Radius Systems
Tate Stevenson Architects Ltd were commissioned to provide architectural services for a new purpose built office block to Radius System's existing factory in Lurgan, Northern Ireland. Radius Systems Ltd is a leading player in the manufacture of high specification extruded plastic products, supplying a wide range of industries, nationally and internationally.
The brief was to create a space to house the Management, Logistics, HR and Design departments. The space was designed to ensure that foot traffic through the reception area was kept to a minimum while offering purpose built spaces for each department as well as the support spaces of conference rooms, canteen, toilet and boardroom. A new parking area sufficient in size to take the additional staff was incorporated into the design.
The reception area hosts a striking ceiling, featuring a fully recessed LED lit rimmed circle which is reflected in the floor matching the geometry of the ceiling feature directly above. To carry on the curved theme, a sine wave shaped reception desk was selected. In addition, all adjacent walls have had their corners rounded. A simple colour and material palette has been chosen to let the suppleness of form prevail.
As part of the site works for the extension, ecological consideration were made to reintroduce planting back onto the site. The previous construction phases had cleared every patch of green from the site.
Wildflower mixes were introduced to the landscaped strip to the boundary as well as native hedgerow species. A zone demarcated for future expansion was also sown with a native wildflower mix. The remaining feature site plants were selected from native Northern Ireland plant species. As a future feature and a site entrance marker, three new White Bark Birch trees were planted on the boundary close to the vehicle entrance gate.