This was a dynamic corporate campus in Nottingham for one of the world’s leading banks.
Capital One is a leading global bank which, since its founding in the US in 1988 has enjoyed rapid growth. Its first overseas venture was into the UK in 1996, when it set up home in the former Boots headquarters in Nottingham’s Station Street. Within three years, the bank had 2,000 employees – many of whom were housed in temporary portacabins as the building had long been outgrown. When an adjacent site became available in 1999, Capital One held a competition to find an architect to design an extended ‘campus’ for the bank.
Having won the competition, it was clear to Orms that Capital One did not want a traditional, showy ‘city’ headquarters with large areas of expensive materials. Instead a lower-key approach was needed to echo the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that is encouraged among the bank’s employees. Orms applied this thinking to the new building, not just developing a more pragmatic palette of materials but also encouraging staff interaction by creating a heart space for the organisation between the new-build and existing elements. The clarity of the solution was reflected in the fact that the building was delivered on time in 2002, 15% below budget.
The building is now occupied by Nottingham City Council who acquired the building from Capital One.
This was a dynamic corporate campus in Nottingham for one of the world’s leading banks.
Capital One is a leading global bank which, since its founding in the US in 1988 has enjoyed rapid growth. Its first overseas venture was into the UK in 1996, when it set up home in the former Boots headquarters in Nottingham’s Station Street. Within three years, the bank had 2,000 employees – many of whom were housed in temporary portacabins as the building had long been outgrown. When an adjacent site became available in 1999, Capital One held a competition to find an architect to design an extended ‘campus’ for the bank.
Having won the competition, it was clear to Orms that Capital One did not want a traditional, showy ‘city’ headquarters with large areas of expensive materials. Instead a lower-key approach was needed to echo the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that is encouraged among the bank’s employees. Orms applied this thinking to the new building, not just developing a more pragmatic palette of materials but also encouraging staff interaction by creating a heart space for the organisation between the new-build and existing elements. The clarity of the solution was reflected in the fact that the building was delivered on time in 2002, 15% below budget.
The building is now occupied by Nottingham City Council who acquired the building from Capital One.
John McRae
Director