Laing's South London Region started working on Berkshire's new County HQ at Shinfield Park in early 1976 and completed building work in 1980 with the official opening taking place in April 1982. The complex was designed by the county architect, Richard Paul and consulting engineers were Arman Safier and Partners. The Shire Hall, which was constructed with reinforced concrete and large precast concrete cladding, consists of six octagonal pavilions, linked by a three level podium and two central core structures. The concrete panels used to clad the outside of the building weighed up to 20 tonnes and were installed using a revolving gantry crane mounted on the roof of each block.
This image was catalogued as part of the Breaking New Ground Project in partnership with the John Laing Charitable Trust in 2019-20.
This is part of the Series: JLP01/10 John Laing Photographic Collection Colour Negatives and Transparencies; within the Collection: JLP01 John Laing Photographic Collection
© Historic England Archive. John Laing Photographic Collection
Late 20th Century Shire Hall, Late 20th Century Local Government Office, Construction
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