MAJOR PROJECTS
elements , so three storeys of openplan offices , a learning centre , café – all the paperwork side of the business . This is connected to an arcade , which is the heart of the building ; it ’ s a three-storey space that connects the offices to all of the scientific space within the building , and those are big , open-plan areas that are set up for a variety of blood , cell and tissue functions . Then there ’ s a separate energy centre and a large garage for 24 operational vehicles ,” says Coe .
The building is being purposely designed to foster communication – a huge improvement on the three separate sites currently operated by SNBTS . Coe adds : “ We ’ re connecting through the design and through the use of glass , for example , but from the offices , you can see through the arcade , you can see into blood processing . And there ’ s additional space in that area that will allow for different blood testing regimes that may need to be incorporated in the future .”
The build is now over half way through a two-year construction process and one very important aspect of the centre is that the space has been designed – by Reiach and Hall Architects – so that new equipment can be brought in or maintenance can be carried out without impacting on the essential work of SNBTS . Coe explains : “ On level one , we ’ ve got an interstitial floor , which incorporates a walk-on ceiling ( capable of taking live load as required to complete regular maintenance duties ) which is suspended from the structure forming the interstitial service zone which permits the servicing and maintenance of light fittings , service distribution measures etc . from above in order to avoid undue disruption to the activities below . Steel trusses span over the space to provide a column free zone for production and to support the Level 2 accommodation . Columns are located at the perimeter of the spaces to provide flexibility .
In order to create such a building , Interserve Kajima , working closely with SNBTS , took a lot of time looking at the work flows – when the blood arrives and how it is processed , stored and then sent out again , and how waste material is dealt with . Coe says : “ You can ’ t have any crossovers between all of the different flows within the building because that would promote , or may cause , contamination of the blood product , or the cells and
16 Febuary 2016