Marston's Brewery
Project: Marston’s Brewery, Wolverhampton
Country/city: UK / Wolverhampton
Interior designers: Simon Tyas, JMDA Limited and Sam Stokoe, Newman Gauge Design
Main contractor: Nigel Hanney, Carter Lauren Construction
Ceiling contractor: Mark Kelsey, Roseville Contracts Limited
Photographer: Teddy Strandqvist/Studio-e.se
Project size: 5000 m²
A new office space fit for the future
Beer and pub giant Marston’s has been based on its Chapel Ash site in Wolverhampton for 140 years. Now, thanks to a major refurbishment and new-build development, the brewery’s staff have a progressive new office space that’s fit for the future. Interior Designers JMDA Limited focused on the ground floor and external areas of this £10m development. This included the main ground floor reception, social spaces and brewery visitors area.
JMDA Director, Simon Tyas, explained the acoustics issues they encountered: ‘We had to insulate the ceiling and walls around the main atrium space to prevent noise transfer through the atrium. We specified Ecophon products in meeting rooms and toilet areas, as well as part of the reception and corridor spaces. The ceiling tiles were used to improve access for services. Aesthetically, we liked the linear design of some of the products and they had good acoustic qualities. We found the Ecophon team to be very professional.’
Positive feedback for better working environment
He added: ‘The meeting rooms looked stunning when finished and the dropped raft detail within the main boardroom added interest to the ceilings. Feedback has been very positive and the new working environment has improved the wellbeing and productivity of the staff.’
Feedback has been very positive and the new working environment has improved the wellbeing and productivity of the staff.
The upper floors and offices were the responsibility of Interior Designers, Newman Gauge Design. Sam Stokoe, Director and Design Lead at the practice, described their remit: ‘Marston’s needed to create an informal environment for their team to encourage agile work practices to be adopted by at least half of their team who worked away from their desks for a significant part of their week. This new, unrestrained culture required space planning to reflect this mindset. The three floors of workspaces are all completely open and linked through a large atrium. It was essential to specify materials that could cope with the acoustic requirements generated by in excess of 500 employees all in a single compartment.’
A modern and professional ceiling design
Focus Lp was used to create a feature of the workplace ceilings – the existing ceiling heights were low and highly visible therefore we specified a product which would complement the lighting solution consisting of a mix of linear fittings and feature pendants.
Gedina A was used in both break out areas and kitchens where recessed ceiling coffers were created with pendant lighting below. Sam received some good feedback too: ‘The client commented positively on the ceiling design. In 20 years in the business no-one has complimented me about office ceiling design. The fact it was noticed speaks volumes.’
The finished result looks really modern and professional and everyone is extremely pleased.
Ceiling contractors Roseville Contracts, were commissioned to supply and fit Ecophon suspended ceilings throughout much of the development. Director Mark Kelsey said: ‘We had good technical support and our fixers benefitted from the Ecophon course. The finished result looks really modern and professional and everyone is extremely pleased.’
