Thought to be the most ambitious public sector partnership of its type in the UK.
Externally the building is a direct expression of the range of functions within, revealing the council chamber, the courts, the large glazed volume of the civic space and the linear office ‘bars’ as distinct architectural forms.
A new internal civic space at the main entrance acts as an arrival, reception, orientation and event place from which all the main functions and services in the building can be accessed.
The park-like qualities of the site improve access to the river, create new paths and cycle routes and a new civic square at the building entrance.
Rooftop lanterns act as a visual marker for the centre which is otherwise screened from the town by the trees lining the banks of the river.