In collaboration with Nike and GLP, we are working on a new state-of-the-art 1.3 million sqft UK logistics campus and national supply chain hub at GLP’s Magna Park Corby. The scheme, which is Nike’s first of this type and scale in the UK, will become the heart of its UK supply operations.

The new facility is designed with wellness at its heart, underpinned within the architectural design, and by additional external features including multi-use game areas, and recreation spaces set within an extensive natural landscape.

The campus will target a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating and achieve Net Zero Carbon in Construction.

Site-Responsive Design

The design of the scheme’s architecture responds to the characteristics of the site and its environs, with design devices employed to mitigate the massing of the warehouse building.

Different horizontal layers - broken up with vertical joints and expressed mullions - represent various functional zones within the building and reduce its perceived height. Façade treatments include glazed areas, subtly reflective silver-steel cladding components with different profiles, and a feature fin breaking the vertical plane, to reflect the surrounding landscape while ‘absorbing’ both light and weather conditions to diffuse the building into its surroundings.  

An energy efficient envelope that exceeds standard air tightness and current Building Regulation requirements, and brise soleils on the office and warehouse to reduce solar gain, will contribute to outstanding environmental performance.

Designed For Wellbeing

With the acknowledged biophilic benefits of timber to occupant wellbeing, the offices will be constructed with a Glulam timber frame and timber (CLT) floors, with the flexible floorplates set around a central atrium to bring light deep into the interior, and create a source of visual connection and vertical circulation.

Extensive glazing connects interior spaces with the natural landscape scheme, with office levels spilling out onto stepped outdoor terraces to create additional workplace and health and wellbeing settings.

Natural Amenity Spaces

Sensitively designed in keeping with the local area, the external landscape creates a series of natural amenity spaces for staff recreation and wellbeing. The office building is surrounded by five distinct landscape zones that perform different functions.

‘The Square’ will form the entrance plaza for all staff and visitors; ‘The Garden’ is an extension of the lobby, with seating walls and biodiverse feature planting to create points of interest. The campus, with panoramic views over the protected Cowthick Plantation, which protects habitats and ensures a continuous green corridor for wildlife, creates an accessible, flexible area to spectate sports activities on ‘The Pitch’ below - a multi-purpose sports pitch and games area.

‘The Forest’ is an extension of the protected plantation, creating a meandering walkway beneath the dense canopy and through the wider site in a continuous green corridor. Forest floor planting surrounds flexible outdoor rooms which can be used for large events, and yoga or calisthenics.

The campus will benefit Nike and all users of Magna Park with an exercise route of 5.76 km, a 2.0 km nature trail, and 3.7km of other footpaths that will provide access to the protected woodlands, with designated cycle and walking routes that will be key to attracting and retaining talent.

Laurie Chetwoods, Chairman, Chetwoods commented: “Chetwoods is proud to be working with world-leading brand Nike, and our valued longstanding client GLP, on Nike’s very first project of this type and scale in the UK. The scheme, which will employ almost 1,200 workers per shift, will focus on combining work and play.”

Bruce Topley, UK Managing Director at GLP commented: “We are delighted to be welcoming Nike to Magna Park Corby. This new site will help boost skills and generate high-quality jobs. The industry-leading, bespoke building will minimise carbon footprint and embed health and wellbeing. This investment is a great vote of confidence in the East Midlands and will help propel much-needed long-term growth across the region.”

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