Brief description This project demonstrates how positive dialogue and high-quality design can affect significant change with limited resources and small interventions. Collaborative work with local stakeholders and building users defined an ambitious local business support model. It celebrates the wider role of architecture by transforming an anonymous organisation in an anonymous building into a welcoming and vibrant community resource and proud civic building that positively engages with local businesses and regenerates the high street. Scheme description The Enfield Business Centre building dates from the 1970s, originally built as a bank and later acquired by Enfield Council to provide office and training space for various organisations within the field of local business support. The building did not represent the activities within, which seek to connect with and support local businesses. RCKa was chosen in partnership with an innovative public realm specialist, We Made That and graphic/brand design studio Europa, for our commitment to collaborate and co-design with all stakeholder and user groups. The result was an intense first couple of months meeting all directly involved groups; tenants, partners, council departments and centre users, as well as associated groups; other local business centres and community facilities with whom potential synergies could be realised such as the library opposite. All those we spoke with had high aspirations for the works and were keen to engage with the project. Despite the client in this instance being multi-headed and multi-faceted, we were able to define a new collaborative business model, brief and umbrella brand identity for all EBC users. One key design strategy was to improve accessibility and approachability for pedestrians and potential users of the building, whilst maintaining robust security for users and occupants of the building. The other was to provide flexible space that could be used throughout the day and week by different groups, both from within the building and importantly, to attract a whole new sector of local business users. From the outside we agreed to relocate parking to the rear, opening up the forecourt and providing a new shared public realm space that makes the building far more visible and immediately encourages people to approach the centre. From the inside we first completed a detailed analysis of the existing complex service runs prior to resolving how to strip out oppressively low and dark ceilings and a convoluted series of unattractive and underused rooms on the ground floor. A particular success was agreeing with stakeholders to remove the previous air-lock type double entry security door system with a secure open street front elevation. The key design move, after resolving how to relocate fire panels, SVP runs and a network of electric and data cabling, was to extend the footprint of the ground floor out into the space of the street to form a modest but elegantly detailed single-storey extension. The building entrance sequence is now unrecognisable, creating a dramatic improvement of arrival for all building users. This applies equally to the new level of accessibility into the building: only a single threshold now which has a powered access door before one is greeted by staff, clear lines of sight and orientation. This single move and focus of work around the ground floor entrance area, where 70% of the budget was spent, achieves multiple aims of improving the visibility and appearance of the building as well as the provision of flexible space at the front of the centre, which is active and welcoming and used in different ways through the course of the day. The budget was incredibly tight. We drew up a traffic-light prioritised schedule of works that formed a transparent shopping list so stakeholders understood where and why budgets were directed. In parallel we designed to ensure cost-effectiveness, stripping out more than was put back, and creating a simple rectangular extension. Full-height glazing was not a decision taken lightly, but was agreed as critical to provide greatest visibility on the high street with minimum barriers to entry, effectively removing the threshold between inside and outside. Above the entrance is a simple aluminium fascia with the words “Open for Business” in silhouette, which visually connect with giant sculptural steel letters in the forecourt that read, “EBC”. In front of glazing and fascia is delicate gold anodised aluminium fringing, which references the pre-existing arched concrete canopy and thus celebrates a key component of the existing building during the day, whilst at night the glass box comes to the fore as light shines through the gaps and the angles are less visible. Removal of existing redundant services enabled us to remove low-ceilings and open up the space, increasing ceiling heights by over a metre, replacing with a white painted open timber slatted ceiling at high level, itself following the lines of the aluminium fringing. All the works had to be completed within the modest budget of £300,000, whilst the existing tenants remained in the building, both on the ground and upper floors, with numerous visitors arriving throughout the day. Add to this the complex removal of extensive redundant and unidentified cabling and services, and one can understand some of the challenges this project elegantly and seemingly effortlessly resolved. The key improvements in summary: Opening up of the building entrance, increasing transparency and creating a welcoming and attractive approach Acts as an advertisement to local businesses of the services that are provided by the Business Centre, increasing financial sustainability Creates a flexible space which responds positively to the High Street Provides flexible meeting rooms and a large space for users of building with the capability to host small conferences and business gatherings/receptions Act as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of the High Street A new local “hub” for enterprise, with small coffee bar, Wi-Fi and hot-desking space Improve accessibility and way-finding to and around the centre In use the new building was quickly embraced and extremely well used, often in unanticipated ways. EBC is now fully occupied and has a new lease of life, and the London Borough of Enfield is keen to consider further works. Sustainability This project demonstrates a central belief of RCKa, that architecture can and should be more than just a beauty pageant - that it should seek to be socially responsive. In line with this, RCKa approaches sustainability with a wider consideration of the context and the potential for a project to realise holistic improvements. Most often this can be demonstrated by our approach to environmental sustainability, which eschews often complex clip-on technologies in lieu of integrated solutions and low-tech user-overidable systems. At EBC simple sustainable features include a principle where possible to retain and/or reuse. The design retains as much of the existing structure and fabric as possible, and re-uses for example the main secondary door screen that was flipped and refitted to suit the new layout instead. Drama is created by stripping materials and walls away and simply painting them or even as is the case with the clay pot ceiling, just leaving it exposed. Whilst there is an element of this in our environmental approach at the EBC, it was clear to us that social and local-economic imperatives must take precedent, hence our use of full-height glazing - albeit high-performance argon-filled low-e coated insulating glass units, it is still extensive and full-height. From a cost view this decision was also not taken lightly, but the wider regenerative benefits are too great to ignore, which are multi-layered. For example, the greater presence the glazing gives EBC by creation of a dramatic feature on the high street, leads to a greater awareness of the centre and in-turn what EBC does, and then the number of businesses it supports. Then there is the removal of thresholds into the centre, that welcomes visitors and potential users. There is also an element of performance to the space, particularly for business seminars, launches, events and receptions, particularly when they spill out onto the newly de-cluttered forecourt, or occur at night. This visibility brings activity right into the high-street, manifesting improvement through positive activity. The events are mini-celebrations for all to witness. The design is also purposefully contemporary in feel, to reflect the cutting edge, but friendly, supportive and approachable feel of the newly re-imagined organisation. This has attracted a broader range of businesses. The space is also incredibly efficient and flexible and generates income. It doubles up as circulation, cafe, reception, evening bill-board, business conference/seminar/reception space, along with inclusion of one-to-one and medium sized meeting rooms all of which can be catered for and are hireable by building users at a discount and the wider public once registered with the centre. It also created a social enterprise opportunity, with Enterprise Enfield now training receptionists and we understand will also be training barrista's in the small cafe space too. Our approach to sustainability seems to have struck a chord, as it was one of 30 projects shortlisted for the 2015 AJ Small Project Award, and after more detailed scrutiny and interview it won the Sustainability Award. This was acknowledged as being for achieving a lot with a little, through understanding client and stakeholder imperatives. Judge Deborah Saunt praised us for how we had “worked hard with the client to understand where to spend money and add value”. Universal design The intervention made the building more accessible in a literal way, but even more in a metaphorical sense. It is now obvious which services are being offered inside the building, which doesn't need any further signage or advertising. Barriers to entry were reduced in a sense that the entrance is legible, and also that the building now encourages people now to wander into the lobby for a coffee without any obligations. We believe that a simple and intuitive design is the best way to include the widest range of visitors as possible. The concepts of inclusiveness and accessibility are not only integral to the design of the building but were also central to the briefing and design process. In large part as a result of the extensive consultation undertaken and the very real input from diverse groups; the remodelled area of the building is open, democratic and legible; encouraging users to adopt and adapt it to their own needs. The design of the building is deliberately flexible and open - allowing and encouraging users to take ownership of the spaces that allowing a huge range of activities to happen within them. This flexibility encourages inclusivity and diversity of use. For example; the entrance is a cafe where one can sit alone and surf the web with a coffee and business research, or host a business seminar, with a reception that extends to even more on the forecourt. The open-feel and high level of natural surveillance provides a comfortable environment whether the space is used by 5 or 50 people. This natural surveillance right through the meeting room spaces helps visitors and staff feel more secure and naturally discourages anti-social behaviour. Visitors enter via an easily identifiable, clear, well-lit and generous main entrance door with a fully accessible lift immediately adjacent to the main space. All of the internal finishes and materials were carefully chosen to meet minimum Light Reflectance Value contrasts and, further than this, the building has a bold simplicity that makes identifying junctions, treads and door handles exceptionally easy. RCKa's design of the building's signage and way-finding to ensure continuity and coherence was simplified enormously by the natural legibility of the building; as all new spaces can be directly viewed as you enter, and the building stands out as a refreshing contemporary change of character along the high street, naturally aiding orientation and way-finding. In line with our approach, the design of the signage is innovative and integrated into part of the language and in this case also the fabric of the building. The large sculptural steel 'EBC' elements that sit in the forecourt greet visitors, who are naturally then led and connected to the large lasercut writing over the entrance door, which reads “Open for Business”. This use of larger scaled signage was felt more appropriate than small signs and for example Braille on building signage which is often difficult to locate and understood by only a fraction of people with impaired sight. Consideration was also given to accessibility during the works. For example, before the main works started, a new wheelchair accessible rear entry directly off the car park was created as a temporary main entry. One wheelchair parking space and two cycle stands were also integrated in the new forecourt design. Community impact Working closely with the users ultimately enabled us to create a meaningful piece of architecture. The very conception of this project was rooted in its potential to make a positive contribution to the local community and to transform the opportunities of aspiring local businesses with access to support. From the outset users, stakeholders and client groups were consulted, with innovative methods such as traffic-light weighted works schedules to obtain and capture clear feedback. Other potential partner organisations were also identified and contacted and where relevant visited to understand how they operated and whether there were synergies to combine services and/or use premises to ensure the maximum number of beneficiaries were realised as a result of the project. In this way we stepped outside the usual role of the architect as we believe a project should affect positive change and that this can only be achieved if the context within which it will be is understood. Very early on, we helped to establish a steering group for the project which included Enterprise Enfield, Enfield Education Business Partnership, STS Complete Health and Safety, Urban Futures, North London Chamber of Commerce, Enfield Business and Retailers Association and Enfield Highway Library. As a result of the project the EBC dramatically raised their profile with a welcoming and noticeably active building that exists now in the space of the high street for all to enjoy. The Local Authority obtained a financially sustainable business centre with revenue generating opportunities, that can now operate independently of the council. And finally, the Greater London Authority have celebrated the project as an exemplar catalyst for high street regeneration, and are now discussing OLF3 funding with Enfield Council. In many ways, the remodelling of the entrance met its purpose of serving as a beacon of local regeneration, simply by just revealing what was previously hidden behind its heavy and anonymous elevation, on this stretch of the High Street. Feedback has been hugely positive, by both the existing users as well as new ones which include Let's Go Businesshub, We Network-We Connect, Loving Social Media, Tadpole Training and others. Despina Johnson, CEO of Enterprise Enfield wrote on LinkedIn: “The quality of the design of this refurbishment has meant the business centre has been transformed into a vibrant modern business hub, where a range of new enterprise services have been introduced to help business grow. “