McLaren Production Centre / Foster + Partners

Nov 2011

Uploaded by Megan Jett — Filed under: Industrial Architecture ,Selected , Foster + Partners, Surrey, Woking

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Architects: Foster + Partners
Location: Woking, Surrey
Project Team: Norman Foster, David Nelson, Nigel Dancey, Iwan Jones, Dominik Hauser, Nina Linde, Chris Johnstone, Kathleen Mark, Nicholas Papas
Client: McLaren Group
Project Year: 2011
Project Area: 34,500 sqm
Photographs: McLaren, Nigel Young

The McLaren Production Centre, the second building designed by Foster + Partners at McLaren’s Woking site, has been officially unveiled by Prime Minister David Cameron today. The 34,500 sqm facility will house the assembly of all future McLaren Automotive road cars, including the recently- launched MP4-12C high-performance sports car. It has already led to the creation of a large number of skilled manufacturing jobs.

The state-of-the-art McLaren Production Centre is located to the south-west of the existing McLaren Technology Centre. The two buildings are connected by a subterranean walkway and share a common language of details and materials. The entrance, echoing the existing building, is a circular glass drum beneath the overhang of the roof canopy.

Section

As a manufacturing facility, the building is inherently flexible, with a wide span between columns and fully integrated services. The linear arrangement of the two-story structure mirrors the flow of the production line: components are delivered; the cars are assembled, painted and tested, and then pass through a rolling road and car wash, before leaving the building. Beneath this floor there is a full basement level for storage and plant, and above is a mezzanine floor with views over the production line. Every stage of production takes place under the same roof. Initially it will take 10 days for an MP4-12C to be assembled; at peak production it will be possible to build one in five days, with a new car joining the line every 45 minutes.

Although the McLaren Production Centre represents a major increase in McLaren’s capabilities at its Woking campus, the building is dug into in the gentle incline of the site, to give it a discreet presence in the landscape. The lower floor is sunk completely below ground and the superstructure is almost invisible from the nearby road, with further screening provided by extensive tree planting.

The new McLaren Production Centre is designed to be environmentally efficient. The roof collects rainwater and has been designed to integrate photovoltaic panels in future; and the building incorporates a low-energy system of displacement ventilation. No soil was removed from the site, and all excavated material has been used to conceal the building within the green-belt landscape.

Elevation

Text provided by Foster + Partners

* Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.

Cite:
Jett , Megan . "McLaren Production Centre / Foster + Partners" 17 Nov 2011. ArchDaily. Accessed 24 May 2012. <http://www.archdaily.com/185257>

Comments (3)
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John-David Carling says:

has been designed to integrate photovoltaic panels in future…..

# November 18, 2011 at 07:36

-2

mike says:

it’s a warehouse, nothing to comment on.

# November 30, 2011 at 18:53

JUK says:

Have you even had a proper look at this warehouse?
Houw all the building services are concealed within the columns? How tidy it is?
How such an industrial building is giving so much to its surroundings? The landscape concept behind it?
It is insulting to call it a warehouse…

# December 16, 2011 at 19:55

9:16 PM Nov 17th

Jonathan Kirk

Beauty in the fast lane. http://t.co/wuLybXV2 via @archdaily

9:47 PM Nov 17th

oscar gonzalez

#arquitectura “@ArchDaily: McLaren Production Centre / Foster + Partners http://t.co/w2j9UZ5q #architecture”

10:01 PM Nov 17th

Design Observer

Didn't even have this on the radar! http://t.co/fOzUyYXQ #architecture and I am at F1 fanatic (and an architect…!)

11:54 PM Nov 17th

Marine Rouit