Renowned design company proud to have roots in region

THINK of many of the North-East's most impressive and high-profile building projects, and there is a good chance Red Box Design Group will have been involved.

From the world-renowned Baltic development on the Gateshead quayside to the region's most significant new sports facility, Red Box - a company with a low profile but huge reputation - has been the engine driving the projects.

In its 20-year history, the Newcastle group, headed by Alan J Smith, has overseen more than £2.5bn-worth of projects, a statistic which includes the design of 3,000 homes, 1.2msq ft of retail space, 2.25msq ft of industrial space and commercial development spanning 6.5msq ft.

While the company is fiercely protective of its North-East roots, and of its desire to remain in the region - a characteristic of its founder Alan, who grew up in a County Durham mining village - its work spans far beyond the borders of the region, with projects being carried out as far afield as the US and Russia.

And, while the group is well versed in overseeing major developments, it prides itself on the variety of the projects it turns its hand to.

In the North-East alone, Red Box's designs range from the combination of eye-catching buildings and green space in the Newcastle Baltic Quarter, to the sports facilities at the Sunderland AFC Academy of Light, and the energy-efficient Pioneer Court office development at Darlington's Morton Palms Business Park - although their purposes are very different, the design brief remained the same.

"The most important thing to me in our designs is the huge impact on people's lives that will occur every time we do something. These are buildings that will be lived in and worked in, and that is what I bear in mind every time we look at a new project," says Alan.

That mantra is being applied to the current major developments being overseen by the group - the series of developments that Alan refers to as the "five at 25" - five North-East projects each costing £25m to complete, and all of which promise to firmly cement Red Box's reputation as being at the forefront of its field.

"Work tends to come in cycles, but we are of course delighted to have five projects of this size to work on at the same time," says Alan.

The projects, all of which promise to form the heart of their communities, are:

* The 140-bed Radisson SAS Hotel in Durham City, forming a centrepiece of the riverside regeneration

l The learning facilities at Gateshead College, which forms a focal point of the Baltic development

l Sunderland's Stadium Park Olympic-sized swimming pool, the only facility of its kind in the North-East

l The Northern Rock tower in Gosforth, Newcastle, a major client of the design firm and one of the most eye-catching buildings in the Red Box portfolio

l The Egger building in Hexham, Northumberland, a central and modern feature in the market town.

While each of the projects will undoubtedly make its mark on the North-East landscape and earn a place in its architectural reputation, Red Box has also designed significant facilities for major companies elsewhere, with the Nissan UK headquarters at Cranfield being one of the most high-tech in the company's portfolio.

"As one of the most important sites for Nissan in the world - the other two being in Japan and Detroit, US - it required specific attention to a number of different areas. As well as being the place where the Micra car was designed, it's also somewhere that people work," says Alan.

"We wanted to create something that can take the company into the 21st Century, rather than just being a nice building with nice details."

The building, which was built from start to completion in only 18 months, was the recipient of a host of awards, including the Nikkei design accolade, a title bestowed on some of the most impressive pieces of architecture in the world.

Considering the complex and impressive projects that Red Box has designed around the world, it is perhaps ironic that the group itself should have made its home in a historic building nestled away along a quiet cobbled street in Newcastle's city centre.

From the outside of the headquarters in the shadow of St Nicholas Cathedral, few could guess that such a modern and practical interior would lie beyond the gates.

Wholly converted since Red Box moved into the venue in 1996, the 120,000sq ft offices were transformed over the following four years from the dull and neglected former city Post Office into a bright and busy working environment.

Unsurprisingly, the building's revamp was designed by Red Box, combining the modernity with the retention of original features such as the beamed ceilings in the old telegraph office, or the central design office as it is known now.

And, while the venue still manages to retain its historic feel, it includes touches that would make the building seem at home in most cosmopolitan cities of the world.

Modern artwork adorns the walls, their reflections seen in the polished black marble floors, and a spiral staircase snakes through the three floors of the building. Venture up as far as the top floor, and the building's crowning glory can be found - the roof-top garden, so high above the bustling city that noise seems only a distant rustle.

Standing in the tranquil, spacious green area, Alan says: "It is very peaceful up here, and is something we are very proud of. In the summer months, we hold meetings out here. It is very different to how this building used to be, but is something we feel has a real function and purpose here. These workable features are very important in our designs."

Red Box, which is fast becoming renowned for its architectural projects, has also recently added another design aspect to the business with the creation of Fuseboxdesign. While not operating on the same physical scale, the division is becoming a major player in the new media field, and has created websites for major organisations like Durham Police and Newcastle's Science City, both of which are viewed by millions of users around the world.

And, as the group spreads its influence into different fields, so too it is consolidating its core business by opening a new office in its own Darlington Pioneer Court development to bolster its North-East operation.

As well as employing eight more staff, Alan sees it as an important step to winning new business and gaining footholds in new markets.

"Right now, the Tees Valley is the roaring tiger of the region's cultural and economic regeneration," he says.

"Pioneer Court is, of course, a development we know well and believe in, and we were only too keen to take office space in it.

"The base is an important one - from there we can look for more work in the Tees Valley, and look at managing projects as far away as York from Darlington. It also provides an opportunity for Fusebox to grow.

"Also, we are in a position where we can add new talent to the company, which is a huge positive for us."

Indeed, Alan, as a man who grew up in a working class North-East village, feels a huge pride and attachment to the region and is keen to remain here. A man whose strong work ethic grew from starting his working day at 5am as a youngster to combining three jobs with his schooling, he is adamant the region is a hotbed of talent.

As a keen promoter of talent and the profile of the region, particularly through his role as chairman of the Baltic and member of the Entrepreneurs' Forum, Alan sees no reason to consider moving away from the region at what he sees as an exciting time.

"We have worked in Amsterdam, Boston, London, but we always come back to the North-East.

"Yes, we are based in Newcastle, and while Newcastle is often seen as the capital of the region as it were, that is really something that is good for everybody in the region," he says.

"The success and growth of the city is something the whole region can be proud of, and see it as a reflection of the vibrancy of the North-East. There is a lot of testosterone involved in this competition between places in the region, but working together with each other will make a strong region.

"The North-East is a fantastic place - everyone must pull together to help make it look better, make it a better place to live, somewhere people want to work. We hope Red Box is playing a role in that."

And with the completion of the Red Box "five at 25" over the next few years, and yet more significant projects in the pipeline, the role of the company in making the region an even more vibrant place is set to grow yet further.

RED BOX RISING TO THE CHALLENGE

TERRY'S CHOCOLATE WORKS, YORK

Red Box has drawn up plans to transform the site from redundant buildings into a major £250m mixed-use development, in what is the biggest planning application to be submitted in York for over ten years.

It promises to include children's facilities, a gym, huge supermarket, a hotel, unique craft shops and a series of other commercial outlets.

"This is a really exciting project, and the planning process looks to be going really well," says Alan.

BALTIC BUSINESS QUARTER, GATESHEAD

The 50-acre development will include office space, mixed with a network of avenues of amenities and green spaces. Gateshead College is being constructed on the site, and a hotel and day care nursery is also planned. The project is expected to generate 7,000 jobs in the area, and will also be home to the much-anticipated Knowledge Campus - a base for companies bringing new technology products to market.

"Again, a major project, and it will provide a pleasant facility for the area. There will be green spaces and trees, and no cars due to the construction of an underground car park," says Alan.

STADIUM PARK SWIMMING POOL, SUNDERLAND

The region's first Olympic-standard 50m swimming pool is being created on land next to the Sunderland Stadium of Light, with work due to be completed early next year. The pool will be the largest between Leeds and Edinburgh, and will include a 25m-wide main pool with ten lanes, a 25m-wide diving tank, and seating for 500 spectators.

"This is a major project for the North-East in terms of sports and education, and will ideally help with the efforts for the Olympics. It is very exciting to see the project progressing," Alan says.

PIONEER COURT, DARLINGTON

An energy-efficient office development in Darlington in which Red Box has established its second North-East base. The development comprises a series of small premises, attracting a range of companies.

"We are, of course, aware of the potential of Pioneer Court and, being based in the Tees Valley, we thought it quite vital that we are based here during the period of growth," says Alan.