HOMEOWNERS FRIENDLY SOCIETY,
Harrogate

Project Overview

Project: Selected competition winning design for a bespoke head office
Client: Homeowners Friendly Society
Size: 45,000 sq ft
Status: Completed

Working closely with contractors, Shepherd Construction, we created a 2-storey 30,000 sq ft HQ for this national financial investment company.

A key challenge was to design a modern, state-of-the-art structure that would be accepted in the guarded natural setting of the Crimple Valley on the southern outskirts of the historic spa town of Harrogate.

The commission, secured through winning a design competition which pitted us against several other architectural practices, delivered a building that reflects the solidarity of a financial institution, while remaining utterly sympathetic to its surroundings.

Furthermore, it was the first building in the UK to utilise a combination of passive ventilation with a mechanical ‘chilled beam ceiling’, a technology imported from Scandinavia.

Disability Action Yorkshire have a long relationship with SSA-Architects which began with the design of our residential home for younger adults with physical disabilities when they impressed us with their commitment to ensuring that the design aided full accessibility and independence. They have remained firm supporters of and amongst other events run an annual bike ride raising much needed funds to support our work. They show a genuine interest in our work and in the ongoing needs and aspirations of disabled people. We consider SSA-Architects to be true and valued friends of the charity.

Jackie Snape, Chief Executive - Disability Action Yorkshire