JDDK were commissioned by Durham County Council to design offices to be occupied by Sport England and Northumbria Tourist Board.

The design evolved around the need to retain an existing mixed woodland to the west. The building design included a fully glazed wall alongside the principle entrance and stair because it is shaded by this woodland.

The building has a U-shaped plan with a shallow plan depth to allow natural ventilation. A selection of materials, rough cast render, brickwork, cedar cladding, aluminium standing seam roofing and powder coated glazing systems were chosen to ensure the scale of the development fitted well in to the surrounding mature landscape of the estate. The scale and form of the building complements the character of the historically significant Aykley Heads House.