Spirax Sarco Headquarters: Cheltenham

Claremont Group Interiors was appointed to work on a complex project to redesign, rebuild and completely restore the UK Headquarters of Spirax Sarco, the world's leading provider of steam system solutions. The existing premises needed rationalisation and up-dating, whilst provide a new contemporary look and feel. The project encompassed the restoration of the original Grade II listed Georgian office building, the design and construction of the new staff restaurant, full refurbishment and external remodelling of the existing training centre and full refurbishment of the main office wing. The work needed to be carried out in phases to ensure minimal disruption to the firm and its employees.

Location: Cheltenham
Sector: Engineering
Project Size: 36,000 sq ft
Scope of Works: Design > Refurbishment > Furniture > Audio-visual

The Brief
Spirax Sarco’s group headquarters, Charlton House, a Grade II listed Georgian building in Cheltenham, required a range of services, including workplace consultancy, design, space planning, building restoration and fit-out. This encompassed significant structural rebuilding, repairs, and restoration of the Georgian features, redesigning tea points and cloakrooms, design and installation of high specification finishes and fittings including new furniture. It was fundamental that the chosen supplier had to create a contemporary workplace whilst complementing and enhancing the aesthetics and heritage of the traditional property. The design had to showcase Spirax Sarco as a world class leading edge organisation. The consultative approach and ability to meet all of Spirax Sarco’s requirements meant that the company was pleased to appoint Claremont Group Interiors to fulfil the company’s head office project.

The SolutionCharlton House consists of two parts; the Old House, where the Director’s are situated and the New Wing, which is the main office area. In the first instance, site and structural survey’s were essential to assess the specific areas of the features requiring specialist attention, before liaising with the Local Authority Listed Building Department on the proposed refurbishment. Once approved, Claremont made structural repairs to the original oak beams and restored lath and plaster partitioning, lime plastering, decorative moulded plaster cornicing and the Georgian style joinery details throughout the older part of the building. High specification fittings (including feature lighting and replacement brass ironmongery) and finishes (including broadloom carpeting and curtains) were introduced. 

In the New Wing, Claremont stripped everything out and installed a new air conditioning heating and cooling system, new lighting and new flooring. An open plan office space was created, incorporating some glazed partitioning, which gave a light and open feel. In addition, new printer and tea points were introduced on each floor and all the cloakrooms were refurbished. On the lower ground floor, Claremont created a new ‘document copy and reprographics’ departmental space, with associated office area. Also formed were five new meeting rooms, one with a folding partition to allow the flexibility of creating a larger room as and when required. The central area of this floor was turned into a new staff breakout area, including soft seating area and a tea point. A heritage colour palette was used throughout to unite the traditional, yet contemporary environment and compliment the restoration work carried out. The furniture included high end executive ranges from Bene and Teknion, again as contemporary styles to compliment the heritage and aesthetic of the building.

The ResultClaremont have successfully restored Charlton House and its accompanying New Wing, achieving a unique place to work. Contemporary lighting and furniture have blended well with the array of original features. Spirax Sarco have a more collaborative space with new meeting rooms and a boardroom fitted with state-of the art technology by Claremont’s audio-visual department, ‘Viewpoint’. The new space conveys the traditional heritage of Spirax Sarco, whilst accentuating the company as a world class leading edge systems engineering company. The work conducted was completed with minimal disruption to the day-to-day work of the business, as the staff remained in occupation.