Princess Yachts HQ

Jenkins and Potter were appointed to design this detached two storey office block in a harbour side location near Plymouth as part of an ongoing programme of projects for Princess Yachts International (formerly Marine Projects). The office block was constructed on a confined site between a busy highway and the unstable sea wall to Stonehouse creek. A piled foundation was adopted as the site was on reclaimed land. Work started after an extensive archaeological investigation which took place as the site is in a particularly historic area of Stonehouse.

The piled foundations supported a suspended ground floor slab. This was detailed carefully to span over the ancient leat which ran from Union Street below the site into the creek. The first floor is of composite construction supported on a steel frame. The use of a steel frame allowed the elevations to have extensive glazing whilst maintaining flexibility in the use of the office accommodation. Externally the steelwork is exposed on many elevations and reflects the way the structural solution works.