Recognisable for its yellow steel umbrella masts, the Spectrum Building in Swindon featured in the 1985 James Bond film ‘A View to a Kill’
Work has started on the Grade II listed Spectrum Building in Swindon, which will see the 260,000 sq ft building fully externally refurbished.
Beard is undertaking the £4.7m project, which will install a new liquid-applied roof coating, refurbish and decorate the external cladding and fire escapes.
Internal works will overhaul the existing mechanical, electrical and fire systems.
The Spectrum Building featured as a Bond villain’s lair
First designed for Renault by Sir Norman Foster, the Spectrum Building was formerly known as the Renault Centre until 2001.
Considered to embody the characteristics of the British ‘High Tech Movement’, the site is perhaps most famous for starring in the Roger Moore 007 film ‘A View to a Kill’ as the base of antagonist Max Zorin, played by Christopher Walken, in 1985.
Precision and preservation are key
Colour-matching the iconic yellow paint for the steel frame presented its own challenges.
Beard and Bagnalls Decorations used an inconspicuous area inside the building to test multiple samples and find the matching modern colour.
Beard is also working closely with Davis Roofing to install the Polyroof liquid system and both Bagnalls Decorations and Just Spray to redecorate the steel frame and silver wall panels, as well as the Spectrum Building’s managers MAPP Building Consultancy.
Bringing modern sustainability to a unique heritage location
Jamie Harwood, Beard’s Swindon director said: “As a proud Swindon firm with roots dating back more than 130 years in the town, we’re immensely proud to be involved in the regeneration of another one of Swindon’s most iconic buildings. While it may not be your traditional listed building, it still presents its own challenges and calls upon our expertise in the heritage sector to ensure the project is completed both sensitively and to the very highest of standards.”
Alex Herrmann, partner at MAPP Building Consultancy added: “MAPP is very proud and excited to be part of the refurbishment of this historic and architecturally important building. The intense scrutiny on sustainability and the changing way occupiers are interacting with the built environment has made refurbishments such as this even more important.
“Beard has an established track record in the region and with similar specialised projects and structures. We are pleased to partner with them on this project to give this iconic building a new lease of life.”
