the building to life using innovative concepts that can easily be an exemplar for other schemes.
The client, design team and contractor all worked seamlessly together to bring this former industrial building back to life for years to come.”
JPS Civil and Structural engineering design based in Chester were also contracted for the consultancy design of all structural steelwork.
JPS said:
Working alongside TACP Architects, our structural team designed the office spaces formed in steel and glass all housed within an existing industrial building to create a state-of-the art and truly unique work space.
A sustainable approach, with wellbeing for the occupants at its core, was a key objective for the project. A communal area is the heart of the building which was named ‘The Street’. The Street provides an area for collaboration, social interaction, breaks or lone working, and includes natural flora with trees and a living wall which is flourishing.
Outside seating and office balcony areas also provide further communal spaces, all with the aim of bringing ‘outside in’, and tie the building to the beautiful diverse site. We feel these collaborative areas have given a unique element to our staff’s working environment that was not a part of the original offices.
All Building Systems UK products used across the building envelope comply with the Responsible Sourcing Framework standard certification BES 6001. Building Systems UK understand the responsibility they have towards their staff and wanted to ensure that the new environment fully reflected this.
