Architetti: Daniele Del Missier
Developer: Foster & Partners
Località: Woking - Surrey - UK
McLaren Technology Centre
McLaren are known mainly in their existence as “West McLaren Mercedes”, a top Formula 1 racing team, but behind this is a large group of companies with many diverse activities. Their decision to relocate their staff and car manufacturing to a green-field site close to Woking, Surrey was a huge undertaking. They appointed Foster and Partners to master plan and design the whole basebuild and fit-out scheme for the Technology Centre, and took a close day-to-day involvement in the complete process. From the start, McLaren applied their knowledge from the motor vehicle industry to aid the design and management of the project, and much has been written about this in the press. Faram’s contribution was the design, supply and installation of office furniture and internal relocatable walls, and it is the largest single project Faram has undertaken in the UK. What made this project special for Faram was the encouragement of the design team to develop a fully integrated walls and furniture “system” which was interchangeable and completely flexible for future space planning.
A breathtaking reception follows the curvature of a lake, which provides cool water year-round for the chilled ceilings in the building and also a reservoir for the sprinkler system.
Double, 100mm thick, pivot doors allow passage to cars and staff, yet when closed achieve high sound separation between offices and production areas.
Detail photographs showing Faram furniture and walls; in order to achieve denser filing, glass clad storage units are moved by a handle linked to caterpillar tracks at their base; desk screens to production areas are fitted with service outlets incorporating electrical and data sockets, telephone sockets and compressed air outlets.
Low height furniture screens are made to the same design as full-height walls, allowing easy connection and future relocatability. Abstract patterns from the natural world, printed on the low screens, introduce colour into the workstations. Extensive use of glass in workstations, storage and walls gives a light, engineered appearance commensurate to McLaren’s activity.
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