{"id":752228,"date":"2024-08-29T06:17:46","date_gmt":"2024-08-29T05:17:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/?p=752228"},"modified":"2024-08-29T08:48:05","modified_gmt":"2024-08-29T07:48:05","slug":"a-new-type-of-workspace-for-a-new-way-of-working","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/specification\/a-new-type-of-workspace-for-a-new-way-of-working","title":{"rendered":"In practice: A new type of workspace for a new way of working"},"content":{"rendered":"

What was the brief for Unity Place? What were the main challenges when it came to designing the interiors and workspaces?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The brief called for a single community under one roof, so our response was a low-rise building formed of four main blocks whose large floorplates are connected via three open, light-filled atria. Long-term flexibility was a core requirement to facilitate growth for the company. Santander\u2019s plan to consolidate its 6,000-strong workforce was a response to a market shift in technology. Our goal was to create greater unity through an inspiring and adaptable workplace to help retain and attract the best talent \u2013 by incorporating connections with the local community and economy, while introducing improved operational and environmental efficiency through estate rationalisation.<\/p>\n

The main challenge was to arrive at a new workplace typology, addressing public access and security. The building needed to be open and inviting, yet safe and secure. In addition, we need to rethink the floor design, due to the rapid adoption of flexible workplace culture changes. Despite these challenges, a flourishing office has been created that can adjust to changing demands. We overcame cost constraints while still maintaining a high level of quality and environmental performance to deliver the value proposition that was a fundamental driver of the project.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Unity Place, Milton Keynes<\/p>\n\t

Source:Hufton+Crow<\/p><\/div>\n

You describe how the interior layout and design is geared to nurture collaboration, wellbeing and community. How does it achieve this?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

A 6,000m2<\/sup> co-working floor on the second level, managed by x+why, provides a wide range of flexible spaces for single occupants \u2013 such as digital start-ups and creatives \u2013 all the way through to enterprise suites for up to 90 people. Milton Keynes University also shares specialised learning spaces for its students \u2013 cultivating a dynamic mix of users.<\/p>\n

\n

\u2018The main challenge was to arrive at a new workplace typology, addressing public access and security\u2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Throughout the building, a mix of environments support users on the neurodivergent spectrum and biophilia is woven throughout each of the floors to foster a calm, serene workplace. All spaces have access to meeting rooms, innovation space, breakout terraces, wellbeing and faith rooms. Garden bridges on every other upper floor provide access to outdoor spaces with seating and planting. A zig-zag staircase weaving between the floors encourages users to take the stairs instead of the lift. On the ground floor, the urban food market offers healthy food options and there is a health suite with gym facilities, a studio space and a rooftop yoga terrace.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wellbeing amenities within the building\u2019s core are directly accessed from each work area. The rooftop public restaurant and health suite can be accessed from a dedicated lift, allowing extended operating hours without impacting the security and services within the rest of the building.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Unity Place, Milton Keynes<\/p>\n\t

Source:Hufton+Crow<\/p><\/div>\n

T<\/span>he design incorporates spaces for the local community and public amenities. How have these been introduced and how do they relate to the workspaces?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The building has been configured to bring the community inside through physical access and the provision of facilities available for the wider community. Openness, transparency and invitation are expressed through the architecture and design of the building and its interior spaces.<\/p>\n

A public space referred to as \u2018the street\u2019 incorporates a variety of food, beverage, retail, health, and community spaces that are open to the office and public alike to promote cross-communication and a campus community. The market hall and reception area have natural external finishes and lighting, with organic hard and soft landscaping, bringing the external streetscape inside.<\/p>\n

\n

\u2018Engineered and lightweight finishes contrast with the robust aesthetic of the exposed concrete\u2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The auditorium provides a forum where large groups can gather for informal or formal events. This could be an open informal \u2018town hall\u2019 space, or one which can be acoustically sealed for private gatherings. The community spaces below the amphitheatre link within the auditorium can be used as a green room for performances and can function independently for a range of uses, such as meetings and classes. The community space supports any informal childcare requirements and can accommodate community activities, independently or in conjunction with the auditorium.<\/p>\n

What were the key materials, products and finishes used in the interiors and fit-out?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The base materials have been applied to reinforce our concept of four blocks linked by communal spaces. This is represented through three primary finishes: concrete, timber and engineered finishes.<\/p>\n

The concrete structure defines the blocks with columns, ceilings and lift cores left unfinished with exposed concrete. Engineered finishes such as plywood, metal or acoustic panelling form the cellular spaces, stairs and atrium balustrades. These engineered and lightweight finishes contrast with the robust aesthetic of the exposed concrete. Timber is introduced to the communal, shared spaces to give a softer, human finish. Ceiling elements provide acoustic attenuation to reduce noise breakout to the adjacent work areas.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Unity Place, Milton Keynes<\/p>\n\t

Source:Hufton+Crow<\/p><\/div>\n

A fundamental design principle was to expose the concrete soffit and services, together with ceiling rafts over spaces requiring acoustic control.<\/p>\n

The digital realm is also reflected in the branding such as three large LED screens, with one at each arrival space and another in the food market hall. The workplace interiors draw on the Bletchley Code Breakers which references Bletchley Park, the former home of the Government Code and Cypher School. For example, early punch card binary codes are hinted at where we have used the dot-dash pattern motifs to define reception points and hanging acoustic PET division panels between open work zones.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Which of your other recent workplace projects illustrate how you approach the design of office space?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our experience suggests that tenants are now seeking more in terms of hospitality, wellness and amenity in their workplaces. Unity Place has set the benchmark for what can be provided, and we are currently working on office retrofits applying similar principles.<\/span>At 301 St Vincent Street in Glasgow, we are looking to introduce co-working and event spaces to the ground and lower ground floors, together with a food hall and retail which will be open to the public, creating a building-wide ecosystem.<\/p>\n

Similarly, at 201 Grafton Gate, another office refurbishment in Milton Keynes, we are creating a new atrium space to encapsulate an existing service yard, as well as new ground floor retail, which will form the beating heart of the building through circulation and amenity.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Heart Building, Welwyn Garden City by LOM<\/p>\n\t

<\/p><\/p><\/div>\n

The Heart building within Tesco\u2019s Welwyn Garden City campus features a simple and robust material palette with a refined industrial aesthetic, enabling public usage and adaptation. This project provides innovative office, wellbeing and collaboration space and a quality assessment centre. An exposed concrete structure is framed with a glulam and cross-laminated timber roof structure. Galvanised ductwork and plywood joinery establish a refined industrial look and feel and make use of the inherent qualities of the building structure.<\/p>\n

How do you go about selecting and specifying interior finishes? What sustainable or environmental measures do you employ? How do you look to reduce embodied carbon in the materials used?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The amount of embodied carbon across structures, services, fa\u00e7ade and finishes was analysed throughout the design process. The team prioritised a lean design and carefully selected materials with lower embodied carbon. The project required over 120,000 tonnes of concrete, so the designers worked with the contractor to adopt a mix with significant cement replacement, achieving substantial carbon reductions.<\/p>\n

\n

\u2018All finishes in third party spaces were signed off by the end-user to minimise any future waste\u2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Unity Place is deliberately designed to embrace an industrial aesthetic with exposed structure and building services throughout, minimising the need for decoration and finishes, which helps to reduce the embodied carbon of the construction. Where possible, base finishes are left exposed, such as blockwork to back-of-house areas, concrete to cores, walls and ceilings. To minimise any post-completion refurbishment, no speculative finishes were used within third party spaces; all were signed off by the end-user to minimise any future waste. Where possible, finishes are recyclable and incorporate recycled material. An example of this is the Autex acoustic materials that we specified for ceilings and wall finishes. These are formed from up to 80 per cent recycled polyester fibre, which can be recycled several times within its lifecycle. Carpets by Interface utilise recycled materials within their backing and are themselves recyclable.<\/p>\n

\"\"

301 St Vincent Street, Glasgow by LOM<\/p>\n\t

<\/p><\/p><\/div>\n

How do your architecture and interior design arms co-ordinate in your practice?<\/strong><\/p>\n

LOM has extensive expertise across workplace strategy, interior design and architectural design. We approach all our projects using insight and imagination based on a sound understanding of the client\u2019s requirements, applying creativity to find the best solutions that add value to the design from an occupier perspective.<\/p>\n

Our design teams for projects on the interiors and architecture are very much integrated, allowing for seamless co\u2011ordination and collaboration while designing from the inside out. The floorplates for Unity Place, for example, are designed around the sizes of Santander\u2019s typical \u2018neighbourhoods\u2019, accommodating two of these comprising approximately 100 desks per wing of the building. While one side of the floor plate is open to the atria, the other is enclosed, providing staff with choices about how and where they want to work \u2013 be it a lively and more bustling space, or somewhere quieter and designed more for privacy. This approach has also informed our design and specification of the furniture, fittings and finishes used across the spaces to directly respond to those particular \u2018neighbourhood\u2019 functions.<\/p>\n

Ben Taylor is director and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Patrick Hastings is an <\/span>associate at LOM architecture<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"

201 Grafton Gate, Milton Keynes by LOM<\/p>\n\t

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What was the brief for Unity Place? What were the main challenges when it came to designing the interiors and workspaces? The brief called for a single community under one roof, so our response was a low-rise building formed of four main blocks whose large floorplates are connected via three open, light-filled atria. Long-term flexibility …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17071,"featured_media":752243,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[721],"tags":[3706,2677,2203,1752],"yoast_head":"\nIn practice: A new type of workspace for a new way of working<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ben Taylor\u00a0and Patrick Hastings of LOM architecture and design discuss their approach to designing workspace interiors, focusing on their recently completed Unity Place for Santander in Milton Keynes\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/specification\/a-new-type-of-workspace-for-a-new-way-of-working\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" 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