Former Central Electricity Generating Board HQ (The Pavilions)

Former Central Electricity Generating Board Regional Headquarters, now known as The Pavilions

This former regional headquarters of the Central Electricity Generating Board was designed by Arup Associates between 1975 and 1978. Now in use as offices, the building comprises seven linked pavilions with a reinforced concrete frame, timber roof trusses, concrete masonry block walling, and hardwood framed windows. The low-profile roofscape is covered in slate with deep projecting eaves that rise into pyramidal shaped roof lanterns.

The building is oriented south-east to north-west with a deep plan organised on a 'tartan grid' to integrate services. Seven square shaped pavilions are linked together, each with central courtyards. The accommodation is arranged horizontally, with the former 'industrial' areas—including workshops, heavy laboratories, a rig hall, and storage and plant-rooms—located below ground level, cut into the hillside and now mostly out of use. Above these are the 'populated' areas containing offices and communal facilities. Circulation runs through a central 'street' acting as a spine through the building, with lifts and stairwells surrounding the central pavilion providing access to different levels. The dining area with roof terrace projects to the rear north-west from the hillside.

The building has two storeys with a partial basement. The low-profile roofscape and full height perimeter glazing with clerestory glazing to the taller central pavilions dominate the main elevations. A broad flight of steps leads to the main south-east entrance, flanked by projecting pavilions on either side. The entrance has recently been brought forward by glazing in the former space beneath the overhanging eaves. At the rear, the fully glazed indoor swimming pool is flanked by the dining room at lower ground floor level. The north-east elevation contains a concealed basement-level loading bay opening onto an enclosed service yard with ancillary buildings.

The entrance and reception area has recently been refurbished and enlarged. The open plan offices are grouped around a central atrium lit from above by a pyramidal shaped skylight. At each floor level, the atrium is surrounded by double concrete walls serving as plant boxes, some now covered or re-clad following recent office refurbishments. Circulation areas in the surrounding offices have flat ceilings, formerly clad with egg-crate panels, which in the open plan office areas rise into exposed heavy timber roof trusses. Each atrium has a clerestory with incoming natural light screened by a bespoke fixed system of tall vertically hanging timber panels; this system formerly also screened the skylight. The lower ground floor offices to the rear feature a system of shallow ramps and steps dividing and organising the spaces, achieved through fixed concrete stone plant boxes, some of which survive though no longer in use. The square courtyards contain decorative planting schemes overlooked by ground floor offices. The social areas to the rear, incorporating the dining room, bar area, and swimming pool, survive remarkably intact though now out of use, retaining egg-crate ceilings, ramps, steps, fixed concrete plant boxes, and tiling throughout. Extensive views of the surrounding landscape are available from various points within the building, including views of Brunel's Suspension Bridge. The former industrial areas at lower level were not accessible during survey.

A number of contemporary ancillary buildings and structures form part of the overall scheme, constructed to match the main building's materials. These include the double perimeter wall functioning as screen and plant box, steps, terraces, raised plant beds, garden walls extending north of the building over the underground staff restaurant, a small security guard's lodge with a pyramidal slate roof to the north-east, and a flat-roofed ancillary service structure to the south-east in the car park.