Skyways Project is the new headquarters for Littlewoods Plc. The project has restored and converted a grade II* listed military aircraft hangar into the main office block. A second building will provide further office facilities plus a sample warehouse. The third building is a secure computer centre. The whole project valued at £35 million has been constructed in 44 weeks under a design and build contract, with rates of spend exceeding £1m per week.

The project challenges were mainly in Hangar 2 where a new structure sits within the historic building. Constructed in 1941 the building has a “lamella roof” system. It remains one of only a few surviving examples of this type of structure. The building has been fully restored. Particular attention was needed for mechanical and electrical services. These had a significant impact on the design and appearance of the structural steelwork frame.

The project comprised three separate buildings on one site:

• The conversion of a former military aircraft hangar into bespoke offices for Littlewood’s home shopping division.
• The construction of a separate building for more offices and a high bay racking warehouse.
• The construction of a dedicated building for computer equipment.

The new structure has been carefully designed to conserve the fabric, minimise the effects on existing framework and foundations and integrate structural, architectural and mechanical requirements particularly the floor plenum heating & cooling system. Fabsec beams with 35% web voids, cantilever floors, long span stair and slender bridge links across the central atrium, diversion of primary stability structure and integration of roof light blinds above the lamella have all been required. This project has conserved and converted a unique building using sustainable principles to integrate a modern state of the art office within it.

Skyways 2 has a 3 storey office block to the front and a warehouse facility with high bay racking at the rear. The warehouse floor has been designed to take account of speed of construction and simplicity in detail. A steelwork frame has been designed to give flexibility to the use of the building in the future. The central area has an atrium and two levels of offices positioned below a large skylight. 22m long portal frames straddle the warehouse to leave uninterrupted space.
Skyways 3 is a single storey steel portal structure with secure computer facilities.

The computer building is also steel frames but incorporated many security features.