Clients Requirements

The global pharmaceutical / healthcare group, GEHT established their headquarters in the UK and appointed Silcock Leedham as consulting engineers for the new campus.  General Electric took over Amersham PLC, a long standing Client of Silcock Leedham, to form GE Healthcare and wanted to create a global headquarters campus based on the existing Pollards Wood Estate.

The headquarter development was based around an existing 100 year old manor house, built in a ‘Lutyens’ Style with Gertrude Jekyll gardens, with separate 4,500m2 office building and high security gatehouse and enclosure.  Due to planning restrictions, the manor house façade was retained and the roof profile and materials unchanged.  Internally the building was completely re-built to modern British Council for Offices / Corporate Office standards with raised access floors and column-free spaces.  The works included a lecture theatre / press suite suitable for live broadcast, AV/VC suite (global table) for worldwide meetings and announcements, dining area including kitchens and confidential meeting and conference spaces.

Silcock Leedham’s Contribution

Our responsibilities included the detailed design of all mechanical and electrical engineering services, AV systems, mechanical acoustic design and vertical transportation systems. 

We also carried out detailed building thermal modelling and although the building did not need to comply with the significant Building Regulations Part L compliance introduced in April 2006, GE Healthcare were keen to meet the new energy efficiency / carbon reduction targets.

Added Value / Unique Selling Points

The project offered significant challenges with the incorporation of 21st century corporate accommodation into an existing early 1900’s building.

Silcock Leedham added value by developing energy efficient service solutions that included ground water cooling, low energy building design and high technology IT/Data global communications.

Pollards Wood House was a RIBA Interiors Award Winner.