award winning architects

Friday, 10 October 2008 15:15

Stride Treglown Scheme Scoops Top Regional Honours at the British Council for Offices Awards

1 Tetbury Road, Cirencester, the new headquarters of St James's Place Wealth Management, designed by Stride Treglown, has won a regional award in the Corporate Workplace category from the UK's leading office industry organisation, the British Council for Offices (BCO).

Over 1,500 property professionals gathered to celebrate design, best practice and innovation in the UK office sector and to witness the scheme scoop the award.

In giving 1 Tetbury Road the award, the judges praised the close collaboration between developer, occupier and local council which refined existing planning permission and produced a building that raised the net to gross ratio by 20% and also increased sustainability.  The judges were impressed with the introduction of a central stair as the pivotal feature. This has turned the glazed "street" connecting two office wings into a circulation and social hub.

Green elements have been successfully incorporated into the scheme in several ways:  by the occupier's relocation from local buildings, its use of natural materials in the construction and its setting up of a green travel plan and recycling systems.

The judges said that overall the scheme makes a positive contribution to the occupier's business, its people and the local environment.  "It has become a council benchmark for office development.  Staff are thriving in well-conceived space, about which one said "Sometimes it doesn't feel like you are at work'."

Chairman of the judges Ron German commented:  "The judges were looking for excellence in architecture, clarity of purpose from those commissioning the building, ingenuity of the product, clever design solutions, delivery on time and budget and that special aspect of a project that makes it a delightful and productive place to work."