Where banking vault meets high-tech co-working space

Initially set over three floors, including a former underground bank vault, LOM architecture’s design strips back the 1980's building to its original shell revealing the structural core of blast-proof reinforced concrete, intricate webs of coffered ceilings and brickwork. Exposed services, clean lines and metallic colours provide a backdrop to an array of brand messaging and wayfinding, giving spaces individuality and character.

Upper floors of the campus provide dedicated co-working ‘surf desks’ and a range of four to 30 person suites for tech start ups, designed to expand flexibly in response to business growth. An impressive double-height basement space retaining the original bullion storage vault provides a shared social, interactive networking hub and event space with bleacher seating, teaching facilities, media pods, a bar area and meeting rooms. Within the original bank vault is a lounge and games room, complete with bullion cages and bank vault doors.

Design challenges

Describing the design challenges involved in opening up the basement to safely fit a 140-seat auditorium, café, mezzanine and desks, Simon Marett, director and workplace lead at LOM architecture and design said: "The basement originally had an occupancy limit of only 60 people but we’ve increased it to 500 by making three additional openings through the reinforced structure. The double height of the existing loading bays allowed us to increase the internal volume of the basement by creating a new mezzanine level and we replaced the security shutters with bi-folding doors to naturally illuminate the space and access to an outside landscaped yard."

Whilst the vaults themselves have remained (having been decommissioned), demolition and concrete cutting was required to open up the space. The immense concrete structures were load-bearing and some were reinforced beyond usual standards. Much of the concrete cutting was restricted due to the vaults being constructed with maximum security in mind. Specialist concrete cutters were brought in and the cash vault has been reinvented as the campus games room. Banquette seating, plush upholstered furnishings and drapes, a cinema lightbox and ornate billiard table provide references to the activities of a former cash vault, whilst the vault doors have remained untouched.

Community engagement

During the strip out, more than 1,200 tonnes of materials were removed — 97.5% of which was recycled. The removal and delivery of new materials was a challenge in itself due to the adjacent school and nearby residents.

The location of the primary school meant that the removal of materials was highly challenging due to access. Senior project manager at Overbury, Cliff Inch comments: “The road outside the school is very narrow so a diversion had to be put in place redirecting traffic, and all delivery dates and times had to be agreed with the school in advance. Together with LOM, we held meetings with the headmistress and communicated with the school and local residents via newsletters. We also provided high-vis jackets to staff and children. We were very aware of local residents and adopted a strict noise control schedule during certain hours.”