Image 1 of 5
Image 2 of 5
Image 3 of 5
Image 4 of 5
Image 5 of 5
The facts
Title: Stryker UK
Headquarters
Client: Stryker UK
Location: Newbury,
Berkshire
Services: Architecture,
Interiors & Landscape (provided by ESA, part of Capita
Symonds)
Sector: Offices/Healthcare
Contract Type: JCT D&B
Project Value: £15m
Start /
Completion: 2008-2011
The project
Stryker is a global leader in medical
technology providing specialist orthopaedic and surgical equipment
to healthcare professionals across the world including the NHS.
Stryker (UK) Limited is a long-standing Berkshire based company,
currently employing around 200 people on site at Newbury (just
across the road from the famous racecourse).
Stryker’s previous building was a
combination of offices and logistics space extending to around
4,650sqm of floor area in a 25 year old facility which was not
suited to the company’s needs and aspirations. The new building
provides adequate office floor space for current and future needs
as well as doubling the size of the company’s all-important
logistics facility, while also creating a building of quality that
visually expresses the company’s corporate intentions.
The new building is to the east of
Newbury and is well connected via main line rail to London and the
west of England. The building will continue Stryker’s long-standing
relationship Newbury as one of the town’s major
employers.
The new 10,000sqm facility rises to three
storeys and is organised around two internal atria that focus the
public facilities of reception, exhibition space and the new
100-cover first floor restaurant for staff and visitors. The plan
form – whilst responding to a generic ‘BCO’ standard office shape
(1.5M space-planning module; maximum 18M deep wings; 2.8M headroom;
fairly conventional servicing distribution) - also derives from the
functional and operational requirements established by the client’s
brief. A tiered series of building wings unified by the enclosed
three-storey circulation and break-out space facing on to the
approach road emerged as the optimum plan solution that synthesised
the client’s requirements.
All the logistics facilities – medical
equipment centre, sterilising plants and technical workshops - are
at ground floor for ease of access and movement, with a mixture of
cellular and open-plan offices, meeting rooms, conference rooms,
restaurant and a gym on the upper floors.The main approach
elevation is expressed as a transparent ‘showcase’ screen, unifying
the space and functions behind whilst allowing visual access into
the building and expressing Stryker’s corporate intentions.
ESA’s brief included the design of the
interiors and the selection of all the furniture and fittings – a
full ‘Cat A and Cat B’ service. A detailed analysis of Stryker’s
work methods and workplace requirements preceded the developing
concept. For many years now Stryker has consistently been at the
top of various “best employer” league tables and this is reflected
in the attention the company pays to the staff working environment
and welfare facilities within the new building. ESA has risen to
this challenge by providing comfortable offices and exhilarating
common areas including reception, the exhibition areas and
break-out spaces.
The building is aiming to achieve an
“Excellent” BREEAM rating and incorporates alternative energy
systems such as a biomass boiler to reduce carbon emissions.
Externally the new building sits within
its own landscaped grounds with parking for 230 cars and rear
servicing to the logistics areas.
ESA were originally appointed in 2008 to
develop design proposals and, ultimately, gain planning
consent. They were appointed as architects, interior
designers / space planners and landscape architects. Work commenced
on site in July 2010 and has just been completed (August 2011). The
client will move in this summer.