IM Headquarters, Solihull
Location
Solihull
Value
£30 Million
Total Size
70,000 sqft Total
Developer
IM Properties
End User
IM Group
BREEAM
Very Good
As HS2 was designated to go through their existing headquarters at Coleshill, IM Group selected part of Fore Business Park for their new Headquarters Building. Not only was the site to locate IM Group’s new headquarters but their whole campus which also included a CV building & Academy centre.
Fore Business Park was developed initially in 2008 with the construction of two offices buildings Fore one and two. The remaining plots were in a highly prominent location and addresses one the main approaches into Solihull from the M42. As such, the proposals seeked to impose a strong first impression indicative of the high-quality architecture installed across the park. The retention and enhancement of the country park was of high importance.
Fore Business Park and its associated Country Park was a key visual point for visitors entering the existing site. The proposal and site strategy were designed to seamlessly integrate the campus into the existing to retain the integrity of the park-wide approach
Key principles were followed when developing the design to the overall campus.
- Create a strong focal point to provide additional visual interest from the M42 corridor.
- Incorporate a contemporary architectural typology that complements the existing buildings without compromising the individual identity of the new.
- Establish a layout strategy that respects the green belt / allocated boundaries.
- Enhance and emphasise the Country Park setting.
- Develop and increase public pedestrian/cycle access through the Country Park, linking up key public areas along Blythe Valley and Solihull.
- Allow building layouts to address modern office requirements and help attract high quality employers to Solihull.
- Provide an exemplar building and landscape design.
HQ Building
Size
60,000 sqft
Translating the design principles into the final design led to a number of conceptual iterations, each of which influenced the decision-making process and cumulated in the eventual resolution of the proposal. The appearance was developed with contemporary styling as inspiration, emphasising the creation of a clean and modern aesthetic. Seeking to ingrain a corporate sensibility into the design, Aesthetics were a key aspect with the inclusion of a strong focal point that establishes a unique identity whilst incorporating links back the clients organisation.
Change in materiality was explored in various ways as a tool to reduce the overall sense of scale and break up the potentially singular elevations. Conversely, corner features had also been conceptualised as a way of giving weight amongst large glass expanses.
Each idea helped feed into the overarching design intent as means of creating the optimal proposal for the site. Analysis of the viability of each option aided the greater understanding of the requirements for both the building and the context.
A key architectural element had been created by pulling the secondary staircases out at the side of the general office footprint. These had been then glazed and encased in a ‘Corten Steel’ wrap around enclosing the second floor accommodation. Other parts of the facade incorporated precast stone panels and large elements of powder coated aluminium curtain walling. The south facing elevation was protected from solar gain by horizontally mounted elliptical brie soil, that aid in breaking up the vast expanses of glass. An ideal signage location was provided in the front stone wall with the IM Group logo to be engraved in without compromising the design integrity of the entrance.
Christian Vision
Size
6,460 sqft
Christian Vision was a very special client and their new headquarters building needed to reflect their views and principals. A global Christian ministry with a strategic goal to reach a billion people with the Gospel but in a very modern way. ‘Touch-a-Billion’ focuses on using the most effective media platforms to introduce people to Jesus. Their main forms of communication include a mobile application, broadcast radio, social media, and internet media. One of these projects is yesHEis, a mobile app that provides Christians with videos they can use to easily share their faith with their friends.
The concept of the building therefore was to strip it back to its simplest purest form. Designed as a series of interlocking structural planes the building is open and welcoming and clearly defined. In terms of scale it was never going to compete with the scale and size of the proposed new headquarters building instead it competes by being a simple pure restrained sculptured object. A key architectural element had been created by cantilevering the first floor structure over a minimal glazing to create the illusion of floating over the top. The entrance lobby was also stripped back with vertical glazing wrapping over the roof level to create an open and welcoming arrival experience. Other parts of the facade incorporated pre cast stone panels and large elements of powder coated aluminium curtain walling. An ideal signage location is provided front stone wall with the Christian Vision logo to be engraved in without compromising the design integrity of the entrance.
Academy Building
Size
2,497 sqft
Clearly motors is a large part of the IM Group and the initial basis on which the company was founded in 1976. Since the early days of supporting Jesson Parts the company became International Motors a truly global brand with household names Subaru, Isuzu, Hyundai & Great Wall.
As part of an operational need the motors group often launch new vehicles to the market bringing buyers, suppliers and dealers from all over the world to their headquarters. The exhibition space to off reception was designed to showcase many of these vehicles. New vehicle launches are very important and why there is a requirement to have a small workshop/training facility on site.
We were conscious this is a slight departure from traditional office requirements and therefore this building was hidden away and designed to be part subterranean minimising its impact on the Campus. There was only one elevation that is visible, the remaining elevations facing outwards are banked up with planted landscaping and with a green planted roof the building disappears into the landscape.
Gatehouse
Size
667sqft
The gatehouse, which provided a point of security and control for the headquarters, was designed to be integrated within the natural context through a carefully considered design strategy. The appearance of the building was inspired to complement its context. The West and South Elevations, were suspended above the pond creating an intimate connection with the natural landscape in which the gatehouse sat in.
