Inspired by local carpet weaving sheds, the scheme is a simple, two-storey building, planned with: a civic entrance 'piazza'; a public east-wing housing all public functions; a private west-wing accommodating all office functions and a public concourse/reception linking each wing.

Internally, the building is planned around a ‘tartan’ grid of circulation/support spaces and clear office footplates. Consultation with staff and key stakeholders resulted in a diagram arranging the office space into small, autonomous teams, forming communities off a ‘main’ circulation street, enveloped by central courtyard gardens.

Common facilities (meeting rooms, beverage areas and social facilities) are arranged off this street, encouraging social interaction, whilst distinct team zones engender a sense of place and team ownership – a key factor promoting the Council’s flexible working project, and directly addressing employee concerns of anonymity and alienation.

Not only providing a modern, flexible working space for Wyre Forest District Council’s workforce, the building also provides an excellent venue for public and formal meetings. Moreover it delivers significant environmental improvements, with a projected reduction of 85% in our CO2 emissions compared to the previous offices. Apart from being more energy-efficient, the building is essential to the council's transformation, releasing savings of £500,000 a year to protect front-line services and allowing it to more easily to drive cultural change by bringing most of its office-based staff into one place.