The Mercedes Formula 1 team has unveiled plans to upgrade its Brackley factory as it undertakes a £70 million redevelopment project to create a “state-of-the-art, sustainable F1 campus”.
The finished product will see it resemble a Silicon Valley-style environment, according to team boss Toto Wolff.
New features of the campus facility will be the creation of a health and wellbeing centre and a building dedicated to its marketing department.
Mercedes says that planning the project has been a “complex juggling act” as existing departments have been forced to relocate to enable works to progress.
Its current stage of development involves the purchase of adjoining land parcels, which includes a former railway cutting to enable the expansion of the site.
While Mercedes acknowledges that the land has been used occasionally by neighbours, it asserts that the “project overall will represent a significant net gain for the local area.”
Wolff explained that its decision to expand the site was due to the growing number of personnel working for the squad.
“Our campus was originally built to accommodate 350 people,” he said. “Today, we are at 1,250. The development of the campus over the last five years was done at an astonishing pace.
“Now, what we are planning to do is to expand with multiple new buildings and creating a modern style campus. There will be breakout areas, restaurants, and a state-of-the-art gym and marketing building.”
Mercedes also revealed a brand-new parking structure, part of which will be shared with Brackley Town Football Club.
This shared facility will create a nearly ‘car-free’ environment with a full solar array to charge over 70 electric vehicles.
Mercedes is also constructing through its commitment to its Net Zero ambitions, with the new building being powered by 100 per cent renewable energy.
It plans to be more efficient by aiming for a 50 per cent reduction in water consumption per person per day and to achieve great than 60 per cent recycling of office waste.
“This is all being done for our people,” added Wolff. “Here, form follows function – not the other way round. It’s all being done to create a great place to work and spend time.
“We want it to become its own little village, with all the amenities and benefits that you would expect from a Silicon Valley-style environment.”
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