Greater Manchester Divisional HQ

It was important we designed the building to have a relationship with the force headquarters opposite. Both buildings use curtain walling framing, glass and white precast concrete although differ in scale - with the divisional headquarters designed around a flowing aesthetic of solid overlapping concrete frames.

The frames are in-filled with full height glazing, allowing natural light through the building and into the office space. The glass across the whole of ground floor of the public facing areas also retains the “open” aspect of the building.

To create a positive relationship between different department staff, we designed a tiering arrangement to bring together the single storey custody units and the four storey office into a coherent whole.

The office block forms an L-shape, wrapping around and masking the custody units. The two functions are linked through a double height internal “street”, which also solved many of the circulation and security division challenges.

Based on a grid layout, the coherent office space is capable of flexible working, hot desking and is adjustable to variable shift patterns. Floor to ceiling partitions allow easy transformations of meeting spaces to form larger space for briefings, meetings and seminars.

Custody areas contain a mix of secure and private rooms. U-channel glass was utilised with opaque and security film inside, maintaining a level of openness yet still masking the space from public view. The same system was used for the end staircases, gym, custody office areas and plant rooms. Differing levels of opacity were used according to the visual requirements of these spaces.