AstraZeneca invests £10m in Middlewood Court refurb

AstraZeneca (AZ) has completed a £10m project to transform a 1960s manufacturing facility in Macclesfield into modern workspace.

As part of its real estate investment strategy in the North West, the pharmaceuticals giant called on interior design firm SpaceInvader and fit-out contractor Overbury to turn Middlewood Court into a new base for up to 1,000 AstraZeneca employees.

Kate Derrick, the associate director of corporate solutions with professional services firm JLL, who worked on AstraZeneca’s Global Workplace Strategy, said: “SpaceInvader’s vision for Middlewood Court exceeded all our expectations of what could be achieved with an old manufacturing building.

“Treating problems as opportunities the team has transformed a 1960s production facility into a unique destination on campus where people want to go and work.”

She continued: “Careful consideration and space-planning alongside intelligent group and ‘neighbourhood’ adjacencies have facilitated increased interactions, collaboration and vibrancy within the business - we couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”

The 80,000 sq ft site, which took 12 months to complete, includes open-plan spaces, meeting rooms, collaboration zones, resource hubs, brew stations and a café.

SpaceInvader’s director, Gavin King, commented: “The brief from AZ provided us with a fantastic opportunity to repurpose a fading building, bringing it back to life and in the process re-define the future of AZ’s workplace portfolio.

“Our concept realises the client’s desire for a flexible space designed to support democratic activity-based working.”

He added: “Strategic positioning of the communal café, break-out areas and access to state-of-the-art technology means Middlewood Court has become a hub that all campus employees can be proud of and enjoy.”

Peter Knight, the managing director of Overbury’s northern operations, said his team worked closely with AstraZeneca to overcome a number of “complex challenges”.

Discussing the project, he said: “Without doubt, required the experience and expertise of both Overbury and SpaceInvader to ensure careful quality management and planning which has resulted in an exciting innovative quality space for AZ, delivered within budget.”

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