Kirkleatham Innovation Centre

P+HS Architects first worked with UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE) in 2000, on the first of three Innovation Centres designed to provide office and workshop space for start up spaces Located in areas affected by the declining steel industry, the schemes, in Kirkleatham, Hartlepool, and Ebbw Vale were all so successful that P+HS were subsequently commissioned to create additional capacity at each site to meet demand.

20 years on and the client commissioned us again, this time for the interior refurbishment of Kirkleatham where the brief was to create an environment more conducive to modern day working, providing better support for staff wellbeing and where collaboration could thrive to promote innovation.

Our designers reconfigured the interior space to be more open and create a contemporary feel. Writeable work surfaces were incorporated into booth seating in collaboration spaces and a variety of break out spaces was designed to improve communication and co-production. As part of the functional and uplifting design, acoustic baffles doubled as artwork and privacy screens were coordinated with ceiling baffles whilst feature lighting was used to create more intimate break-out spaces.