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Swindon, England
Richard Hywel Evans Architecture and Design
Photography © John McLean
Fanciful design maintains the
interest of the young and restless
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"The
building has lighthearted elements as relief and
as a sign that employees are important and the
building is for them."
— Dr. Michael Hammer,
President, Hammer and Company
Architect
Richard Hywel Evans Architecture and Design home.btclick.com/r.haywood/
Client
Cellular Operations
Key
Player(s)
Buro Happold and Curona Design (engineers); Tilbury
Douglas (general contractor)
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Program:
Cellular Operations' staff were overcrowded and spread out
among four buildings, making communication difficult. In addition,
a youthful workforce in a fast-changing industry created huge
staff turnover. The company wanted an exciting place where
employees enjoyed their work, and an open office plan that
encouraged information dissemination and serendipitous meetings.
Lastly, the firm wished to exceed its place as fourth- or
fifth-largest in its industry in England. Knowing that architecture
could help to achieve these goals, the company sought a building
of exceptional design.
Solution:
An open-plan layout with a large breakout area was designed
to add a buzz to the atmosphere of the offices. Whimsical
features in the design cheer up the staff, including stairs
that look like the skeleton of a dinosaur, tea trollies with
real tea servers, elevators that operate with a sensing device,
and themed toilets. If your employees are happy, they're far
more likely to remain on staff and respond in a friendly fashion
to customers, cutting down on recruitment costs and providing
stability for the business. The building has also had a major
effect on potential distributors, dealers, and suppliers,
now keen to work with the firm. Lastly, since the redesign,
the company has dwarfed the competition, becoming the second-largest
provider of cellular phone technology in England.
For more images please see the November
2002 issue or Architectural Record.
The Winners: Abercrombie
& Fitch | Allsteel
| Cellular Operations
| Gateshead
Millenium Bridge | Multi-Use
Centre | Paul
Brown Stadium | Texas
Children's Hospital | Toys
"R" Us | Trumpf
Customer & Technology Center | Univ.
of Penn. Dept. of Facilities and Real Estate | Valeo
Electrical Systems
The Finalists:
Arcs
de Seine | Boeing\
Leadership Center | Gasometer
B | Hansen
Construction Office | ING
Direct | KeySpan
Park Stadium | Matha
Stewart Living
Unbuilt Projects:
BMW Event and
Delivery Center | Hollister
Headquarters
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