The scheme consisted of fitting out a 15 metre high warehouse building with photographic production space and a two-tier racking installation. The associated services created an archive facility appropriate for the production, conservation and storage of sensitive photographic materials. The racking installation was provided overground and first floor storage levels with open fire escape staircases.

Office and photographic production facilities were provided over two levels (separated from the archive area by fire resistant partitioning). Specific spaces provided include; digital and drum scanning, photographic and negative conservation, dark rooms, wet and dry photographic finishing and print rooms. These spaces required ‘clean room’ environments and were constructed to suit. Each room was provided with dimmable lighting, emergency lighting, small power, air conditioning and temperature control, fire detection and first aid fire fighting facilities. Included within the production areas were dark rooms and sinks, designed specifically to Getty Images’ needs.

The racking installation was provided with an energy efficient lighting control system, emergency lighting, small power, first aid fire fighting facilities, ventilation and humidity control, fire detection and a water mist system designed based on fire test information gathered from the design of a similar water mist system at the new Bodelian Library at Oxford University.