The merger of Novartis and AstraZeneca’s agribusinesses to form Syngenta, combined with the division of the Grangemouth site, meant there was a shortfall in office and laboratory accommodation. A new headquarters building was therefore required for Syngenta at Grangemouth.
Portakabin was chosen to provide a new, purpose-designed office scheme, which would reflect Syngenta’s strong corporate image. The new £1.5m site headquarters was completed using the Portakabin Design and Build solution just five months after the start of work on site.
Allan McKenzie, Project Manager at Syngenta, says: “As health and safety is a prime concern for our business, the fact that the Portakabin Design and Build solution allows closer monitoring of construction activities off-site is important. This reduces the impact on our existing operations and production activities, resulting in a considerable improvement in site safety.”
The new building has a light grey external finish with contrasting charcoal glazing and tinted glass, in keeping with Syngenta’s hi-tech image and reputation for innovation. The interior is modern and spacious, with full-height glazing on both the front and rear elevations to add interest while allowing a large amount of natural light to enter the building. The reception area is designed to be welcoming for visitors, featuring a natural slate floor and a curved reception desk, which is reflected in the ceiling above it.
Our experience with the Portakabin Design and Build solution at other sites has shown that modular construction can achieve significant savings in programme time. This means that new facilities can be brought into beneficial use much earlier, which is a key advantage in a fast-changing industry.
Knowing you will meet your targets is a great starting point for any building project
