2009 Best Commercial Building

New HQ Building, Leatherhead

Architect: dn-a
Brickwork contractor: Bowmer & Kirkland
Brick: Ibstock Fireborn Max Natural Cream

The "Business Park" office building has become a familiar type for developers and designers and this example follows established practice with office floors relating to a central atria.  However the designers rejected the "fully glazed" design approach on environmental grounds looking instead for a balance between glazing solid facade.  This has been achieved with elegance and economy by using the module of the clay block to order the elevations.  The judges were unanimous in selecting this building as the category winner.