Double Recognition for SLC's Memphis Building
18 May 2009
The Student Loans Company (SLC) has recently won two prestigious awards for their multi-million pound regeneration and fit out of the 70,000 sq ft Memphis building at Lingfield Point, Darlington.
The building won the ‘Refurbished/Recycled Workplace’ category at the British Council for Offices (BCO) Northern Awards and received the ‘Commercial’ award at the RICS North East Renaissance Awards.
In the last two years a significant amount of work was carried out at the building to transform it from a former wool manufacturing plant to a state-of-the-art modern office building with environmentally friendly features. These include an intelligent, low energy light management system that uses sensors to balance the natural daylight; gas-powered air-conditioning that delivers a more economical and efficient system; and solar roof panels that provide water heating.
The award-winning design was created jointly by a team set up by SLC and Marchday (the owners of Lingfield Point). Designers 3Fold were commissioned to create the stunning open-plan working interior for 600 members of staff and architects SP&A, builders Rok plc and TMD Design worked on the site’s regeneration.
Commercial property consultants Ryden has also worked in conjunction with SLC throughout the project. The firm’s agency team initially identified the building as suitable office premises for SLC and during the last two years the building consultancy department has advised on building contract procurement options and acted as SLC’s representative on the project team, monitoring all the building works on their behalf.
Andrew Cliff, Ryden Building Consultancy Partner, said: “This was a tremendously rewarding project to be involved in and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to assist and advise SLC onthe options availableto them and to get the end results that have quite clearly been highly commended in the professional community. Our client showed great creative vision and drive and I am very pleased that their efforts have been recognised.”
