Turbine Blade Machining Facility, Derby
for Rolls-Royce

The primary design objective for the project was to achieve the aspiration held by the client, Rolls-Royce, to provide a blend of single status for both office and production area. In addition to purposeful planning, it was felt that skilfully engineered materials would convey a progressive business use and at the same time create attractive design elements. Already globally accepted as a systems integrator, a consistent image, free of contradictions, was essential for Rolls-Royce to provide clear visual identification.

Total floor area for the first phase was 9072m² including 1375m² of fully integrated office space over two floors with production areas, laboratories and a specialist plant area. There are no physical barriers between office space and production area and total single status was achieved. The design of the building envelope and all of the services are carefully co-ordinated to speak one language. Materials were chosen that could conform to a design based on the disciplined application of a modular dimensional system which provided the image that Rolls Royce required and guaranteed consistency in detail.

The facility was formally opened by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and in October 2000 was awarded a High Commendation in the Building category of The British Construction Industry Awards by the Minister of State for DETR.

The BCIA 2000 judges comment: "Rigorous `joined up` architectural, engineering and services design has produced an outstanding and economical response which reinforces the breakdown of cultural division between office and shop-floor. In concept and quality, this is a model for the manufacturing industry."