The Willis Towers Watson building in Ipswich

-
This landmark building was designed by Lord Norman Foster, the same world-renowned architect behind the UK headquarters of Willis Towers Watson, a 28 storey skyscraper situated at 51 Lime Street, London. In 1991 it building became the first modern design to receive Grade 1 listing. 
Willis Towers Watson is a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company that helps clients around the world turn risk into a path for growth. With roots dating to 1828, Willis Towers Watson has 45,000 employees in more than 140 countries.
Friar Street, Ipswich is one of the Group`s largest and most established location with over 1,400 employees. 


The Friar Street building in all its glory. The building is divided into three floors, each approximately 67,000 square feet with a rooftop restaurant and coffee shop.


If you want some good reflection images then this is the building. 


More reflections

The glass wall contains 890 panels plus a further 190 around the rooftop restaurant. Each pane of glass is approximately 3m by 2m and none of the glass panes open as the building is air conditioned throughout.


A bright colour scheme of yellow and green is used because of the depth of the space and is reflected in the aluminium ceiling strips which, if put end to end, would reach nearly 100 miles. To encourage teamwork and transparency, the entire building is open plan. There are various partially enclosed work stations dotted about for those who need some time on their own to work, but mainly you can work anywhere you want, just unplug your laptop and plug in at another station! There is a display showing workstation vacant so you move when the mood takes you.


You can see the three floors from this point as you stand facing the escalators.


The rooftop is lawned to provide insulation and a change from the working environment. I found it a bit strange initially to walk about on a lawn, surrounded by hedges, and look down over the rooftops of Ipswich.!


I visited the Willis Building on the Heritage weekend when numerous interesting buildings were open to the public. Ones that you normally have no access to. 

Location: Willis Building, 15 Friars St, Ipswich IP1 1TD

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The lost Pubs, Inns and Taverns of Hadleigh

-
Image
Having been photographing some of the many Listed buildings in Hadleigh, I was surprised at the number of inns, taverns, pubs etc which have been in the town over the years. Then I came across a site called `The Lost Pubs of Hadleigh` and was taken by the idea of photographing all that I could find; bearing in mind that some have been demolished and some are noted, but there is no certainty as to where they actually were situated. There are 21 in total that are listed here, but I understand that there are others of more uncertain nature which may have been inns or pubs. However, here is my effort, starting with what to me was a big surprise! - the ex Council Offices. The Anchor - Bridge Street This pub / beer house managed to go through a few names in its time:  Between 1661 & 1835 it was called the Standard** Between 1837 & 1871 it was called the Barley Mow** Between 1871 & 1927 it was called the Anchor** One landlady was named as Elisabeth Scrivener, and is recorded at th
Read more

The hidden history of Little Wenham

-
Image
Little Wenham is a small village in Suffolk, England. It is part of the civil parish of Wenham Parva (the ancient name for Little Wenham) within Babergh district. A village with no public roads but fortunately some rights of way. Its most famous building, Little Wenham Hall, is largely hidden from view. To quote Sir Nikolaus Pevsner from his “The Buildings of England” series, “The house was built c.1270 - 80, probably for Sir John de Vallibus and his successor Petronilla of Nerford. It is of great historical importance for two reasons. The first is that it is built of brick, and represents one of the earliest uses of home-made brick in England. Flint is used only for the base of the walls and stone for the much rebuilt buttresses and dressings. The second point of outstanding interest is that the house is a house and not a keep. It is fortified of course, but it is in its shape and appointment on the way from the fortress to the manor house and so ranks with Stokesay and Acton Bu
Read more

Loch Spelve and otters

-
Image
Located in the south-eastern ‘corner’ of Mull, Loch Spelve is a large tidal body of water bounded by an unclassified single track road which branches off at its western end with one track running back along the southern shores of the loch to Croggan and the main track running west to Loch Buie. Being just south of where we were staying, it looked a great place to explore. Definitely an `unclassified single track road`!  We had read of the otters being seen here. On arriving to park, we were cruising along the Loch side when we spotted a woman, loaded with camera gear coming toward us. On speaking to her, it transpired that she and her husband (both keen photographers), were in the area photographing otters. Soon afterwards she caught our attention and we followed her along the loch as an otter went about his business on the loch side. Magic!  Another view of the lock and an interesting tree by the side  Curlew on Loch Spelve shore O
Read more