16 April, 2012

Oxygen House, a major new 40,000 sq ft landmark building on Exeter Business Park in Exeter, Devon, has completed and is set to open in May as the new headquarters for pioneering statistical research company, ATASS Group.

Designed by global architecture, urbanism and design practice Broadway Malyan and occupying a prestigious gateway site which is highly-visible from the north-bound M5 motorway, the landmark building draws upon stadia and yacht design in reference to the work of ATASS Sports, a subsidiary of ATASS Group that will also occupy Oxygen House, as well as Exeter’s maritime history.

The building was awarded the prestigious BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ at design stage, reflecting the client’s strong commitment to environmental and social responsibility and design team’s track record in sustainable building design and place-making and is testament to the highly-flexible and sustainable development.

Passive sustainable features include external solar shading, increased thermal mass, night-time cooling and Green Guide-rated materials, while low and zero carbon technologies include solar hot water, rainwater harvesting and photo-voltaic panels.

Developed according to best workplace design principles, the practice responded to ATASS Group’s desire to promote health and well-being for all, with the building set in landscaped grounds and featuring facilities such as a restaurant, gym, ‘trim trail’ and flood-lit all-weather pitch with spectator facilities for football, tennis and volleyball.

Practice Director David Anderson said: “The completion of Oxygen House marks a major chapter in what is one of the most prominent new-build workplace projects in Exeter. It is testament to close partnering between our expert designers, which also designed the adjacent Met Office, with the client and wider project team. The exemplar design reflects the nature of the client’s sports-focused business, as well as the city’s nautical heritage and will provide a dynamic business with a flexible platform for future growth.”

Oxygen House was developed by Summerfield Developments (SW) Limited and constructed by Midas Construction.

For more information, please contact Chris White, Head of PR, by phone +44 (0)7557 161146 or email c.white@broadwaymalyan.com

07 April, 2012

Aidan Ridyard, director at global architecture, urbanism and design practice Broadway Malyan, was the first speaker on the second day of the higher education conference at Building Future Education (BFE) India on 6th April.

Inaugurated by Kapil Sibal, Hon Minister for Human Resource Development, BFE India was the first conference in India to involve public and private sectors stakeholders across the ‘K-12’ to higher education sectors, with the practice being the event’s official ‘Gold Partner’.

Aidan, who leads the practice’s global education team and spoke on the theme of ‘Transforming Educational Environments’, said: “We are really excited to be meeting and sharing ideas with colleagues in India. We have a great deal to learn from each other and are looking forward to evolving relationships, ideas and projects in what is a new and dynamic market.

“Education is embedded in India’s culture and society and this is a particularly important time to participate in the debate about the future of the country’s learning environments.”

Education is a major focus of India’s federal government, which is expected to invest $100 billion between 2012-2017, with the national government also planning to invest $20 billion in technology and information communications technology. The private sector is also predicted to invest an additional $30 billion in the country’s K12 sector.

800 private engineering colleges, 60 medicals colleges and 300 MBA colleges are due to open in 2012, as India develops a knowledge-based economy with education provision for all, which is set to accelerate the country’s position as a global economic power.

Broadway Malyan’s recently-completed education projects include the £66 million Bournville College campus in Birmingham, UK. The state-of-the-art further education facility has provided students and staff with one of the most contemporary learning environments in Europe.

The practice opened its Mumbai office in mid-2011, as part of its continued international growth strategy and to spearhead its strategic push into India and targeting of the education, masterplanning, mixed use, hospitality, residential, healthcare and retail sectors.

For more information, please contact Chris White, Head of PR, by phone +44 (0)7557 161146 or email c.white@broadwaymalyan.com

03 April, 2012

Plans are being submitted today for the £6.4 million redevelopment of Chester’s shot tower and associated lead works to create 53 residential units as well as leisure and retail facilities, designed by global architecture, urbanism and design practice Broadway Malyan.

The practice’s client, Liverpool’s Neptune Developments, is working with Chester & District Housing Trust to transform the Grade II listed former lead shot mill into a modern development while retaining its historic features.

The housing will compromise a mixture of one, two and three bedroom apartments which will be available for affordable rent and sale. On the ground floor there will be a mixture of leisure and retail units and a small visitor centre is also planned to explain the heritage of the site.

Subject to the planning process, it is hoped work can begin in site in the summer, enabling the scheme to complete in mid-2013.

Broadway Malyan Director Matt Brook said: “Our Liverpool studio is partnering long-standing client Neptune Developments to deliver a scheme that will provide the high-profile shot tower with a new urban purpose and create a catalyst for the regeneration of the wider area.”

Neptune Development’s Managing Director Steve Parry said: “We are delighted to be moving forward with this exciting scheme. This will bring an interesting part of Chester’s heritage back into use and bring much needed affordable housing onto the market.”

The shot tower was built in 1799, is the oldest remaining shot tower in the country and currently the tallest structure in Chester at 168ft tall. The tower worked by dropping molten lead through a copper sieve at the top of the tower and the falling drops would form balls of lead shot for muskets. These were used in the Napoleonic Wars and lead works only ceased on the site in 2001.

For more information, please contact Chris White, Head of PR, by phone +44 (0)7557 161146 or email c.white@broadwaymalyan.com