Framwell House is the first new build office in Durham City Centre for 10 years. It provides 1250sqm of high quality office space in the heart of the city. The building has been carefully sited on the sloping site allowing it to be more sympathetic to the conservation area. This includes the neighbouring Green Belt area and terraced housing. Taking cues from the industrial and rail heritage of the surrounding site, the building is clad in brick and corrugated panels. Using materials which are normally reserved for agricultural and industrial applications, the cutting-edge design and excellent craftsmanship makes for an excellence finished article. The design looked to reuse whatever materials we could from the existing building including the retaining walls, bricks and drainage.

"Hanro and its partner on this project Impec could not be more delighted with the outcome. The quality of the finished building, the commercial letting, and return were far more than client expectations."
Duncan Barrie, The Hanro Group

Internally the craftsmanship and high-quality detailing/finish continues throughout with exposed steel structure and services. The open plan offices are large light filled spaces with floor to ceiling windows providing expansive views of the city and Cathedral. As well as views the windows provide natural cross ventilation for the wellbeing of the user through ventilation panels. The office building is bedded into the surrounding landscape with an eco-friendly approach to car parking using permeable surfaces and water collection.

The building is occupied by Durham's Probation Service who had strict design requirements which were interpreted to ensure these worked with the ethos of the building in terms of retaining the wellbeing aspects and servicing strategies.

Awards

LABC Northern - Best Non Residential New Build