Building Tectonics is involved a wide variety of commercial and public projects such as factories, warehouses, shops, nursing homes, creches, schools etc. The size and nature of our involvement may be a full design and supervision of, say a nursing home, or something as minor as obtaining planning permission for an aerial array.
In this latter regard, we have obtained planning permission for many companies who have been issued enforcement notices for aerials, air conditioning condensers and signage.
We pride ourselves on taking the time to understand our clients needs. Sometimes this can involve spending time learning about a production process or our clients service, so that we fit the design to the intended building purpose. However, future proofing a building and designing in flexibility should also be considered.
The new Greenleys Family Centre in Milton Keynes was opened in June 2000.
The new building had to be designed to fulfil a number of roles. It had to provide a “drop-in facility” for adults and children in a similar way to a local community centre. With play areas, inside and out and kitchen facilities it was hoped it would be a popular resource with the locals. The building had a more serious side too, as counselling rooms and administrative office space were also required.
It was an essential requirement that in addition to meeting the various users needs, it had to give a relaxed uninstitutional feel. Budgetary considerations dictated a very compact and efficient layout with a “no frills” building. Nonetheless by careful design we managed to create an interesting and functional building. Our philosophy of making a virtue out of necessity means that even the building fabric can be used to enlivening an otherwise mundane building.
The organisation of the spaces was difficult in that the orientation, direction of access and garden resulted in North facing rooms. To provide at least a degree of natural sunlight a tower was introduced that illuminates the centre of the building. The tower improves the roof scape externally but, even more importantly also creates a “stack effect” driven ventilation system. Generally, renewable resources and a green agenda were at the forefront of the design.
The building was delivered on time and on budget.