The phase one redevelopment for Weybridge Business Park has been completed.  Three new buildings designed by International design practice, Scott Brownrigg deliver 90,000 sq ft of contemporary, energy efficient office space that will support local businesses whilst also attracting world class companies into the Borough of Runnymede.

In kick-starting the revitalisation of the 1980's business park, Standard Life Investments briefed the Practice to help provide a new identity to the park, to bring it up to modern office standards and create three flexible, future-proofed office buildings, where possible using existing retained structural frames.

Delivered to Cat A, the scheme replaces one dated building with a brand new three-storey, 40,000 sq ft office building of an identical footprint.  A second building has been stripped back to its frame core and divided to form two individual, two-storey buildings of 30,000 sq ft and 20,000 sq ft. This approach has delivered 11,000 sq ft of additional lettable office space and ensured that cost and programme could successfully be met, whilst meeting sustainability objectives. 

All buildings have been designed to maximise natural daylight and lettable space.  Improved building entrances, and new arrival approaches have improved the staff and visitor experience, whilst providing each building with a defined presence on the park.  The entrances have been clad using full height, silicon jointed curtain walling system creating a minimal façade leading to a double height reception areas, each installed with a porcelain tiled feature wall bordered with a LED halo lighting effect giving the impression of ‘floating from the wall’.

The extensively refurbished buildings have been re-clad with new façade materials consistent with the building type and reflective of the current vernacular style office development. Aluminium curtain walling and double glazed panels are the primary cladding elements, whilst black anodised composite aluminium panels wrap all three buildings and form a protective rain screen. Champagne coloured extruded aluminium cladding panels have been used to obscure the existing concrete columns to the building perimeter.

The transformation of the development has provided both hard and soft landscaping, added 70 covered secure cycle spaces and accommodates 261 car parking spaces across the site. Six electric car bays allowing electric cars to charge have also been installed.

The re-masterplanning of the park has succeeded in opening it up to the adjacent River Wey. The new layout allows for a more open environment on the site and creates a visual connection to the river. The established native planting along the river towpath has been revived to achieve its full habitat potential.

The positioning of the three buildings has created a public realm square with natural stone surfacing as a ‘heart of the park’ with a direct and legible hierarchy of pedestrian, cycle and vehicle routes whilst creating a welcoming sense of place, inviting social gathering for business park occupiers and neighbouring residents. Ornamental planting and trees define the central external seating area assisting pedestrian movement around the site. Carefully placed trees and furniture elements help to steer traffic whilst retaining the feeling of a unified space within a lush green environment. The linear tree lined planning helps to soften the expanse of the car park whilst aiding biodiversity and habitat creation.

Scott Brownrigg provided both architecture and planning services on the scheme.

Watch drone footage of Weybridge Business Park, courtesy of Clark Facades.