Interior design company shortlisted for award after collaborative efforts on skills centre

A Hatfield-based interior design firm is celebrating after it was shortlisted for a high-profile industry award.

Hatfield Interiors is in the running for the Integration and Collaborative Working Award in the Constructing Excellence SECBE Awards, after its work on the new Euston Skills Centre in north London.

Managing Director Lawrence Brenchley explained how the company was appointed to design the centre four years ago by the London Borough of Camden.

“Camden had a temporary facility in Kings Cross, and they needed a permanent location,” said Lawrence.

“The site of the new Skills Centre was on the HS2 site, just north of Euston Station. The building is situated on the site of the old Maria Fidelis School, overlooking the new HS2 station. The Euston Skills Centre occupies the lower two storeys of the building, and the upper four floors are designed to accommodate changing and welfare facilities for the workforce during the construction of the station.

“Built by the Mace Dragados joint venture, the project was manufactured by offsite specialist company Premier Modular, with the building’s exterior designed to make it look less like temporary accommodation blocks and blend in better with the local neighbourhood.”

Camden briefed Hatfield Interiors to design new facilities for 120 students and 30 staff to teach carpentry, plumbing and electrical skills to students aged 16 and over.

The new centre would include workshop spaces, machine room, IT classrooms, meeting rooms, student welfare, exam room, locker room, staff social spaces and tutor rooms.

The project involved extensive collaboration with United Colleges Group, Camden’s education partner, as well as Mace Dragados and Premier Modular.

Lawrence said: “We always imagine what we want from a project although many times it can become adversarial and contractual, so it was refreshing and enjoyable to get real and productive collaboration and coordination towards a common goal.”

The Skills Centre was opened in February by HS2 Minister Huw Merriman, Camden Council Leader Georgia Gould, United Colleges Group Principal Stephen Davis and Jules Pipe, Deputy Mayor of London.