Rob Charlton on _space life

In May 2009, national architectural firm Space Group launched its online and social media portal, _space life.

CEO Rob Charlton discusses how the idea came to life and the online developments made since the launch.

FACE OF SPACE SEES DESIGNER TAKE STARRING ROLE

Star of the show: Space Group’s 3D visualiser Hugh O’Neill with the Space Group marketing picture which he stars in.

AN architectural firm committed to encouraging a creative working culture has turned one if its people into a star of its annual marketing campaign.

Space Group’s 3D visualiser Hugh O’Neill is the talk of the office after securing a starring role in a contemporary set of new company images, which will be used extensively to market the business.

Just as hardware store B&Q announced that it has used more than 500 staff in its TV advertisements since 2006*, Space Group has also utilised its people to be the face of ­its new website and the company’s online social media portal ‘Space Life’ which houses its Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube and blog posts.

Hugh, 32, adopted a pilates pose in the company’s last campaign and has this year swapped his jeans for a pinstripe suit, Blackberry and briefcase.

The image, taken on the roof of Gateshead’s Baltic Place, was taken to portray the ‘work’ element of the firm’s six divisions - work, play, care, learn move and live.

For the second year running Space Group has commissioned local creative photographer Sasa Savic to shoot the images, to reflect the company’s community work.

Sasa’s work went on display at _spaceworks’ own gallery in Gosforth, Newcastle, in June, where the company holds a monthly Think and a Drink event to support local talent.

Space Group chief executive Rob Charlton said: “Instead of turning to a pricey modelling agency we decided to utilise our own people in our marketing efforts.

“Each year, Space Group commissions a photographer to reflect our work in the community.

“Following the success of last year’s images, which included my own little daughter Daisy, we have re-commissioned Sasa, an emerging professional photographer, to really bring our brand to life.

“Space Group is passionate about nurturing up and coming talent and we have been very delighted to support Sasa’s work once again.

“These images will be used extensively to market the business and are featured on our website and have been displayed in space gallery throughout June.”

Hugh said: “I have been involved in the Space promotional pictures for the past two years now so people have been calling me the ‘face of space’ which is fun.

“In my day job, I take the architectural elevations and transform them into 3D visualisations or artists’ impressions so to actually be involved in front of the camera is really interesting and I’m pleased to have been given the experience.”

The images will be exhibited at ‘Space Gallery’ during its Think and a Drink event on Thursday 25th May until the end of July or can be seen on www.spacegroup.co.uk



*Campaign Magazine.

NEW ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AT SPACE GROUP

Tony Wyatt, Associate Director of _space architecture

THE man who led the award winning urban design and conservation input into Newcastle’s historic Grainger Town and East Quayside regeneration has joined architectural firm Space Group.

Tony Wyatt, former Urban Design and Conservation Group Manager at Newcastle City Council, has been appointed as Associate Director of _space architecture. The 54-year-old from Gosforth, Newcastle, will be responsible for the firm’s integrated regeneration urban design and environment service.

He brings with him more than 30 years’ public and private sector experience and is also an independent National Specialist Advisor.

Tony said: “This was a terrific opportunity for me to take on a new challenge and join a really progressive company.

“My job is to develop the Group’s urban design, master planning, historical and natural environment and landscape services.

“I look forward to using my national and public sector contacts to build up this area of Space’s business.”

Tony is currently an urban design advisor on the CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) national Design Review Panel. He was selected in 2006 and his term has recently been extended until 2011.

His extensive experience also saw him being invited to join the Home Office design review panel in 2008, with a position on both the North-East and North-West regional design panels following this year.

Tony has been an Executive Member of the national Historic Towns Forum since 2006, serving as Vice Chairman in 2007.

Space Group CEO Rob Charlton said: “To attract someone of Tony’s calibre is a real coup for us.

“He is extremely well regarded in his field and we look forward to further building our urban design reputation with his help.”

BUILDING MAKEOVER TO CREATE HAPPY SHIP

Space Group associate director Nigel Pilkington (far right) shows the Sea Cadets the new design proposals.

YOUNG sea cadets across Bradford are riding on the crest of a wave after triumphing in a regional building makeover competition.

Earlier this year, Leeds-based _space architecture, part of Space Group, called for charity groups in need of a makeover to come forward to win a free renovation or refurbishment.

Bradford T.S Aurora Sea Cadets, a voluntary organisation for youngsters aged 12 to 18, has beaten off 20 other hopefuls and will now have its rundown premises overhauled.

Space Group has already visited the old school building and discovered the premises all at sea.

Now they are working on plans to redecorate the toilet and classroom areas, re-design the changing rooms and make the building shipshape.

Space Group’s Yorkshire office hopes to team up with local suppliers and contractors to help support the costs of the materials.

Space Group associate director Nigel Pilkington said: “We have visited the building and the main priorities are the classroom, toilets and changing rooms. As well as designing better storage zones, we will decorate the toilets with fresh paint, add more privacy screens in the changing rooms and add mirrors and shelving to make it a nicer and friendlier place to be.”

Alan Mandreit from the Sea Cadets said: “We have been trying to fix the building ourselves for years but it has proved to be an endless task. We have worked hard to improve things by painting as much as we can, but time constraints and lack of budget means it has been a slow process.

“We have also been trying to raise funds but the majority of this money is to fund a new minibus so I really am thrilled that Space Group has been our saving grace.”

Space Group opened up the competition in Yorkshire after successfully renovating a North-East children’s centre in the style of a TV 60-minute makeover.

Space Group CEO Rob Charlton said: “Working in communities is what our business is all about and we are particularly interested in supporting young people.

“The entire architecture team at the Yorkshire office has spent a lot of time whittling down the shortlist of entrants and we agreed that the sea cadets’ premises were most in need of a facelift.

“By applying our architectural and design skills, together with hands-on help such as painting and decorating, I’m sure we can make a real difference.

“Simple things, such as the clever use of colour and shape, can make a huge difference to how the area is perceived and used. I can’t wait to see the cadets benefitting from their new building.”

WORK UNDERWAY ON TRANSFORMING CARE AT LEEDS TEACHING HOSPITALS

THE transformation of hospital wards has begun as the first stage of a £34 million scheme to centralise children’s hospital services at Leeds General Infirmary and adult acute medicine and older people’s services at St James’s University Hospital.

Leeds architecture firm Space Group and Laing O’Rourke, Britain’s biggest privately owned construction company, has started the build for the Clinical Services Reconfiguration programme at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

The entire programme is due to be completed during 2011. The project team will bring together the existing paediatric services, currently based at both St James’s University Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary (LGI), by refurbishing and renovating areas in the Clarendon and Jubilee wings at LGI to provide much improved facilities for children on a single site. Space freed up at St James’s will allow the centralisation of older people’s wards and acute medicine on that site.


The main changes at LGI include additional specialist facilities for children suffering from cancer, cystic fibrosis and serious liver conditions.

New draft ‘air lock’ lobby areas between each of the single patient rooms for children suffering from cancer have been designed by Space to reduce cross infection. The draft lobby area will be a separate room that nursing staff will have to walk through first before they enter the patients’ room from the outside ward.

“It’s a really challenging and interesting project,” explains Gordon Fawcett, Project Manager for Laing O’Rourke.

“The paediatric accommodation is being constructed within the existing buildings, so the Design Team has had to accommodate clinical and spatial requirements on a confined works site. Plus, the new works are adjacent to many wards and departments which are still operational – a major logistics challenge for the construction team.”

The project team has proposed a range of sustainable measures to reduce the impact of the works that could affect patients and the environment.

Space Group CEO Rob Charlton said: “Reusing existing fabric and materials where feasible reduces the environmental impact and lessens the toll on patients and staff.

“Upon completion, the community will benefit from the feel of both brand new paediatric facilities as well as better facilities for acute medicine and older people; a wonderful example of sustainability where the best elements of the old are preserved and augmented with state-of-the-art materials and design techniques.

“The new site will aid the health and well being of the children and the new environment will make their stay more comfortable and pleasant.”

A SCHOOL WITHOUT BARRIERS

CRAMLINGTON High School in coastal Northumberland was famed for its innovative approach to new learning techniques, long before it gained its shiny new building.

When North East architects _space were asked to translate the ethos of head teacher Derek Wise into a learning environment which matched up to his vision, they set about designing a building where every child could learn at their own pace, and where coming to school would excite and challenge them in their teenage years.

Two thousand students have recently moved in to the Cramlington Junior Learning Village complex which, thanks to pioneering Faraday funding, is also home to a mini Eden Project-style biome.

A specialist science college, Cramlington JLV is a flexible, IT rich environment. It has been designed for children to learn individually or in cluster groups, but without the formal structure of dividing walls and children sitting in rows.

Peer-to-peer learning is encouraged through spaces that flow together, allowing classes to interact in breakout zones and up to 120 children to gather in the science learning plaza. The informality of the environment gives children the chance to go at their own pace, experiment, coach and mentor each other.

The looser, open plan classroom environment also allows for team teaching areas for large groups - all new concepts for the teaching profession.

However, head teacher Derek Wise has long been known as a pioneer and knows only too well the importance the physical environment plays in helping the teachers engage and inspire young people in secondary education.

Classrooms have “docking stations” rather than desks. Children sit in groups of up to four sharing two PCs. They are free to face in whatever direction is best for group or individual learning, as the tables can be unlocked and moved inwards for group sessions, or turned back to the wall for work in smaller groups or alone.

Andrew Grounsell, lead architect on the project and associate director at _space, says: “The success of our building can only be seen when the teachers and pupils begin reacting to their new environment. We are now watching with interest how they interact with the space, how new teaching practices emerge and flourish.

“Every part of the building has been designed with multiple use and flexibility for children and teachers to colonise as they wish. The heart of the building is a colossal street that can hold the whole school, or even be used as a cafe-style eating area.

“We have created a real sense of collaboration and openness, not least by ensuring that every staff room is set between classrooms and has completely glass walls so pupils can see them, and they can always be present for students.

“There is no ‘us and them’ attitude to the school, which helps children embrace learning and be more interactive with their teachers.”

Cramlington JLV is one of the first seven exemplar schools, and only one of 13 that successfully received Faraday funding.

These additional funds were spent on an outstanding biome complex, which will not only teach botany, biology, energy and the environment, but will provide a challenging backdrop for other subjects such as art and design or drama. This will be supported by an extensive landscaping phase next year, creating an external outdoor learning garden.

Head teacher Derek Wise says: “We are thrilled with our genuine 21st Century school. It's everything we wanted and it will allow us to realise our vision.

“The range of learning environments encourages different approaches to learning and teaching. We are yet to really exploit its potential but there is no doubt that it's an exciting place to be.”