Our project for the iconic British motorcycle brand is a sustainable retrofit within an existing industrial building.

15.11.2021

The completion of the Norton HQ in Solihull, at the heart of the UK’s automotive hub, showcases a 7,300 sqm facility that speaks of reinvigorated brand values and provides state-of-the-art facilities. Retrofitted within an existing light industrial building, the new facility accommodates Customer Reception/Handover, brand display, service workshop, manufacturing, Design/R&D studios, test facilities and offices. 

The implementation of circular economy principles, making use of proprietary components that can be reconfigured, adapted and reused over time to minimise waste answered the two major challenges we overcame in response to the rapid speed of the design and installation to facilitate Norton’s future growth. The end result is an intelligently engineered solution using flexible components that will allow Norton to expand and evolve. This is one of numerous sustainable and rapid build techniques on the project, the components of which are almost ‘50% reconfigurable’ as a proportion of total construction cost.

Rescued from administration by Indian motorcycle giant TVS Motor Company in April 2020, Norton has been rebuilt from the bottom-up to blend the essence of its past with a bold vision for its future. The new HQ represents these new brand values through a futured aesthetic, engineering finesse and a focus on sustainability and wellbeing. 

“It has been a great privilege to play a key role in the rebirth of a global icon. We have created an environment for Norton that embodies their commitment to design quality, innovation, sustainability and staff wellbeing. A project ethos from the outset of ‘simple things done beautifully’ has resulted in a refined solution that could be delivered at great speed.” - Julian Lipscombe, Director Bennetts Associates

“The new Norton factory is a true embodiment of the Norton marque. The new Headquarter is the most high-tech and advanced production facility in the Norton marque’s 123-year history. It is home to design, engineering, purchasing, sales, marketing, and support teams, as well as the skilled production team that is resuming the manufacture of motorcycles.” - Robert Hentschel, Norton CEO