UK Battery Industrialisation Centre

Its a key part of the Faraday Battery Challenge, a government programme to fast track the development of cost-effective, high-performance, durable, safe, low-weight and recyclable batteries. UKBIC appointed Office Principles North to deliver workplace consultancy, design, branding and furniture installation services at the complex state-of-the-art facility in the West Midlands.

UKBIC is a publicly-funded battery product development facility that welcomes manufacturers, entrepreneurs, researchers and educators, and can be accessed by any organisation with existing or new battery technology – if that technology will bring green jobs and prosperity to the UK. The new development comprises a 200,000 sq ft process production warehouse hall with associated 20,000 sq ft office accommodation. Overview: We delivered an in-depth workplace analysis project for UKBIC, that informed the space plan and design of the new ground and first floor office areas. A scheme was designed to fit out the new facility, that afforded the very best opportunity for the client’s goals to be achieved in helping to ensure the UK fully prospers from the transition to electric vehicles. The programme encompassed the delivery of new office accommodation and furniture, including meeting hubs, collaboration spaces and café breakout areas. With the advent of COVID-19, an emphasis was placed on the introduction of innovative touchfree technology and AV provision, to ensure the safety of our delivery team and supply chain partners on site. Project completion: Our role in the delivery of the new UKBIC development was completed on time despite the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and an extensive and highly complex M&E requirement. The facility comes complete with fire rated glazed viewing galleries that communicate the two very distinct warehouse and office spaces. In addition to the main project, we supported the client and its project manager with subsequent out-of-scope requirements, including but not exclusively:

• Mezzanine structures within the warehouse process hall.
• Gantry and bridging access from first floor offices to provide ‘shop floor’ management offices and training facilities.
• Further campaign rooms, as well as exhibition and presentation areas, workshop spaces and welfare facilities at ground level, all of which were fully compartmentalised for fire protection of occupancy between office and warehouse.
• Provision of building fabric cladding penetrations for coordinated M&E services installations, particularly ductwork extraction systems.
• Security installations and cordoned off temporary enclosures, to provide installation engineers with safe shop floor working arrangements.

The entire project - including our involvement - was delivered at least two years ahead of its nearest international rival, despite the coronavirus pandemic. Following completion of the physical building fabric, the fit out was delivered in spring 2020. It was officially opened by The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, Prime Minister in July 2021.