Ship Shaped Office Accomodates Less Able Employees

The Wallich is a vital charity providing support to homeless and vulnerable housed people. It works together with clients, other agencies and government to deliver innovative solutions to homelessness that offer much more than just shelter. 2008 marks the charity's 30th anniversary, and since 1978 they have grown from a single hostel in Cardiff, to a multi-project agency with services for homeless people across Wales.

The Wallich now supports over 500 people a day, employs some 183 people and operates more than 30 projects across 13 Local Authorities. As a result of this expansion, it has been necessary to upgrade the charity's headquarters to a larger and more user-friendly base. In June last year, The Wallich's administration centre made the move from small, shabby offices above a caf, to Yr Hen Eglwys, an elegant and imposing former Presbyterian church on Cardiff's prestigious Cathedral Road.

The building was empty, only the exterior shell remained. This meant constructing new internal office facilities. The church is over 100 years old and a listed building. Laws protect these sites and their historical significance, which means any alterations or changes must not damage the original building. As a workplace, the church must also comply with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

Introduced in 1995, the DDA gives rights to the less able in the areas of education, access to goods, facilities and services, buying or renting land or property, and employment. It aims to end discrimination and states employers must make 'reasonable adjustments' to make their premises accessible. This could mean putting in a ramp or lift to replace steps, or improving access to toilet and washing facilities. Extended in 2004 and 2005, the DDA is a vital consideration in the planning and construction of workplaces.

Latter Davies; a Cardiff based Architect's Practice; designed a three-storey structure of offices within the existing building, with the ground floor serving as a training centre and with a fourth storey plant room. The structure is freestanding and being independent of existing walls and of the vaulted ceiling, it does not damage the original building and the church's original interior space is still discernible, thus preserving its historical value.

The new mezzanine structure is curved in plan and in cross-section; the balustrade is curved and finished in timber board. This gives it a nautical appearance - some have compared the parapet to a model ship in a bottle. The structure maintains the church's sense of scale and space, while providing three times the floor area.

A platform lift allows wheelchair users to access each of the three floors. It stands within a beech timber clad, purpose-built frame, which also acts as a structural brace. Gwyn Davies, Managing Partner of Latter Davies and the project architect said:

"Workplaces must be accessible to the less able. Listed Buildings place additional demands on achieving this owing to the laws that protect them. The access solution should enable all users to access the building independently whilst preserving the building's original features. The installation of a freestanding office structure resolves these demands.

The platform lift satisfied the requirement for access to upper floors efficiently and cost effectively. Due to its compact mechanism and weight, it could be successfully integrated within the confines of the existing building with minimum disturbance to the historical fabric. With its clean, modern styling and detailing it fits in equally well with the new modern structure and with the original historic structure. It looks good in its surroundings."

At Yr Hen Eglwys, the three-stop lift travels nearly six metres and features power operated doors for easy access. It fits in a tight space, yet the platform is big enough to accommodate a wheelchair user plus one carer. A white finish and stainless steel fittings give the lift a modern, contemporary appearance and allow it to blend smartly with the surroundings.

Gareth Corbin, Development Team Leader at The Wallich, is delighted; "Our new offices provide us with a comfortable workplace and space for training exercises. Previously, we had to hire other venues for this purpose, which was tremendously expensive. The platform lift allows less able staff members to access the building, and means we comply with the DDA. It performs reliably and we have had positive feedback from users."

The unit lifts 400kg up to nine metres and requires no wall or supporting structure. It is simple to operate and has LANTAC (Local Authority National Type Approval Confederation) approval. This means it has undergone rigours safety checks and is compliant with UK building regulations. Controlled acceleration and deceleration eliminate uncomfortable jolting. With the platform lift in operation, The Wallich's new headquarters benefits from an excellent level of access.