Hamiltons Architects opens Priory House

A new headquarter for Mid Bedfordshire District Council has officially opened. Designed by architect Hamiltons Architects, the Priory House was built on a brownfield site formerly occupied by the Ministry of Defence at Chicksands in Bedfordshire.

The council brief was to centralise its facilities within an environmentally progressive building using a limited budget. The purpose built 6,000 sq m facility includes 3,000 sq m of naturally ventilated office space together with the council chamber, public and support facilities and an extensive landscaped area.

Hamiltons Architects associate director Niall Monaghan, said: “This was a great opportunity to design a new civic building expressing open government and an accessible council. The building creates an appropriate space for staff and the public to interact and carry out their daily activities.”

A sinuous roof embraces a wide variety of functions within welcoming staff and visitors via a spectacular arcaded main entrance. This leads into a reception area with meeting rooms and public café adjacent to the new council chamber on the central axis of the building.

Other interesting features include office fingers that have been designed to create a flexible column free interior to accommodate the long term needs of the council.

The building was completed in June 2006.