CEF IT Headquarters
Desco were appointed to provide the mechanical and electrical design services on the new £10m headquarters for award winning electrical giants, CEF. The team reached capacity at their Meadowfield offices and announced a multi-million-pound investment in a new hi-tech, environmentally friendly office built on newly acquired land opposite their existing offices.
The firm, established in 1951, employs nearly 7,000 people with 390 branches across the UK and is one of the UK’s leading electrical wholesalers. CEF has had a long-standing commitment to technology, unique in its industry. This has seen it develop an impressive internal IT team developing their own software and web services.
The 10-acre site was acquired by CEF in 2016 and planning permission was granted for the impressive £10m+ build. The design brief was to develop a technologically cutting-edge building, which would not only provide some of the best work space in the North East but also reflected the company’s industry and heritage.
The new two storey headquarters development is home to the company’s IT, data and marketing employees, enabling them all to be under one roof. The headquarters building comprises a main entrance including staff accommodation, data centre, meeting rooms, staff kitchen/café and plant accommodation. The second floor consists of staff accommodation, a gym and plant accommodation.
Awards:
RIBA 2019: Specially Recognised North East Building of the Year
RIBA 2019: North East Client of the Year
RICS 2019: Design Through Innovation, Highly Commended
BCO 2019: Corporate Workplace category winner
BCO2019: Innovation category winner
Electrical Industry Awards 2018: Lighting Project of the Year