Unity Place

LOM is collaborating with Santander UK and global developer Osborne+Co to design Unity Place, a landmark new workplace in the business district of Central Milton Keynes. The campus will be a centre for digital banking innovation that nurtures collaboration and staff wellbeing. It will also enhance the area with a range of public amenities.

The building will bring together Santander’s employees, who are currently spread across four offices, providing them with an enhanced working environment that will help to attract and retain the best talent in the area.

The eight-storey building will provide 5,000 workstations arranged across four blocks. These are connected by three atria to allow natural light into the building and provide views out. Parking for cars and bicycles is located at ground floor level and in its two basement levels. The site will also be re-landscaped with additional trees and improved lighting.

Unity Place is designed to be a key local hub for Santander’s UK business and the community. The scheme includes coworking space for small business and start-ups. Local businesses and the public will be encouraged to use the ground floor facilities including an ‘urban market’, retail outlets, health facilities including; gym, yoga and consultation spaces, a community hall and an auditorium. There is also a rooftop running track and café/restaurant complete with terrace.

Sustainability and staff wellbeing are core objectives for the project. The building is on target to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating for its environmental performance and is being thoughtfully designed to support the health and wellbeing of its occupants.

LOM is currently developing a ‘coding’ theme for the interiors that is inspired by the nearby Bletchley Park – home to the famous World War Two Codebreakers, including the computing pioneer Alan Turing.

Unity Place is anticipated to complete in 2022.