Workplace interiors specialists, Ben Johnson Ltd, has recently completed the four-month refurbishment of a 70s-style office block – Vinovium House – in the centre of Bishop Auckland, County Durham.
The design company which is based in Newcastle and York, was appointed to transform three floors of the building into smart, contemporary offices for the rapidly growing team at regional charity, Auckland Castle Trust.
Auckland Castle Trust is transforming 900-year old Auckland Castle into a heritage, arts and faith destination of international significance, helping to stimulate economic regeneration in the town of Bishop Auckland and surrounding areas.
Overall, the project represents an investment of around £70m, including £11.4m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and will create a number of opportunities for skills development and employment.
Kitchen before
Auckland Castle Trust’s headquarters will remain at Vinovium House, leased to the Trust by property management company Telereal Trillium, until all building work is completed in the charity’s ongoing £70m development project, which includes creation of a new Spanish Art Gallery and Faith Museum, both due to open in 2019.
An initial challenge for Ben Johnson Interiors was a “fast track” refurbishment and fit-out to one floor of Vinovium House to allow staff to move immediately from Auckland Castle, where restoration works were already underway. This was all completed on schedule, offering staff an efficient transition while longer-term refurbishment was carried out on other floors.
Kitchen after
Now three months later, the formerly drab interior – empty for years – is almost unrecognisable in its new guise as a light, modern, practical suite of modern offices.
Vinovium House as an interim base was chosen not only because of its central location in the town, but also as an opportunity for Auckland Castle Trust to regenerate part of an old office block into useful and attractive commercial space. Additionally, Vinovium House enjoys beautiful, panoramic views over Bishop Auckland and the surrounding countryside – so provides an ideal setting for visitors and potential investors.
Office before
A prime consideration for Ben Johnson Ltd during the refurbishment of the building was a balance between strict attention to budgets whilst also providing a smart, comfortable, modern workspace. Ben Johnson Interiors undertook detailed value engineering processes to ensure economies could be made without compromising on style and practicality. For instance, investing in good quality furniture, which can be taken elsewhere if necessary but keeping some existing carpets.
Office after
Clare Bodak Consultant, Design and Build Projects with Ben Johnson Interiors says: “This has been a very exciting project to work on and it’s been great to see a neglected 70s office block rapidly transformed by us into a 21st century workplace scenario with modern workstations, break out areas, meeting rooms and practical kitchen, all designed in a clean, minimalist style. We are particularly proud of our stylish boardroom with its amazing views of Bishop Auckland and the surrounding countryside. As a local company, based in Newcastle and York, we are delighted to have been chosen as workplace interior designers for Auckland Castle Trust. The Trust’s achievements in the local area are already highly impressive and their ambitious plans for the region are very exciting.”
Corrinne Greener, HR Manager at Auckland Castle Trust, said: “We are delighted with the work that Ben Johnson Interiors has carried out for us and even more so to be contributing our partnerships with a number of local suppliers and contractors. Vinovium House will allow all of the charity’s growing number of staff to be based in one central location and, more importantly, to remain in the heart of Bishop Auckland while restoration of Auckland Castle and building on its associated developments is underway.”
For more information about Ben Johnson Interiors and Ben Johnson Ltd, please go to www.benjohnson.co.uk
For more information about Auckland Castle Trust’s Future Plans, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, please visit www.aucklandcastle.org/future-plans .
