The Earley Buildings

Earley East and Earley West (previously known as TVP1 and TVP2) were originally built during the 1980s. Earley East had been home to Fujitsu since 1996 and having been left vacant in recent years, required a complete refurbishment. The Earley East building was in a tired condition and had a dysfunctional layout; entrances, common areas and amenity reconstruction were imperative to our approach.

The final product needed to maximise floor area and create functional outside space, also in keeping with the Spear Street Capital brand identity. Additionally, the workplace needed to be both practical and flexible to ensure it was suitable for single and multi-let tenants.

Working in collaboration with professional team; DTRE, CBRE, Project Managers and Quantity Surveyors – Paragon Building Consultancy, Mechanical and Electrical Services Consultants – PinnacleESP, Brand Agency – Mammal, and Sustainability Consultants – Alphacello, our brief was to establish a first-class standard for workplace design in the Thames Valley, providing a renewed offering to the existing 85,000 sq ft of commercial space

Spear Street Capital wanted to accentuate the relationship between the inside space and outside environment, connecting each building with shared amenities to create a sense of community within the development and the wider business park, recognising the potential to deliver something unique and add real value to the site.

The modern campus-style development has been designed with its tenants as a priority. Sitting within over 80 acres of beautifully landscaped reserve, Thames Valley Park is a destination in its own right, but now, with the renewed vision introduced by Spear Street Capital and innovative design by the Area team, the entire environment has been transformed to facilitate movement, interaction and stimulation.

The key deliverables for this project included a complete strip-out, back to the building’s original shell before demolition and refurbishment works of all three floors could take place. The large car park was also significantly upgraded and major landscaping works were undertaken, including the full design and construction of an exterior café.

A major centre piece for this project is the two-storey reception in Earley East which incorporates a dynamic mezzanine lounge. This space reflects the bold and contemporary aspirations Spear Street Capital were striving to accomplish. Designed with the user in mind, the Area team have reimagined the workplace as a multi-functional hub including a warm welcome space and flexible working environment, with a variety of facilities and spaces for tenants to enjoy.

Across both buildings, Spear Street Capital set high sustainability targets. Our team of sustainability experts worked closely with our suppliers to drive the project towards reaching a net carbon zero status by grouping deliveries, eliminating single use plastic and even going so far to make sure only Fairtrade beverages were available on site. The Earley Buildings has achieved an energy performance (EPC) B rating, a Gold Ska grading and a ‘very good building’ BREEAM status.

Driven by the objective to create a thriving working environment, promoting connection, engagement and productivity, there is a strong emphasis on wellbeing. Providing an exceptional user experience was an important element of the original brief, therefore secure cycle storage and maintenance facilities have been installed, as well as a boutique wellness suite and electric car (EV) charging points.

As a testament to the very best in biodiversity, wellbeing and energy efficiency, The Earley Buildings project took home the Sustainable Development Project Award at The Business Magazine Thames Valley Property Awards 2020.