Sustainable HQ designed with flexibility in mind to be adaptable to the changing future needs
RIBA South Award winner 2021
ArchitecturePLB with Perkins+Will for Promega UK
Contract value: undisclosed
GIA: 1,577m2
The design of this corporate HQ, developed in close consultation with the US parent client, is adapted for a UK context. It is split into two wings enclosing a landscaped courtyard and joined by a glazed entrance; the single-storey wing contains logistics and a laboratory and is wrapped in a stone wall and topped with green roof. The two-storey wing has offices, training facilities and social spaces and a sculptural roof. The building is a hybrid structure of concrete, steel and timber with an innovative zinc sculpted roof form. Connection to the natural landscape was key, with ground floor spaces spilling out into the gardens. The building’s first floor looks onto the logistics wing’s wildflower green roof, with a terrace and stairs linking the open plan offices to the mature landscape beyond. Sustainability was a key driver for the project. High-performance glazing with solar shading on the upper floor provides a generous daylit office space, which is naturally ventilated in summer. At other times, MVHR tempers the environment, benefiting from passive solar gains. The building is designed with flexibility in mind to be adaptable to the changing needs of a modern business.