Factory, Livingston, Lothian

For W L Gore Associates

SSDA COMMENDATION
1985

Architects: Michael Laird & Partners
Structural Engineers: Ove Arup & Partners
Steelwork Contractors: Ward Bros (Sherburn) Limited

Scheme design started towards the end of October 1982 when the Architect’s brief was for a high quality building with natural stone cladding along the office elevations, mono-pitch glazing and a fully glazed reception area leading into an internal atrium. The space was to contain 3,500m² of production area with a clear height at the eaves of 13m and about 1,500m² of offices on ground and first floor. The roof had also to slope down at 6° to. an internal gutter to hide roof penetrations.

Early in the scheme design stage it was realised that speed and flexibility of construction would best be achieved using structural steelwork as the primary support frame. In the production area, the client required a minimum number of columns, therefore large spans had to be considered. Structural steelwork was used again here with castellated rafters spanning 24 metres. Above the rafters in the eaves zone, a secondary light frame was used and through this zone services were made to pass and run around the production area, allowing the client to tap into whatever services he required and drop down to the particular work station.

The main supporting structural members under the first floor slab act compositely with it thus allowing the weight of the sloping stone cladding units to be supported on the slab without the need for a further column in the ground floor. The offices are connected to the production area by sloping glass. This required a minimum number of structural supports as light had to penetrate down through this glazing to the back of the offices. Fire protection was achieved using intumescent paint to the exposed steelwork and sprayed vermiculite cement to unexposed steelwork.

Detailed design started in December 1982 and the project was completed in August 1984.

350 tonnes of structural steel were used, the main double bay portal weighing 181 tonnes and the remainder being in the office, plant deck and mezzanine support structure.

Judges’ Comments:

The imaginative design and form of the glazed entrance lobby and office facades around an orthodox
portal frame structure has provided an elegant and economical industrial building.