Tanfield Lea Business Centre

The business centre is aimed at providing a wide range of office accommodation for both business start-ups and expanding companies and will include a new approach to lettings in order to encourage young entrepreneurs to pursue self-employment.

Facilities in the business centre will include:

3 floors of modern office space including a communal atrium with kitchen facilities
41 office units ranging in size from over 100 to over 1000 sq ft
Fully equipped conference and meeting rooms for hire
Fully manned reception providing a wide range of office services
Telephony and Broadband connectivity
Car Parking facilities
24 Hour access to individual office units.

The business centre is located in close proximity to the A6706, direct link road to Gateshead and Newcastle.

The Concept - by Lead Architect and Visualiser Chris Blackburn, Browne Smith Baker

The brief called for an iconic building and we decided to come up with an unusual fan shaped building. The fan shape was largely determined by the shape of the site. The North-East boundary is curved and is lined with poplar trees with views across open fields. The idea was to position the majority of the offices adjacent to this frontage so that building users could enjoy the view. The flatter South-West elevation fronts onto the gable of Comeleon House - here we created a semi circular drum which catches the eye from the main road and acts as a magnet to draw people to the main entrance. Parking is located radially around the building with further parking on the narrow strip of land behind Comeleon House.

Internally the focal point of the building is the atrium which acts as a circulation area at all levels while providing a reception point and refreshment area at ground floor level. From an envrionmental viewpoint the atrium maximises natural light and ventilation in the centre of the building thereby minimising energy consumption for electric lighting and mechancial ventilation. The core with lifts, toilets and kitchen etc is located in the 'hub' of the building with the bridge links acting as 'spokes' radiating through the atrium out to the 'rim' of offices and workshops beyond. At ground floor level the reception, admin and conference suites are located in the hub for ease of access.

The business centre has a unique combination of workshops and offices. This innovative combination widens the range of facilities available to businesses in the area. From an envrionmental perspective the business centre has achieved a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) 'Very Good' rating through a combination of low energy and low water consumption features. In addition to the maximisation of natural light and ventilation, these include solar water heating, low water use toilets and wahs basins, sensor activated lights, high levels of thermal insulation, solar shading to windows, recycled hardcore to roads and floor slabs.

Tanfield Lea Business Centre Floor Plans:
Ground Floor Plans
First Floor Plans
Second Floor Plans

Tanfield Lea Business Centre Elevations:
Elevations and Sections 1
Elevations and Sections 2

Tanfield Lea Business Centre Walk Through:
Site Walk Through

Partners / Links

Constructors: ROK www.rokgroup.com

Lead Architects and Visualisers: Browne Smith Baker http://www.brownesmithbaker.com/Project.asp?PropertyID=72&CategoryID=2&PageID=1

Project Managers: Entec www.entecuk.com

Mechanical and Electrical & BREEAM Consultants: White Young Green www.wyg.com

Structural Engineers: Portland Consulting www.portlandconsulting.co.uk

Quantity Surveyors: Henry Riley www.henryriley.co.uk

IT Support: Durham Net www.durhamnet.org.uk

Synapse Artwork by: Henry Amos