Harrison Pitt designs new facilities for global manufacturer

Harrison Pitt Architects has designed two new facilities for one of the world’s leading high performance polymer manufacturers.

Building work has commenced on the new workshop and amenities building and a state-of-the-art control centre for Victrex plc, which employs over 650 staff and has its global headquarters at Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire.

The project is part of Victrex’s current development for a third PEEK polymer plant, which is due to start commissioning in early 2015.

The project is the fourth that Harrison Pitt Architects has worked on for Victrex, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange and has a market value of around £1.4bn.

The practice previously designed its multi-million pound Victrex Technology Centre HQ building, completed in 2012, and extensions to two of its laboratory and manufacturing buildings on the same site.

Richard Parker, architect at Harrison Pitt Architects, said: “Victrex is a world class business which invests millions of pounds in innovation, research and development each year to be a global leader in its field. It is vital for businesses like Victrex to have the very best facilities and we are incredibly pleased to have been selected once again to deliver such a vital project.

“Our experience in designing industrial buildings continues to grow and we are picking up more and more work in this sector across the UK.”

The 1,175 square metre workshop and amenities building will provide accommodation for new large electrical and mechanical workshops, related storage and offices, as well as new staff changing, toilet and shower facilities. Meanwhile, the 362 square metre control building will provide accommodation for a new control centre and related amenities for office and production staff.

The workshop facilities will be built on an existing car park, while older outdated facilities will be demolished to make way for the control building.

Victrex serves five key markets, aerospace, automotive, energy/industrial, electronics and medical, with the company’s thermoplastic polymers going into products and applications that millions of people rely on every day, from smartphones, aeroplanes and cars, to oil and gas operations and medical devices. As well as its corporate headquarters in Lancashire, Victrex has sales and distribution centres across the world, including sites in Europe, the USA, India and the Far East. Victrex serves over 30 countries and has more than 650 employees worldwide.