McLaren Technology Centre

Foster + Partners, Woking, 2004

 

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Night view 

Nigel Young     Download Original

  • Night view    
  • Exterior view    
  • Curved glazed facade    
  • Raised walkway follows curve of lakeside facade    
  • Glazing and structure    
  • Stairs    
  • Cafe with views over lake    
  • Natural light floods the vehicle showroom    
  • Showroom    
  • Car assembly area    
  • Work area    
  • Site Plan    
  • Ground floor plan    
  • First floor plan    
  • Section    
  • Concept sketch    
  • Concept sketch    
  • Masterplan    
  • Working detail: Facade    
  • Working detail: Facade    

Corporate and production headquarters for the McLaren Group, housing 1000 staff

Roughly semi-circular in plan, the McClaren Technology Centre includes design studios, laboratories, testing and production facilities. A formal lake completes the circular plan and forms an integral part of the building’s cooling system. The principal lakeside facade is a continuous curved glass wall shaded by a cantilevered roof.

Internally, the building is organised around double-height ‘streets’ forming circulation routes and articulating fingers of flexible accommodation. These house production and storage areas at the lower level, with top-lit design studios, offices and meeting rooms above.

A Visitor Centre is located in a separate building at the entrance to the complex. It houses educational facilities, a temporary exhibition space, auditorium and is linked to the main centre by a subterranean building.

Data

  • Begun: 1999
  • Completed: 2004
  • Floor area: 63,000m2
  • Sectors: Office, Industrial
  • Total cost: £300M
  • Tender date: 1998
  • Address: Chertsey Road, Woking, GU21 4YH, United Kingdom

Materials

Glazed facade

Professional Team

Suppliers

  • Lighting design and manufacture: Targetti
  • Office workstations and partitions: Faram
  • Water management design and supply: Grohe

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