Walker Logistics Dakota Building

Walker Logistics is a family-owned UK and European outsourced Logistics provider based in Berkshire. Due to the growth of existing and new clients they are looking to expand their portfolio within the Membury area to provide a new 135,000sf warehouse building with ancillary offices and aircraft museum, together with associated access, servicing, parking and landscaping.

Taking into account the applicant’s specific spatial requirements and the physical restrictions on site, the building is situated and scaled accordingly. The brief introduced some unique considerations, such as the need to provide adequate space for access and manoeuvring of the Dakota aircraft to be occasionally housed in the museum.

Other aspects of the brief inherently evolved during the design process, such as the elevational treatment of the wrap-around offices situated to the south of the building. To allow flexibility of partitioning it is proposed that this elevation comprises sections of ribbon windows setting a regular rhythm to the façade at ground and first floors. These windows would also be provided with external solar shading in the form of projecting brise soleil in order to reduce solar gain. Emphasis is provided to the main entrance of the facility by use of a fully glazed element at the southwest corner. This glazing will be ‘framed’ by an overhanging feature that turns the corner, sheltering the main pedestrian entrance by means of a projecting canopy. A language that is reflected on the museum entrance to the north.

CGI’s by Hollis Global