Sky Central has been
crowned ‘the best workplace in the country' by the British Council for Offices
(BCO).
The centrepiece at
Sky's group headquarters in west London, designed by PLP Architecture, AL_A and
Hassell - enlisted the expertise of offsite solutions specialist contractor -
B&K Structures.
Sky Central was the
second phase of the development at the Sky Campus, Osterley, London. The
mixed-use scheme totalling 41,000m² - combines office space, studios and
production facilities together with research and development zones. B&K
Structures supplied and installed over 7,500 linear metres of glulam beams and
just under 16,000m2 of large timber
roof cassettes.
The Sky Central
building, which brings together 3,500 of the broadcaster's workforce under one
roof - picked up both the Best Corporate Workplace in the UK and the overall
Best of the Best workplace at the BCO's national awards.
The judges were
particularly impressed by the 18 separate 200-person workspace neighbourhoods,
built around six cores which they said ‘resurrected the Bürolandschaft-inspired
planning rules'.
The health and
wellbeing of occupants is becoming an increasingly important factor when it
comes to building design and specification. The commercial impact of building
in structural timber has been much discussed, from the sustainability benefits
to the speed of installation. Whilst much has been written about the impact
construction has on the environment, what has not often been highlighted is the
positive impact that building in timber can have on its occupants.
While there are
still many details that need more research, studies conducted so far indicate
that structural timber creates pleasant surroundings in terms of humidity and
acoustics, as well as contributing to reduced stress levels, amid other
benefits. Timber interiors create a pleasant acoustic environment - the sounds
can be described as ‘softer' than the ones in interiors designed with other
materials.
The impact of
buildings on their occupants is high on the construction agenda in the USA. The
International WELL Building Institute claims that ‘wellness' is the next
trillion-dollar industry which can help businesses play an integral role in
improving the health and wellbeing of employees and reap the benefits from a
greater return on investment from a healthier and happier workforce.
This concept has yet
to gain traction in the UK, however ‘the wellbeing of occupants' is now a
significant consideration at the early stages in the design and build process.
The usage of timber in construction has been rising in many markets recently.
As a renewable and sustainable material, it brings interesting opportunities
for the construction industry. Add health and wellbeing into the equation and
this is yet another compelling reason for the specification of timber.
