Bellway’s new headquarters was officially opened in September 2020 and became the first property constructed in the new AirView business park, located next to Newcastle International Airport.
The main structure is predominantly two-storey in height, with a three-storey central area which opens up onto a roof terrace. The second-floor roof has also been designed to be used as an exercise area or to be developed further to form a full third storey for additional office space. The main office reception is a double-height atrium with curtain glazing on either elevation to allow light to pass through the building.
The building features a number of challenges which were carefully considered in the design. The full-height glazing and a double-height reception atrium, combined with the open-plan layout meant that opportunities for traditional bracing were limited within the steel frame construction. The building is positioned next to three mature oak trees adding constraints to the foundation design which had to be protected from the potential heave of the shrinkable clay below. The open roof space and on-site service building have also been designed to accommodate future expansion, with both buildings designed to consider further development for additional office space if required at a later date.
