This pair of pavilions developed by SEGRO have achieved a level of quality rarely seen in a business park. They contribute significantly to the success of the master plan and the central square at the heart of the park. Adjacent to the Hub (a national prize winner), they have a fine outlook across a landscaped amenity area and hauntingly sculptural reconstructed former airship hanger. They form part of pedestrian routes from the hangar to the Historic Quarter and between the Square and The Hub.

The modern, flexible offices conform to BCO standards and provide floor by floor or even sub-divisible letting potential. Building forms are commendably simple and efficient, the orthogonal plans incorporating single cores and external fire escapes to optimise the open-plan floor space. Double-height entrances and a magnificent open staircase reinforce the sense of place. Use of terracotta as the principal facing material with infill panels of glass and aluminium is a triumph. Further efficiencies are achieved by escapes which, similarly clad in terracotta, compliment the strength and simplicity of the exterior.

Speculative offices seldom attain high standards of sustainability but some thought has been applied and a very good BREEAM rating is achievable. Aside from the brownfield site, small but relevant measures to improve energy efficiency have been implemented and recycled materials used in construction.

Overall this is a fine example of what can be achieved through good design, sensible procurement and well managed construction without excessive cost.

This is a brave, if somewhat obvious, refurbishment of a pre-War, steel-framed, aeronautical-weapons research building to provide offices, cafe/bar and heritage centre. The decision to renovate as a focal point for the proposed business park rather than demolish has been a coup for SEGRO, but generated significant challenges, such as fitting air conditioning, clearly well executed: simple but not cheap, with a clever, if generous, exposed fan coil arrangement in each structural bay. The open plan office floors were some of the best the judges saw this year in terms of plan depth/height and daylighting provision, although they felt these were disappointing when divided for smaller occupational lettings.

At ground level the restaurant and museum are open to the community and many local companies use the large meeting rooms. Remodeled cores that include two new lifts give all the facilities of a modern building. Floors have been cut out to create a lobby/atrium and expose the art deco staircase.

Retaining the structure and replacing Crittal windows with modern sympathetic equivalents has retained the feel of the building, while replacing the roof lantern and use of the “Farnborough” lettering to the brick cap protected the historic nature. Two new fire escape towers further enhance the external feel. This, along with excellent hard landscaping, means the building is comfortable in its setting. It is let down, however, by new multi-storey parking which could have been built in a previous era and detracts from the fabulous landscaping.

The scheme proves that it is possible to make good use of such buildings even in ‘tough' off-centre locations and that bright, vibrant space can be created in the most challenging buildings. If The Hub was located in one of the more fashionable London areas such as Clerkenwell or Shoreditch, it would be instantly full of designers, advertisers and new media start-ups.

SEGRO is creating a style to suit a new kind of work culture, competing with new-build parks. The Hub forms a solid anchor to the business park and a much needed variety of offices essential for start-up and growing businesses to complement the two adjacent, more formally appointed buildings.