The project comprises a highly automated printing facility for Daily Mail & General Trust plc.
The building is characterised by three rectangular volumes of different heights, joined to enclose the working area. The main function, printing, is enclosed centrally, whilst ancillary functions border this area. The central volume of the building is defined by a large glazed screen surrounded by cladding, providing natural light to the printing area and forming a ‘portal’ accentuating the importance of the central hall where the printing process takes place. The remainder of the building is also finished in a composite panel construction, the dominant element.
The process plant embodies environmental measures including water based plate-making processes; water based ink printing; recycling of waste materials; roof rainwater collected for production use; sun shading to all windows, mechanical/electrical systems designed for energy minimisation; and finally, the buildings’ orientation minimises solar heat gain to reduce cooling loads.
2005
2008
Adam Parker
