The completed building was completed and handed over to the client in early July 2022, ahead of time and within cost by Glencar Construction and the design team.
The site at the junction of Crystal Drive and Olbury Road in Smethwick was formerly occupied by a data centre, latterly used as a gym for Xercise4Less
The new building, service yard and parking facilities were designed to cater for current and future trends in B8 logistics with the structure designed for a 12 metre to underside of steel haunch. This creates a large volume of space for internal racking and storage facilities, maximizing the use of the building and the site to its full potential. The warehouse provides 4665 sqm of floor area with the associated offices providing 795 sqm of floor area.
The warehouse volume is served by a large service yard containing four dock leveller loading points, and two drive in level access points. This provides flexibility of usage and caters for differing methods of goods handling.
The office accommodation serving the building is located with its main entrance on the corner of Crystal Drive and Oldbury Road. The ground floor area can be used for reception, meeting space or as a small showroom dependent on future tenant requirements. The primary office space is located at first floor level, running the full length of the west elevation, and is located above the dock levellers and entrance doors. This arrangement maximisers the warehouse space with the primary office space located at high level over the otherwise redundant space over the service zone.
The building is clad in a silver-grey horizontal profiled metal cladding with dark grey windows and door frames. A horizontal strip window serving the first-floor offices runs the full width of the primary elevation and incorporates vertical fins provide an element of shading from the western sun, helping reduce cooling load to the offices.
Cycle and refuse storage are provided close to the office entrance and provision is made on site to locate sprinkler tanks if required by the incoming tenant.
Since completion Think Architecture have successfully applied for a change of use to B2 (manufacturing) for a local employer.
