WORLD leading bionic technology company Touch Bionics has a new hi-tech home to match its groundbreaking work thanks to Scottish architecture, workplace design and space planning practice Space Solutions.

The award-winning organisation, which focuses on the supply of electrically powered upper limb prostheses, engaged the design team at Space Solutions to project manage the internal fit-out of a new build business unit in Livingston.

Touch Bionics is one of a number of projects Space Solutions has undertake in West Lothian in recent months. A lack of quality office space and soaring rents in city centres across the central belt has seen an increasing number of companies move to the area which accounted for 20% of business undertaken by Space Solutions in the first half of the year and up to £750,000 of design and refurbishment contracts in the last few months.
 
Space Solutions works with clients to create the ideal solution to their specific commercial space requirements.  The professional team provides an integrated multi-discipline service including architecture, space planning and interior design, project management, and logistics and relocation.

The eight-week project saw Space Solutions develop, in partnership with Touch Bionics, a comprehensive brief which identified and incorporated all their existing and future business needs.

In order to maximise use of the 3,292sq ft property, the team created an open plan office with flexible boardroom and training space, workshop facilities plus a patient area, lounge and fitting room. They provided innovative storage areas and introduced glass partitioning and daylight bulbs in order to create a feeling of light and space throughout.

Stuart Mead, chief executive at Touch Bionics, said: "As the company moves bionic hand technology from the research and development phase into the real world it was important for us to have a base that not only reflects our innovative and groundbreaking image but is practically suited to the work we are carrying out both today and in the future.”

Space Solutions recently completed a management buy out following the most successful year in the company’s 10 year history in which turnover has rocketed to almost £10million.

Derek Binnie, director of Space Solutions, said: “West Lothian is an increasingly important geographical area in terms of new business opportunities for our team. It was interesting working with Touch Bionics to ensure their relocation to a modern, open plan office environment ran as smoothly as possible. 

“The project represented a significant change in working practice for Touch Bionics and their clients’ perception of the company. Having an interior layout tailored to business requirements can offer improvements in communications and teamwork, which in turn have a positive effect on productivity and ultimately the bottom line.”