Bryden Wood has completed work on a building in Northampton for global automotive engineering company Mahle, which comprises both their flagship UK office and a brand new testing facility. The building signals the area’s emerging automotive capability.
The facility is able to simulate the pressure and climatic conditions experienced at 5000m of altitude, and temperatures ranging from -40°C to +60°C. Previous facilities have tested temperature variation, but this is the first in the UK to test altitude. The space includes two testing chambers, control room, analyser room and plant space.
The front of the building features a high-tech reception, breakout space and meeting rooms. All interiors have a refined industrial aesthetic, in keeping with the building’s purpose and company identity. The main facade is alucobond cladding which reflects back the industrial location. Fins on the facade conceal vents and pipework to give a minimal, high-tech finish. The facility has a gross internal area of over 1300 m2 and will begin automotive testing in December 2018.
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