AMRC site wins regional property award

The recently-built AMRC site in Samlesbury has been recognised as an outstanding workplace.

The building is the North West outpost of the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre. It sits close by BAE Systems and has been identified as an influential part of the government's decision to locate is cyber security base in Lancashire.

Now it has been recognised as one of seven landmark workplaces in the North by the British Council for Offices at its annual awards, triumphing in the category for properties up to 1,500 sq m.

The judges said: "The University of Sheffield AMRC North West really stood out with its triple-height atrium which creates a focal point, where occupiers can interact and exchange ideas.

"This ‘social heart’ space overlooks the workshop, where these ideas will inform innovative research into new manufacturing processes. The judges felt that flexibility was at the core of the design approach, with working spaces easily reconfigured as classrooms, seminar rooms or offices.

"The workshop offers varying zones which can be adapted for different tasks, accommodated through both the architectural and services design."

Thomas Bone, chair of the Northern judges, said: "The winners of this year’s BCO North Awards all really stood out for their highly sustainable approach to design, the novel approach to recycling and re-purposing of materials and well-planned, advanced workspace planning and consultation."

The Northern region winners will now compete for the BCO National Awards in October 2023.