DV8 Designs take Birchwood Park to a new level with new collaborative coworking space
Based in Warrington, Patrizia-managed Birchwood Park is one of the largest out-of-town business destinations. Established for over 20 years, it has businesses ranging from start-ups to global corporates and is currently home to more than 165 companies and 6,000 employees. It is a key site in the Cheshire Science Corridor Enterprise Zone and one of the UK’s largest hubs for the Nuclear Services Industry. The site contains over 800,000 sq ft of development land with outlined planning consent.
EngineRooms is the result of a brief given to DV8 Designs, the Birchwood Park based architectural and interior design practice, established by Lee Birchall back in 2006. The aim was to create an all-day meet, eat and work space, whilst promoting collaboration and wellbeing among its 6,000 occupiers. This new social space combines the relaxed ambience of a hotel business lounge, the sociability of a coworking space and an ultra-modern food hall. During the redesign, over 200 existing chairs were donated to local charity organisations and churches, including Birchwood Community Youth Centre, Davenham Methodist Church and for use in a local food bank.
Where design leads change, this reinvigorated work space provides a rallying call to businesses to work flexibly, efficiently and socially. A-frame tables and flexible, zoned working spaces mean that a focused strategy session can be easily turned into a social get together, and the ‘street food’ style outlets have an independent feel to suit meat eaters, gym fanatics and flexitarians; and include a pizza oven imported from Italy, which is perfectly positioned for team rewards.
Managing Director of DV8 Designs, Lee Birchall, said: ‘With the EngineRooms we wanted to design an innovative and inviting new destination where ‘doing business’ can be made as easy, as sociable and as enjoyable as possible. As Birchwood Park occupiers, our team had the insight to make this exciting new space work in a practical and user-friendly way and we’re so proud to be a part of it. I’m from Warrington so I’m delighted to see such a forward-thinking business destination located here – this is a major opportunity for the area. The EngineRooms is the first of its kind, a place to be inspired and where work/life balance is achievable. We’re excited to see it attract even more talent and businesses from all over the UK.’
