Member Article

Claughtons decks out Land Rover BAR's HQ

Leading nationwide office and furniture manufacturer, Claughtons, part of British Thornton, has completed a fit out of Land Rover BAR’s new America’s Cup headquarters in Portsmouth - specifying, designing, producing and installing a complete furniture solution.

Land Rover BAR’s high-spec, ultra-modern new build has been built to BREEAM excellent standards, and includes Land Rover, BT, BAE Systems, KPMG and Siemens as partners. The facility covers 6,874 sq m across four floors and includes technical, meeting, office and hospitality areas and a roof terrace.

It was developed as an operational headquarters for the company, which aims to compete in the 35th America’s Cup, in June 2017 in Bermuda. Sited on the Camber in the heart of Old Portsmouth, boat design and full crew development is carried out onsite.

Claughtons worked closely with Land Rover BAR designers, having previously fitted out its temporary headquarters, in Southampton. Seating was commissioned from Boss (work spaces) and Frovi (dining areas), with the designer and manufacturer producing and installing everything else.

The brief was to get the look and utility right for each of a range of spaces which included the need for wet working spaces, mobile units and outdoor furniture, while creating stylish, comfortable working environments.

Claughtons sales director, David Claughton, said: “We were asked to provide furniture for technical operations, offices, canteens and breakout areas. Working across such varied zones – inside and outside the building – posed a number of challenges.

“For example, the basement tech area is a wet working space, as prototype boats come straight in off the Camber and IT people and crews analyse performance data there and then. All furniture there must be readily moved, containerised and shipped to race locations worldwide. Meanwhile, high-end fixtures were needed for various interior spaces and inviting, weather-proof furniture for the roof terrace, which is exposed to all the weather the English Channel can throw at it.”

David Powys, Base Manager at Land Rover BAR, said: “As Land Rover BAR’s permanent base in the UK and the focal point for the design, construction and development of the team’s boats it was imperative to create a modern and agile environment, befitting of a team competing on an international stage.

“The furniture brief for the building was wide-ranging, including internal and external requirements as well as numerous functional areas, so the ability to work with just one supplier for all of our needs was a major advantage.

“Also, given that Land Rover BAR’s main ambition is to challenge for Britain to bring the America’s Cup home, it was wholly appropriate for us to work with a British furniture manufacturer. The furniture Claughtons has provided is innovative, durable and works in harmony with the building’s design.”

Claughtons is now pitching to fit and furnish Land Rover BAR’s new visitor centre, for the public, schools and other educational establishments.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Rebecca Jackson .