Church Square House, North Lincolnshire Council Offices

The Brief

The facility is required to bring many council services together under one roof to increase efficiencies and encourage collaboration between departments. The proposed development is part of a wider £60 million investment in the area to cluster services providing an integrated living studying, shopping and working environment.

The Design

The extension to the civic offices accommodates the public accessible council services including multi-use spaces and the council chamber. The new extension, through its architectural treatment and massing becomes the dominant element of the new street scene giving a new public and accessible face to the council. It was imperative that the work was phased and programmed in such a way as to keep the existing offices in full operation and to minimise disruption to its users.

The Outcome

The general principle to the layout for each floor to the building is to zone the public accessible spaces to overlook Church Square and locate staff only areas to the rear. A transition zone between public and private spaces of meeting, breakout and WC facilities encourage staff and public to integrate without compromising security.

A passive approach was taken to sustainability; the building is super insulated to reduce running costs and large solar shaded glazed elevations allow light to penetrate deep into the plan without causing overheating.