Former IBM distribution centre

A major late twentieth-century industrial building designed as two interconnected blocks arranged around an internal courtyard on a sloping site. The Installation Support Centre (ISC) stands to the north, with the larger United Kingdom Distribution Centre (UKDC) to the south. The two blocks face inwards towards Green Park Way, spanned by a linking block on pilotis with a pedestrian underbridge suspended beneath. The overall plan recalls Walter Gropius' 1925-26 Bauhaus building in Dessau, Germany. The ISC was expanded eastwards by an additional four bays in 1989.

The ground falls gently from north to south. The UKDC consequently has three low storeys whilst the ISC has two tall ones. Both buildings are organised internally into a series of east-west zones. The ISC contains three zones: open-plan offices and reception area to the south; originally a double-height computer hall to the north, floored over in 1989 to create more offices; and a narrow service core between containing stairs and services. The UKDC is five zones deep. Zone 1 to the north houses truck loading bays and small parts stores, with reception area and storage on the first floor, and offices and cafeteria above. Zone 2 is a narrow service core. Zone 3 contains workshops and storage support facilities. Zones 4 and 5 are full-height warehouses. The link block originally contained an on-site bank and travel agency.

The building's external envelope divides into transparent and opaque sections. Transparent sections consist of large glass panels (approximately 4 metres by 2.5 metres) flush-set in neoprene gaskets. Opaque sections use horizontally-ribbed aluminium sheeting with specially-made moulded fibreglass corner pieces. The ISC's outer skin is applied over an 8100 millimetre by 9000 millimetre steel grid, with dramatic cross-bracing in corner bays and a space-frame roof above. Grid and roof structure continue across the bridge and through the front half of the UKDC, though the lower two levels here are concrete-framed with steel used only on the upper floor. The two rear warehouse bays, divided from the rest by a fireproof concrete wall, are steel-framed on a larger 8100 millimetre by 27 metre grid.

The low, shed-like forms announce the industrial character of the site, while the external envelope's futuristic sleekness hints at state-of-the-art technology housed within. An even roofline is maintained across both blocks and linking bridge, with services concealed on the flat roof. The ISC is fully glazed to front and rear. The UKDC is glazed to the front (north) and at either end of zone 3. Steel and concrete structural grid components are painted bright green and clearly visible through glazing, dissolving distinctions between structure and cladding, inside and outside. Circulation components—stairs, doors, balustrades, and the pedestrian underbridge—are also visible from outside and painted vivid blue.

Truck bays have been added to the eastern end of the UKDC, and various later service structures surround the building's perimeter; these are not of special interest.

Interior spaces in the ISC have been designed for flexibility and much reconfigured, with the computer hall floored over. The UKDC has seen less internal alteration apart from remodelled cafeteria and office areas on the top floor. The small parts store (zone 1) and storage support area (zone 3) are columned halls of single and double height respectively, both spanned by coffered concrete ceiling slabs. The support area features a dramatic central light-well set beneath a glazed roof in the workshop above. Goods lifts, conveyor belts and service ducts running through this section are painted the same blue as circulation areas. The warehouses (zones 4 and 5) are huge windowless triple-height spaces, artificially illuminated by fittings suspended from the roof grid.