The newly completed Civic Offices for Runnymede Borough Council, sited in the heart of Addlestone and adjacent to the existing Civic Offices building, is more than just an office: it incorporates significant public functions that present complex issues of permeability, security and accountability. This is the first in a new generation of joint civic offices within the UK, meeting Government aspirations to combine a range of services under one roof, in this instance the local council, the police and the library.

The 65,000 square feet of area provides accommodation for some 250 employees at Runnymede Borough Council along with accommodation for Surrey Police, Safer Runnymede and a new public library for Surrey County Council. This is a unique public building that presents a backdrop for working and communicates the changing culture of local democracy. The building communicates communal identity and civic pride, both for the citizens of Addlestone and the staff of RBC.

The new building is a highly sustainable workplace where we sought to find the balance between a strong civic presence and a welcoming user-friendly environment. The Civic Offices are a further catalyst for the regeneration of Addlestone town centre which began with the completion of the FCBS-designed Addlestone Community Centre, completed in August 2005.

Client: Runnymede Borough Council

Construction value: £12,700,000

Completion: March 2008

"It is a very strong example of a positive contribution to the civic realm, providing an identity for the council and a strong focal point for the community."
Civic Trust Awards 2009 Judges comments