Austin’s challenge was to provide a “gateway” building onto the Macclesfield site with architectural styling appropriate to the manufacturing site.

This extended to the provision of a new site entrance and reception building incorporating a wing of office accommodation, a new site restaurant with kitchen facility and a suite of training and meeting rooms. We had to consolidate site wide dining facilities with a multi-functional space and provide a high visibility entrance and reception to cater for both visitors and site personnel.

The facility provides a highly flexible solution to allow for changing occupants and different functional requirements through the building.

The main part of the building under a double curved roof supported by curved Glulam Beams accommodates space for 800 diners on the ground floor. This space can be easily converted to an auditorium for 400 with full Audio Visual provision and stage. The central kitchen and servery are located behind the dining area.

On the first floor a full width balcony forms part of the upper floor dining area including kitchen and private dining suites.

The third floor which also overlooks the restaurant accommodates a variety of training and meeting room suites, support rooms and break out spaces.

A three storey atrium link connects across the entrance reception to three floors of open plan office accommodation for 60 staff.

The building comprises 8,350 m² and was constructed in 16 months using an AstraZeneca led alliance system which involves close team working of contractors, designers, client and users.

Austin provided Architectural, Structural, Drainage and Engineering design services with ‘on-site’ support during the construction through to handover.

The Austin Company won this project in an Architectural design competition with 3 others.