401 Grafton Gate Milton Keynes, 2000

During their time with careyjones architects Simon and Jonathan worked with Scottish Mutual Assurance on the design of new offices on a vacant site opposite to the then parent company Abbey National on Grafton Gate.

At the time Commission for New Towns (CNT) was starting to relax its design guidance and whilst the requirement for public colonnades and Porte-cocheres to road crossing points was still required, proposals concerning building height and entrance location were up for negotiation.

As this was the first of the next release of sites by CNT the decision was taken to pursue a high quality modern building that would hopefully influence the way in which neighbouring sites were developed thereby safeguarding long term investment.

The site is situated on the corner of Midsummer Boulevard and Grafton Gate and is very visible from the inner ring road and also from the railway station. The office accommodation was planned in an 'L' shape configuration respecting frontage to these two important streets and a well defined entrance was located at the external corner.

The floorplates were designed with a 15m wide clear span structure, a fundamental factor that influenced the initial tenant to take space in the building given the ease at which different space planning options could be arranged. The accommodation provided by the building equates to approximately 60,000 sq ft of net office floor area over four floors.

Careful attention was paid to the night scene illumination and as such the entrance atrium that presents itself to Grafton Gate is used regularly by visitors when orientating themselves at the Railway Station or otherwise whilst navigating the network of roads. The building has also featured heavily in marketing material prepared by the Local Authority to promote Milton Keynes as a business location and was also shortlisted by the BCO in 2001.