First Private Sector Office This Millenium In Plymouth City
A new Plymouth landmark building, Salt Quay House at Sutton Harbour, Plymouth, has reached a milestone. Business leaders from its occupier law firm Foot Anstey, developer Sutton Harbour Group and constructor Kier Western gathered for the topping-out ceremony on Monday 14th July. It is the first office building to be constructed for the private sector in Plymouth in this millennium.
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This iconic 42,000 sq ft building, due for occupation in the spring of 2009 is part of Foot Anstey’s commitment to delivering high quality legal services in the city of Plymouth and part of Sutton Harbour Group’s vibrant regeneration of the waterfront.
The design by Form Design Group Architects and the build by Kier Western have resulted in a superb city centre waterside development offering spectacular views over the harbour towards Plymouth Hoe.
The office accommodation will be of the highest quality and offer client facilities on the sixth floor with spectacular views of the harbour.
South West contractors will start the fit out in November to create an innovative working environment with bespoke desking and break out spaces taking advantage of the building’s position.
John Westwell partner at Foot Anstey said “We have enjoyed a tremendous period of growth in the last 12 months and the move to Salt Quay comes on the back of our recent expansion in Cornwall and continued growth in our Exeter and Taunton centres.
“I am delighted that our new office will offer our clients a central, unparalleled location and first rate facilities including ample client parking.
“Above all this building will help us in continuing to attract and retain the very best lawyers to look after Foot Anstey clients. Recently we have recruited excellent senior lawyers from this area as well as from London and I am sure they will enjoy being based in Salt Quay House in one of the most beautiful locations in the West Country"
Nigel Godefroy, Chief Executive of the Sutton Harbour Group said: “We are very proud of our involvement in this prestigious base for Foot Anstey here at Sutton Harbour in Plymouth. The Sutton Harbour Group prides itself on top class partnership working to deliver both investment and regeneration across the city and beyond.
“Whilst this modern building and its surroundings are state-of-the-art, we have paid particular attention to the site’s heritage and have sensitively retained historic features.
“Today’s event is a key milestone in the wider scheme of development of excellent mixed-use facilities, both on the quayside and on the water, for all our customers.”
David Snell Operations Director for Devon and Cornwall of Kier said “The team at Kier Western are proud to be involved in such a prestigious project, contributing to the extensive regeneration of Plymouth waterfront. Combining modern and stylish facilities with some traditional building features, together with stunning views and a central location, we hope that Salt Quay House will set the tone for future office developments in Plymouth city centre.”
The seven storey Salt Quay House will set the standards for new office buildings in the 21st century in Plymouth with its stylish frontage onto Sutton Harbour and roof terrace offering views out over the Sound and the city.
Form Design Group Architects’ design gives the buildings’ harbourside elevation a vertical emphasis with its three curved façade screens. These screens are composed of double glazed panels elegantly framed in zinc. Recessed balconies punctuate the screens and with their full height glass doors will provide Foot Anstey staff with external break out space and link them to the harbour environment.
At ground floor level Salt Quay House’s building line runs parallel to the quay wall and is faced with traditional random limestone rubble – a material widely used on the older buildings in the area. But from the first floor up to the roof garden at the seventh floor the building line projects towards the harbour in a distinctive curve. This creates a generously proportioned and sheltered quayside whilst increasing the office space on a smaller foot print. The curved form of the building marks the entrance of the new pedestrian route linking the Harbour with Sutton Road, offering a view into the harbour.
Limestone cladding is used for the north elevation and the rear elevation has a rendered façade with glass block windows to allow for natural daylight whilst achieving the required fire rating.
The double glazed screens will appear externally to be all glass, to meet Foot Anstey’s aspiration for a highly glazed and contemporary design. However some of the glazed panels will be backed by opaque ceramic material to reduce solar heat gain, and improve thermal insulation and therefore the energy required for cooling whilst giving the external appearance of a highly glazed building.
External solar shading in also incorporated on the three screens to further reduce heat gains into the office.
Published 14/07/2008
