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Project
KINGSPAN INSULATION
Pembridge
In March 1995 the board of Kingspan
plc in Ireland approached the practice to discuss the total
refurbishment of the site which lies to the south east of
Shobden Airfield near Loeminster. Kingspan had inherited the
site two years previous and were producing insulation board
material for roofs and walls from a run down facility which
was prone to flooding, with their sales and technical staff
housed in a series of portakabins.
The main logistical problem with the site was that the planned
increase in production would create a massive shortfall in
the amount of covered storage. The Practice were immediately
commissioned to design a 47,000 sq. ft. warehouse area together
with major site infrastructure such as roads, drainage, sprinkler
system and security fencing. The programme of works was completed
in six months during which time Kingspan announced the introduction
of a further production line and the requirement for new office
building on the site.
The design brief for the office was to create a modern industrialised
interior that reflected construction technology. The external
appearance of the building expressed a similar level of technology
by using Kingspans own composite panel for the roof and walls
in an arrangement of beam and column giving the building a
strong facade and providing a focal point for visitors approaching
the site.
Whilst the offices were nearing completion the practice were
further commissioned to extend the newly completed warehouse
and install a covered loading area to cope with the forecast
increased production. This was designed and completed in four
months.
With the introduction of CCTV, security fencing and landscaping
the site has been transformed from what was described by visitors
as something from Eastern Europe into a Pan-European production
facility capable of taking production well into the next century.
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