When children's charity Barnado's needed a new headquarters building, it selected WGI from over twenty architectural practices. The reasons: a combination of experience in quasi-public sector offices, and the integration of its architectural and interior design teams and services.
The bespoke building would form part of a larger development involving rationalising the existing campus, and including a new residential development to fund the new headquarters. The new building had to be tailored to Barnado's needs and to reflect the charity's future face as a forward-looking organisation, but without being ostentatious. The key challenge was to both design the new headquarters from inside out, with maximum flexibility to allow for future changes in structure, processes and culture. To achieve these ends, WGI used focus groups and presentations to engage effectively with the building's users. Sustainability concepts were embedded from an early stage in the design process and throughout the construction, reflecting the client's commitment to achieving a low carbon footprint.

Location: Barkingside, London

Client: Barnardo's

Value: Confidential

Service: Architecture, Interiors: Full Design

Canada Life engaged WGI to design the fourth building for Leeds City Office Park to reflect the growing confidence in the South Bank quarter of Leeds.

The site is on the south side of the office park and will complete the urban square near the city centre. The building is to provide office and retail space and as such will be a prominent building on the southern approach to Leeds city centre.

The building has been designed to a BREEAM "Excellent" environmental standard. WGI developed the building envelope to achieve an optimum energy profile, providing a good level of natural lighting whilst avoiding over-heating. This involved providing the right amount of glazing and solar shading.

The building consists of two distinct elements; one which responds directly to the office park and the other one which relates more to the wider context and also to the industrial heritage of the area, hence the choice of brick as facing material.

As such we believe this building to be a landmark building which will add to the quality of the local area.

Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire

Client: Canada Life Ltd

Value: £26m

Service: Architecture: Developed Design

The four-storey building on the corner of Central London's Tottenham Court Road and Store Street had been standing since 1905. A long-term relationship with Costain led to WGI undertaking a 'due diligence' study on the City of London's Stage D tender proposals for the property's redevelopment - and then to be part of the Costain's competitive tendering team.
The requirement was for a five-storey scheme of offices, residential and retail use. A major challenge was the retention of the existing façade and original features - with the design team deciding on a completely new structure, to enable larger, flexible floor plates. This ensured meeting contemporary standards, achieving acoustic separation, supporting the new two-storey glass-clad mansard structure, providing high thermal mass and reducing construction time.
The distinctive 4,800m² West End headquarters building incorporates a new laminated and timber curved glass roof providing panoramic views of London. It optimises floor area and provides flexible space. WGI successfully collaborated with the City of London's architect in developing the design proposals for the £21 million project.

Location: Tottenham Court Road, London

Client: Costain plc

Value: £21m

Service: Architecture: Construction Design

Design for new specialist laboratories, research, technology and workshop facilities within existing refurbished buildings and a new 1,350m² building for the University College of London, was secured by WGI through a successful OJEU submission with a design team led by the firm. UCL's brief for the design of what was only the second such facility in the world, incorporated provision of bespoke research facilities within a poor quality congested city centre site to a limited budget, a programme to meet the funding requirements, and retention of a Grade II listed chapel.
WGI's evaluation study identified that new-build works could be reduced, providing only for much needed specialist laboratory function space - with existing buildings being utilised for offices and teaching areas. The innovative design solution reflected this, providing all of the accommodation required in an exciting design form around a central atrium and successfully bringing together a wide range of laboratory types in a very compact layout, promoting interaction between research groups.

Location: Camden, London

Client: University College of London

Value: £12m

Service: Architecture: Full Design

When Canada Life redeveloped a former gas works site in Leeds into a city centre business park, it engaged WGI to design a prestigious speculative office building to complete the third and final phase. The building had to provide the maximum floor area permitted within the development masterplan, and the office floor plates had to achieve high net to gross areas and be capable of multiple occupations.
The resulting 7,400m² building displays ample character with its geometric form and elevational treatments, which respond to the other buildings on the site and also create a new landscaped public open space. A key architectural feature is the externally-located escape stairs, detaching them from the functional space they serve and enabling maximum use of internal space. The building achieved a 'Very Good' BREEAM rating and was shortlisted for a BCO award. As well as full architectural design, WGI is also responsible for ongoing fit-out design.

Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire

Client: Canada Life Ltd.

Value: £9m

Service: Architecture, Interiors: Full Design

King's College London appointed WGI to provide full architectural services for an innovative new laboratory building, based on an established relationship. The building was located on a densely developed, inner city operational site adjacent to a conservation area, and within an area of high archaeological interest. The facility also had to provide accommodation for multi user research groups. The 3,500m² centre - funded by a £12 million grant from the Wolfson Foundation - includes ACDP, level 2 laboratory and lab support areas, offices, amenity and seminar accommodation.
WGI achieved an innovative atrium solution linking the new building to the existing medical school on all four levels, as well as facilitating user interaction within the building. Laboratories are modular to aid flexibility and future expansion. A thermal stack effect provides natural ventilation to non-laboratory areas. Because of the building's north-south orientation, louvre shading reduces morning heat gain/ambient temperature rise. And a decaying service yard has been regenerated sympathetically with its urban surroundings.

Location: Southwark, London

Client: Kings College London

Value: £12m

Service: Architecture: Full Design

The University of Wales' brief for its new College of Medicine called for accommodation for multi-user research groups and flexible modular laboratory design to suit a range of medical research groups - housed in a 4500m² new build and 2000m² refurbishment.
WGI secured the multiple roles of full architectural designer, contract administrator and lead consultant coordinating the design team via an OJEU submission. The £18 million funding for the project was via the Joint Infrastructure Fund.
Medical Biochemistry, Medicine, Psychological Medicine, Pathology and Cancer Biology departments are all housed in the facility.
WGI had to rework inherited proposals to produce a rationalised design in terms of layout, services strategy and linking into the adjoining building. Laboratories featured a modular design to accommodate future change, including alterations in the clients brief during construction.

Location: Cardiff, Wales

Client: University of Wales

Value: £18m

Service: Architecture: Full Design

Dulwich Leisure Centre is one of several London Borough of Southwark leisure facilities to have been refurbished in recent years. The centre has served the local community since 1891, originally as Dulwich Public Baths.
WGI was selected by Buxton Building Contractors, on the basis of a successful track record in the sport and leisure sector, to support its tender submission for the 3,600m² Grade II listed centre and two other local facilities.
The brief covered a complete upgrade of the building and facilities whilst preserving and enhancing important historical features. Further requirements included a substantial increase in dry sports facilities, provision of a café and crèche and facilitation of inclusive use by disabled and ethnic groups.
WGI's role was as lead designer and provision of full architectural services for the two-phase, £5 million project.
New facilities, extensive remodelling and attractive and innovative design have resulted in substantially increased business and staff retention. Innovative design and materials have also combined to reduce environmental impact and reduced operating costs.

Location: Southwark, London

Client: Buxton Building Contractors and London Borough of Southwark

Value: £5m

Service: Architecture: Full Design

The design for this 33,500m² development won a nationwide competition launched by Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council. The scheme - to include restaurants, cafés, bars, multiplex cinema, shops, hotel, car parking and 324 apartments - is part of a major urban regeneration project at Gateshead Quays Phase 2 site on the banks of the Tyne. Submitted by WGI in conjunction with Kier Property, the proposal beat heavy competition.
The brief called for the creation of a link between - and appropriate urban setting for - two iconic buildings, the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Arts and The Sage Gateshead. It had to provide a wide range of facilities to create a new cultural and commercial heart. The winning design also had to be commercially viable and deliverable.
WGI's design overcame considerable challenges, including creating a family-friendly pedestrian environment despite a 25 metre change of level across the site, and providing an ecologically-designed landscape whilst retaining the strong urban context and paying homage to the site's industrial heritage.

Location: Gateshead, Tyne & Wear

Client: Kier Property Group for Gateshead MBC

Value: £100m

Service: Architecture: Feasibility/Bid Design

Located in Rotherhithe's Greenland Dock, Surrey Docks Watersports Centre was an existing two storey boathouse designed and built by the GLC in the 1980s and since then, has trained thousands of people in sailing, canoeing and other watersports. When the London Borough of Southwark provided £2.3 million funding to bring the centre up to current standards and increase its appeal, Buxton Building Contractors engaged WGI to support its successful OJEU bid, on the basis of the firm's sports experience.
The resulting design was for a modern, attractive and spacious environment totalling 1,400m² - involving refurbishment of both levels of the building. A new gym, activity studios, wet and dry changing facilities and club lounge were added, as well as specialist equipment and facilities to provide full access to users with disabilities and special needs.
Surrey Docks Watersports Centre is now a flagship facility in the Borough which has attracted a four-fold increase in membership.

Location: Southwark, London

Client: Buxton Building Contractors and London Borough of Southwark

Value: £2.3m

Service: Architecture: Full Design

An established relationship with Canada Life led to WGI being asked to produce and submit designs for Aztec West 300 - an office development within Bristol's Aztec West Business Park. The two proposed new buildings were to replace the existing structure which no longer met prospective tenants' expectations of compliance with statutory requirements and low energy building performance. The amount of lettable space was also to be maximised.
Working with the client's team to investigate the best way to develop the site, WGI developed a number of concept design solutions within tight timescales to present to the potential occupiers who were looking for new premises. Sustainability was essential, as the prospect was benchmarking against other sites.
The preferred scheme, which achieved planning approval, doubles the site's lettable area and the stepped building heights minimise impact on an adjacent residential area. It also achieves a 'Very Good' BREEAM rating through use of a ground source heat pump, a displacement ventilation system, exposed soffits and the building's high thermal mass.

Location: Bristol

Client: Canada Life Ltd.

Value: £10m

Service: Architecture: Planning Design

The Royal National Institute of Blind People commissioned WGI to design their new headquarters in the former Salvation Army building near King’s Cross. At the heart of the brief was the need to design a building providing access to persons with any disability.

In conjunction with the RNIB’s ‘Joint Mobility Unit’ the design was developed to include disabled access throughout the building which included the use of colour and materials as set out in guidelines for ‘Project Rainbow’, a study developed between the University of Reading, the RNIB, and a paint supplier.

The basement includes meeting and conference rooms, and a staff restaurant. The ground floor areas are predominantly public areas and include retail space, consulting rooms, a coffee shop, family rooms and an education centre, as well as facilities for the guide dogs. The upper floors were designed as open plan office space.

In planning all floor areas easy access and navigation for blind and partially sighted people was an essential requirement.

Location: King's Cross, London

Client: Royal National Institute of Blind People

Value: £9m

Service: Interior Design & Space Planning

An established relationship with Northern & Shell led to WGI's appointment as full architectural designer, lead consultant and interior designer for this new £14 million facility in Luton. 
A challenging brief called for re-modelling of an existing high bay warehouse building to accommodate a new printing facility with robotic paper delivery. Equipment delivery and operational start dates imposed demanding time constraints, a situation familiar to WGI from extensive sector experience. An adjoining residential site also meant that noise had to be minimised. 
Collaborative teamwork between design team, client and contractor helped to achieve the challenging timetable. WGI worked closely with the planners and regeneration team to prepare a planning application and secure approval within 12 weeks, following which construction was completed within 11 months. To reduce both costs and timescales, the design maximised the use of the existing fabric and structure, including over-roofing to allow early dry construction and upgrading. A new high quality façade and external works created an impressive frontage and presence.

Location: Luton, Hertfordshire

Client: Northern & Shell Group

Value: £14m

Service: Architecture, Interiors: Full Design

The new state-of-the-art distribution centre in the Medway Town of Strood, Kent, was Royal Mail's first-ever project delivered through design and build procurement. WGI won the elements of construction design, lead consultancy coordinating the design team and interior design for public and staff welfare areas via Royal Mail's construction supply chain framework, working with contractor John Sisk & Sons. Key elements of the brief were to improve on construction time over previous projects and deal with an adjoining site with natural habitat - which involved specialist monitoring. It also involved WGI engaging with the local community and other stakeholders including trade unions and Network Rail - who own adjoining land. 
The £14 million project was actually completed within ten months, phased during that period to successfully meet the accelerated delivery programme for new mail sorting equipment.
A BREEAM rating of Very Good was achieved.

Location: Strood, Kent

Client: John Sisk & Sons Ltd

Value: £14m

Service: Architecture: Construction Design

WGI's design for a state-of-the-art automated newspaper printing plant has helped DGMT, owner of the Daily Mail and a large number of other media channels, to operate with maximum efficiency and minimal environmental impact.    
Already enjoying a long-standing relationship with the client, WGI was responsible for full architectural design as lead consultant coordinating the design team and also handling the interior design. 
The brief for the 13,500m², £25 million plant included achieving best value in the provision of a high quality building to meet demanding production time constraints. The design had to minimise operational and lifecycle costs, incorporate a process layout which minimised risk of production failure, and develop a design based on non-robotic paper reel replacement. 
A 'close fit' building envelope minimises the interior volume to reduce energy consumption and lifecycle costs, provides a simple, clean appearance and adds presence. Natural lighting in the print hall reduces energy consumption, whilst washing and rainwater is recycled. The layout allows for future extension without impacting on production.

Location: Didcot, Oxfordshire

Client: Harmsworth Quays Printing Limited

Value: £25m

Service: Architecture: Full Design

The Triangle is a national competition-standard indoor and outdoor wet and dry sports and leisure centre located near Burgess Hill in Mid Sussex, serving the local community and a large area of South East England. Following a public notice, WGI won the design submission with Miller Construction on the basis of an existing relationship, and supported by existing sports experience. WGI provided full architectural design and was lead consultant coordinating the design team.
WGI's competition winning design for the 10,000m² complex maintained a low profile on the greenfield site, referencing the local vernacular including local stock brickwork and clay roofing. It also included an innovative design for indoor and outdoor pool facilities with adjustable floor, flume and changing village. One wing incorporated the wet facilities and the other the dry sports, with entrance, communal catering facilities, retail units and conference centre located in the centre acting as a node and link. The £13 million facility was officially opened by HM The Queen.

Location: Burgess Hill, Mid Sussex

Client: Mid Sussex District Council

Value: £13m

Service: Architecture: Full Design

The original Camberwell Baths were built in 1892 following a cholera epidemic. The original building featured first and second class baths with wash houses.

WGI were involved in refurbishing the first class pool, sports hall areas and the re-configuration of the four storey frontage building to provide a range of additional accommodation needed for a contemporary leisure centre.

The additional facilities included a new entrance hall and ticket area, cafe, shop crèche, youth areas, all supported by offices, new vertical circulation and changing areas.

Location: Southwark, London

Client: Buxton Building Contractors and London Borough of Southwark

Value: £6m

Service: Architecture, Interiors: Full Design