Your ULTIMATE WORKSHOP, what would it have in it???
Discussion
Hi fellow PHers, this is a bit of a long one but would be very greatful if you could read on!
Basically for my dissertation, I am designing a ''Purpose built Headquarters and Workshop Facility for a Sportscar Racing Team'', and was wanting some imput from you guys!!
I am talking about a medium sized team. I'm not taliking on the scale of RedBull F1 or anything like that, say more btcc level, as my site can be a max of 3000 sq meters over 2 or more levels. The site I have chosen to convert is an old industrial storage facility, around 1500 sqm on the ground floor (which makes it easy...er)
This will be a concept, and not actually realised, although I have to act as if it is real and although I have to bear cost in mind, my lecturers want me to be as wacky as possible, not just design a boaring old workshop !!
I was wondering what you guys reckon I should include, these are my thoughts so far:
Reception (with trophey cabinets and possibly a car on display etc) a bit cleche'd I know lol !
Staff/client meeting room
Offices for director/ceo etc
admin staff work area (workstations pc's, and all that gear)
toilets for the above
then thinking more outside the box:
Break room for staff, possibly with pool table tv etc.
Outside breakout area, possibly balcony if site will allow
possibly shower room and compact sleeping quarters for staff if they are having those late nights preparing
before a big race.
possibly some basic cooking facilities?
on the workshop front:
Ramps
rolling road
tool cabinets
airlines for air tools
machine room, for pillar drill, lathes , pipe benders etc etc
car assembly beds (like the ones you sometimes see on american hotrod etc) but not sure where to get them??
and finally a storage room for parts
maybe a paint booth but this would probably not be done in house???
so any imput would be very greatly appreciated, I am just drawing up some rough plans atm, so dont want to miss
anything crucial, thanks!!!
Basically for my dissertation, I am designing a ''Purpose built Headquarters and Workshop Facility for a Sportscar Racing Team'', and was wanting some imput from you guys!!
I am talking about a medium sized team. I'm not taliking on the scale of RedBull F1 or anything like that, say more btcc level, as my site can be a max of 3000 sq meters over 2 or more levels. The site I have chosen to convert is an old industrial storage facility, around 1500 sqm on the ground floor (which makes it easy...er)
This will be a concept, and not actually realised, although I have to act as if it is real and although I have to bear cost in mind, my lecturers want me to be as wacky as possible, not just design a boaring old workshop !!
I was wondering what you guys reckon I should include, these are my thoughts so far:
Reception (with trophey cabinets and possibly a car on display etc) a bit cleche'd I know lol !
Staff/client meeting room
Offices for director/ceo etc
admin staff work area (workstations pc's, and all that gear)
toilets for the above
then thinking more outside the box:
Break room for staff, possibly with pool table tv etc.
Outside breakout area, possibly balcony if site will allow
possibly shower room and compact sleeping quarters for staff if they are having those late nights preparing
before a big race.
possibly some basic cooking facilities?
on the workshop front:
Ramps
rolling road
tool cabinets
airlines for air tools
machine room, for pillar drill, lathes , pipe benders etc etc
car assembly beds (like the ones you sometimes see on american hotrod etc) but not sure where to get them??
and finally a storage room for parts
maybe a paint booth but this would probably not be done in house???
so any imput would be very greatly appreciated, I am just drawing up some rough plans atm, so dont want to miss
anything crucial, thanks!!!
Can't help directly, but if I were in your shoes I'd be calling up racing teams and asking if they do tours of their facilities. Then when at said facilities, I'd find some people to chat to about what they'd like in an ideal world. And record/write it all down as supporting research.
Good luck, sounds like an interesting one!
Good luck, sounds like an interesting one!
PhillT said:
Can't help directly, but if I were in your shoes I'd be calling up racing teams and asking if they do tours of their facilities. Then when at said facilities, I'd find some people to chat to about what they'd like in an ideal world. And record/write it all down as supporting research.
Good luck, sounds like an interesting one!
Well i though that was a good idea too... I asked mcLaren as they have recently opened a very snazzy looking HQ but they said due to the confidential nature of there buisness I could not have a look, despite me saying I didnt want to take any pics, xould do without seeing anything confidential to do with the F1 side of things and that I was a student, and that I could get a letter from my uni to prove this. Red bull f1 atm have ignored me, I am awaiting reply from some others though so fingers crossed! lolGood luck, sounds like an interesting one!
good call on the milling machine btw!
For high end tool storage and a properly smart workshop, look no further than Dura - have a look at www.dura.co.uk for more information
It's as close to an F1 garage as you'll find, and makes the likes of Snap-on and Mac look cheap in comparison
It's as close to an F1 garage as you'll find, and makes the likes of Snap-on and Mac look cheap in comparison
Superhoop said:
For high end tool storage and a properly smart workshop, look no further than Dura - have a look at www.dura.co.uk for more information
It's as close to an F1 garage as you'll find, and makes the likes of Snap-on and Mac look cheap in comparison
krickey... looks like I could cook my dinner on those worktops, good stuff, link much appreciated!It's as close to an F1 garage as you'll find, and makes the likes of Snap-on and Mac look cheap in comparison
PaulHogan said:
4-axis flow jet machine
Also, have you considered security?
thats a very good call! Methinks I will need quite a sizable machine room lol. I hadnt thought about security either but that is a very good point too, and i'm sure that'll get me some extra brownie points! Also, have you considered security?
.....a couple of dobermann's usually isnt it !
Consider looking at outsourcing for some of the things. You can go as far as money will take you, but most mid-range teams won't have a rolling road for starters, or a proper painting area.
I'd also consider that rubberised flooring; it's a nice grippy surface for working on and also prevents bashed knuckles, which I suffer from constantly.
Also, you'll need storage for spare parts.
Oh, and a device for putting tyres on wheels; many mid-sized teams do this themselves as serious racers will be putting on new tyres for every meeting and test, so the frequency means that outsourcing is not practical and certainly doesn't pay.
Obviously, don't forget the required first aid kit and fire extinsguishers/blankets appropriate for each area. Plus a telephone hanging on the wall for emergency calls.
I'd also consider that rubberised flooring; it's a nice grippy surface for working on and also prevents bashed knuckles, which I suffer from constantly.
Also, you'll need storage for spare parts.
Oh, and a device for putting tyres on wheels; many mid-sized teams do this themselves as serious racers will be putting on new tyres for every meeting and test, so the frequency means that outsourcing is not practical and certainly doesn't pay.
Obviously, don't forget the required first aid kit and fire extinsguishers/blankets appropriate for each area. Plus a telephone hanging on the wall for emergency calls.
The skills of the people are the important things in a workshop - you can always buy/hire the equipment needed but if you don't have people with the skills to use them and do top quality work then all the kit may as well be junk.
Since McLaren won't give you a tour, how about asking Aston Martin Works department?
Since McLaren won't give you a tour, how about asking Aston Martin Works department?
One of the most useful items in our workshop is the thinking couch. It's more than just a scabby sofa to plonk your arse on whilst you eat biscuits and drink tea ..... It's as useful a venue as any "blue sky brain storming" session that a business consultant will charge you £200/hr to chair.
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff