ENERGUS: Cumbria

Location: Workington, West Cumbria
Sector: Nuclear/ Training
Project Size: 6,000 sq ft
Project Value: £246k
Scope of Works: Design > Fit-out > Furniture
 
The Brief   
ENERGUS, Cumbria's £20m world-class centre for provision of vocational skills excellence for the nuclear, carbon-free and environmental restoration industries, appointed Claremont Group Interiors to complete the interior design, fit-out and furniture provision for the atrium space, including an 80-metre bespoke graphic wall, mobile ‘shards’ and a specially commissioned fibre-optic lighting feature for reception.

The iconic centre will be a dedicated centre of excellence and innovation, with a range of training, education and business support services geared to providing and enhancing skills within both the local and national workforce, and making the most of the opportunities these industries hold. This development is a key part of the drive to turn West Cumbria into a global centre for energy, environment and technology, consistent with the aims of the emerging West Cumbria Masterplan and the Energy Coast Initiative. The two-storey state-of-the-art building includes engineering workshops, training and meeting rooms, an auditorium and is home to the University of Cumbria’s Learning Gateway West.

The Solution  
The atrium space creates a dramatic effect with a 80 metre graphic image inspired by ideas of energy and movement which reflects the contemporary feel of the new academy and also injects colour and energy into a predominantly white space. The first area in the atrium is a dramatic reception desk with a specially-commissioned chandelier which has 330 fibre–optic strands with acrylic cones. 
The atrium acts as the heart of the building and provides  multi-functional seminar space, and informal meeting area, a presentation area and flexible exhibition space, using the movable bold white ‘shards’, finished in corian, as projection screens. The space also has a lively cafe area which adds to the overall atmosphere in the atrium and helps to further encourage the users to interact and share ideas.

The Result
Chief Executive of ENERGUS, Andrew King said: "The contribution that Claremont has made to the look and the feel of the building cannot be underestimated.  I found it highly enjoyable working with a group of such professional and creative people. As a team, they rapidly understood the transformational role that ENERGUS was to make to West Cumbria, the dynamic nature of our company and were able to successfully translate this into an excitingly visual environment." 

Ann Clarke, Director at Claremont, said; “We are delighted to have been involved with such an exciting project from the outset, the concept was based on stretching the imagination, to initially startle, engage and ultimately enthuse. We do believe that this iconic building has brought the ENERGUS brand to life."

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