Traditional showrooms have their place, but they often only tell part of the story. Many of our products are designed to solve complex engineering challenges, and explaining the thinking behind those solutions isn't always easy through brochures, catalogues or static displays alone.
We wanted to create something different. A place where visitors could explore products first-hand, see the engineering behind the design, ask questions, share ideas and discover the thinking that goes into every solution we develop. That idea became The Civils Hub.
More than a showroom, it's an interactive customer experience centre where products, technology and collaboration come together. Every part of the space has been designed to encourage conversation, support learning and give visitors a deeper understanding of our ductile iron and steel access solutions.
Whether you're a merchant, contractor, specifier, engineer or local authority, The Civils Hub has been created to help you explore our products in a way that simply wasn't possible before. Turning that vision into reality was a journey in itself. From transforming an existing building into a completely new environment, to designing bespoke displays, developing immersive digital experiences and creating spaces for collaboration, every stage was driven by one goal - creating the best possible experience for our customers.
It all started with an empty building
The building had previously been occupied by another business and, before any plans could become reality, it needed to be completely stripped back. The carpets came up, the lighting was removed, furniture was cleared out and every room was emptied. What had once been a fully functioning workplace gradually became an empty shell.
For a while, it didn't look like much. Exposed ceilings, bare floors and empty rooms replaced what had been there before. But that stage was an important part of the process. Stripping everything back gave us the opportunity to look at the building differently and think carefully about how every part of the space could work.
Instead of trying to fit our ideas into an existing layout, we started from scratch and ask ourselves - How can we create the best possible experience for every visitor?
We could rethink how people would move through the building, where conversations would happen, how products would be displayed and how different spaces could work together. Every decision that followed began with those empty rooms.
Looking back now, it's hard to believe how much has changed. But before the displays, the technology and the meeting spaces, there was simply a building waiting to be transformed. Everything that visitors experience today started with that first stage of taking it all apart before building it back up again.
Designing every detail
Before we thought about product displays or interactive technology, we focused on the space itself as the finishes mattered just as much. We selected new lighting to make the space bright and inviting, flooring that complemented the overall design, and furniture that reflected the professional yet approachable atmosphere we wanted to create. Even the artwork was planned to reinforce who we are, creating an environment that feels unmistakably ours from the moment visitors walk through the door.
With the foundations of the space in place, we turned our attention to how our products would be presented. Every display unit was designed specifically for The Civils Hub, giving visitors the opportunity to get hands-on with our products, understand how they work and explore the thinking behind the engineering. Rather than simply displaying products on shelves, we wanted each display to encourage conversation and help bring our solutions to life.
To complete the experience, we designed a series of bespoke wall graphics throughout the showroom, meeting rooms and collaborative spaces. More than decoration, the artwork helps tell our story, celebrates our products and innovation, and adds character throughout the building. Combined with the display units, it transforms what was once an empty shell into a vibrant environment that reflects who we are and creates an engaging experience from the moment visitors arrive.
Bringing technology into the experience
Many of the features that make our products different aren't immediately obvious. Some are hidden within the casting, others are only visible in cross section, while many of the engineering principles behind our products can be difficult to explain using drawings or printed literature alone.
We wanted to find a better way to communicate that information. Not by replacing the physical products, but by enhancing the way people experience them.
That led us to develop one of the centrepieces of The Civils Hub - a bespoke interactive touchscreen experience, built using modern game engine technology.
Rather than simply scrolling through product pages, visitors can explore detailed models, interactive cutaways and animated demonstrations that reveal exactly how our products have been designed and why those design features matter. Visitors can rotate products, examine cross sections and uncover details that would otherwise remain hidden, helping to explain the engineering in a much more visual and engaging way.
Alongside the digital experience are the physical products themselves. Visitors can move seamlessly between the touchscreen and the display units, exploring a feature digitally before seeing and handling the real product. It creates a far richer experience than either could deliver on its own.
Whether it's understanding how a particular feature improves installation, seeing how load is transferred through a frame, or exploring the design of a product from every angle, the technology helps turn complex technical information into something that's intuitive and easy to understand.
Like the rest of The Civils Hub, the interactive experience continues to evolve. New products, features and demonstrations are added over time, ensuring every visit offers something new to discover and making it easier than ever for customers to explore the thinking behind our innovations.
Spaces built for collaboration
The Civils Hub was always intended to be more than a place to display products.
Purpose-built meeting areas provide comfortable spaces for project discussions, design reviews and customer collaboration.
Training facilities allow us to deliver technical presentations, CPDs and product demonstrations in an environment designed specifically for learning and knowledge sharing.
Whether visitors are exploring our latest innovations, discussing a live project or attending a technical session, every area has been designed to encourage conversation and collaboration. The Civils Hub brings together interactive product displays, immersive digital experiences, meeting facilities and training spaces to support our customers throughout every stage of their projects.
Built to evolve, shaped by our customers
Although The Civils Hub has come a long way from the empty building we first walked into, we don't see it as a finished project.
Just as the civil engineering industry continues to evolve, so does The Civils Hub.
Every customer who visits helps shape what comes next. The conversations we have, the questions we're asked and the feedback we receive all influence how the space develops. Whether it's introducing new product displays, creating fresh interactive content, showcasing our latest innovations or refining the way visitors experience the space, we're always looking for ways to make it even better.
As our product ranges continue to grow and new ideas emerge, The Civils Hub will grow with them. New technologies, new displays and new ways of bringing our products to life will continue to be introduced, ensuring every visit offers something different.
At its heart, The Civils Hub has always been about creating the best possible experience for our customers. That doesn't stop once the doors open. It's an ongoing commitment to listen, improve and invest in a space that helps people explore our products, share ideas and solve challenges together.
The journey of The Civils Hub is still being written, and every customer who walks through the door becomes part of its next chapter.
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