Police Federation
Background - Three bodies unite
The Police Federation of England & Wales, created by Act of Parliament in 1919, is the staff organisation representing 140,000 police constables, sergeants, inspectors and chief inspectors, charged with ensuring their views on all aspects of policing are communicated to the Government, opinion formers and key stakeholders. The Federation consists of 3 central committees, operating from 3 joined Victorian premises until planning began in 2000 to unite all 30 committee members and 60 members of staff over two floors of a new, purpose-built headquarters in Leatherhead. A large part of the development would accommodate extensive Communications, HR, Printing, ICT and Research departments. Additional conference, leisure and accommodation facilities would support the Federation’s training activities.
The Federation became aware of Kinnarps via a letter in 2005 which caught the attention of then Deputy Treasurer, David Moore. This resulted in an invitation to submit a proposal detailing interior solutions for the high profile new HQ. The building’s architecture was specifically developed to be sustainable and sit comfortably within the surrounding Surrey landscape but also to offer a practical contemporary operating environment. The chosen interior solution would need to mirror this, fitting seamlessly into a streamlined design-led space whilst offering the maximum possible functionality.
Objectives - Flexibility essential
A flexible and adaptable environment accommodating varied departmental and individual employee work preferences, within a consistent and enduring design, was the main objective for the
Federation throughout the project. A strong environmental focus was also evident, in keeping with the excellent credentials of the building - there are 176 solar panels on the roof of the accommodation facilities used to heat the domestic hot water and swimming pool.
With staff relocating from the original premises, the Federation was keen that interior designs and furniture installed should help ease the overall transition to the new environment by being as space efficient, comfortable and adaptable as possible. In addition to this, the Federation hoped to exceed its statutory obligations, especially with regards to DDA, to fully provide for the current and any future potential requirements of its members and guests. The Federation’s long term ambition is to market their new accommodation and leisure facilities to members and their families for use during the week in addition to training. This would make the HQ a 7-day-a-week operation requiring suitably comfortable and hardwearing furniture.
Solution - The perfect fit
Kinnarps products provided the perfect match for the Federation’s requirement for flexibility. During initial user consultation, each department was asked to look at their working methods and list their ideal requirements. Kinnarps’ ability to provide a solution that successfully balanced ‘best value’ principles with durable, contemporary design and ergonomic height-adjustment criteria was a key factor in securing the contract. Equally important were eco-credentials, with Kinnarps’ exemplary sustainability record satisfying the Federation’s expectations, and Kinnarps’ status as an experienced supplier to the OGCbuying.solutions Framework Agreement. Extensive office facilities located on the first floor include a mixture of individual offices for elected officials and staff as well as open plan working environments for some departments. For open plan areas, standing height tables and varied height desktop screens were chosen to improve levels of communication or provide increased privacy, as required. Elected officials, many moving to smaller individual workspaces, were provided with fully adjustable and space-efficient workstations allowing for an individual work area and a small meeting table. 9000 series task chairs were chosen throughout, allowing complete ergonomic adjustability for every employee.
On the ground floor, Kite tables were selected for conference and training areas to enable flexible configuration, allowing anything from a theatrestyle arrangement for 30 delegates to individual tables for breakout work.
A complete solution was also provided for the main Atrium area on the ground floor, including cafe/bar (Apollo chairs and sofas with series[T] coffee tables and Centrum medium chairs in white leather with Obi tables), lounge and restaurant facilities (Yin visitor chair with Remus dining
table) in an open plan ‘community’ style. The Federation was particularly impressed with Kinnarps’ ability to accommodate last minute changes. Additional furniture had been requested at a late stage for the Constables’ Office area and due to the efforts of Account Manager Catherine Lake, who “pulled out all the stops”, delivery was ensured. Kinnarps’ efficient post-installation quality
checks and attention to detail received equal praise. “As the Project Manager for the HQ build, the professionalism, project management and product delivered by Kinnarps have been of the highest standard and we are delighted with the end result achieved.” David Moore, Treasurer, Police Federation.