Bicester Eco Business Centre

by Architype

Client Cherwell District Council

Awards RIBA South Award 2021, RIBA South Sustainability Award 2021 (sponsored by Michelmersh)

Part of a wider eco-town development and setting a benchmark for others to follow, this project is highly regarded by its users.

The centre has quickly become a hub for the new community that continues to grow around it. It demonstrates what is readily achievable with well-thought-through planning, spatial arrangements and client and end-user participation.

It is commendable that, to the everyday users, it fulfils its function as an office workspace without being complicated to use or understand. Internally, suites of open plan or cellular offices share meeting rooms and kitchens which are arranged around an open central atrium walkway and which become impromptu collaboration areas, with access to external balconies.

Externally, keeping the building form simple allowed for creativity with the finishes and details, whilst the necessity of increased roof area for PVs allowed external space gains in the form of the covered balcony and breakout areas.

Users have localised control over their environment and the building considers the use and amounts of natural light and ventilation as part of its energy saving, conservation and harvesting performance.

The enthusiasm of the building’s operation manager for the building, its ease of use, minimal running costs and general wellbeing felt by the occupants cannot be ignored.

Internal area 1,147.00 m²

Contractor Kier Construction

Environmental / M&E Engineers e3

Landscape Architects Churchman Landscape Architects

Structural Engineers Price and Myers