Unity Place

Unity Place is Santander UK’s new workplace in the heart of one of the UK`s fastest growing towns, Milton Keynes. Designed to nurture collaboration, wellbeing and community, this landmark new campus will incorporate a range of public amenities. ‘Built to suit’ by Osborne+Co for Santander and designed by LOM architecture and design, the campus will bring together Santander employees who are currently spread across four office locations. It will provide an enhanced working environment for staff, while also helping to attract the next generation of talent who will drive the banking sector in the future. The scheme will be a key local hub for Santander UK and the local community. It includes coworking space for small business and start-ups. The public will be encouraged to use its facilities including an ‘urban market’, retail outlets, health facilities including gym, yoga and consultation spaces, community hall and auditorium. There is also a rooftop running track and café/restaurant with terrace. The eight-storey structure comprises four blocks connected by three atria and includes two basement levels providing plant space and parking. It is designed to be easily adaptable so that it is sustainable in the long term. For example, the coworking area can expand or contract to accommodate changes in Santander’s space demands and the building can be subdivided for separate tenancies. Designed to achieve a WELL ‘Gold’ certification, its vibrant workspaces will promote health and wellbeing. The building will support over 6000 people working in an agile working format. Spaces are planned as ‘neighbourhoods’ of around 100-125 people who share common facilities to give them a sense of belonging and opportunities to collaborate. Integrated technology and a campus app will allow staff to work seamlessly across multiple devices and workspaces. Placemaking and ensuring that the community feels welcome is a key requirement. As such, the building will have active glazed frontages looking out to newly landscaped public space. A lively internal street will draw people through the building to the urban market offering a range of food and beverages supplied by local businesses. The interiors will have a ‘coding’ theme that is inspired the nearby Bletchley Park – home to the famous World War Two Codebreakers, including the computing pioneer Alan Turing. The building is designed to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and will exceed Building Regulation requirements by reducing CO2 emissions by a further 20 per cent. It includes photovoltaics on the roof and uses brise soleil on its façade to help maximise natural daylight, while reducing solar heat gain. The project is being delivered by developer Osborne+Co, architects LOM architecture and design, main contractor John Sisk & Son, engineers WSP, planning consultants Deloitte and project and cost managers Turner & Townsend. Unity Place is currently under construction and due to complete in 2022.