Plymouth Science Park's £7 million space-age building in multiple awards finals
THE stunning new £7 million building at Plymouth Science Park has now been shortlisted for a record four prestigious building and planning awards for its forward-thinking space-age design.
Standing at the entrance way to the park at Derriford, behind the city’s hospital, the new building is the most technologically advanced in the south west.
1 Research Way has already been nominated for awards from the city’s Evening Herald newspaper and also the RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) and to that clutch it has now added two more nominations from the prestigious Mitchelmores Awards.
They are finalists in the Commercial Project of the Year and Building of the Year categories.
Christian Jenkins, Director of Operations at Plymouth Science Park, said: “Plymouth Science Park is delighted to be shortlisted in two categories for these prestigious awards.
“We were absolutely clear from the outset on what the look and feel of 1 Research Way should be and we are more than satisfied with the results. As well as its visually striking looks and architectural features, its internal functionality and flexible working space was very attractive to businesses with the result that the building was 60% occupied within a week of opening.
“The units can accommodate 10-60 staff making it suitable to a wide range of businesses. Supported by the best ICT infrastructure in the region and a full range of on-site services, 1 Research Way has become the go-to place for aspiring tech and science businesses."
Marketing technology company Intelligent Optimisations (IO) has already taken the top floor of the building and educational website business The Key has moved about 40 staff into a large open plan office taking up about 60 per cent of level one.
One Research Way has 20,000sq ft of office space, and mixes open-plan offices with break-out areas to encourage more collaboration.
The building is fully serviced, with all bills, bar electricity and additional IT, included in the rent. It also has kitchens, toilets and showers and the front of the building features a huge glazed area, known as "the knuckle", illuminated at night.
It was built by BAM Construction, from a design by Royal William Yard-based architects HLM. It is clad with zinc-coloured aluminium, features exterior wall glass "pop outs”, which have space for people to sit in, and inside there is a huge open atrium, capable of hosting seminars and conferences.
Winners of the Herald Awards will be announced at a glittering ceremony in the city on 20th April, the RICS Awards winners will be revealed at a ceremony in Bristol on 11th May and the Mitchelmores Awards will take place on 15th June in Exeter.
