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Goonhilly Satellite Station Control Room with RobertsWeaver

Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station can be found on a granite outcrop on the Lizard Penninsular in Cornwall. It is the most southern and western part of the British Isles and in 1962 was the receiving station for the first trans-Atlantic link via the orbiting ‘Telstar’ satellite.

When the Goonhilly station was first opened to the public in the 1980s, British Telecom had split from the Post Office and the interiors did not reflect the standards that would be expected from a global telecoms company.

With their experience in bespoke City dealing rooms, RobertsWeaver were invited to redesign the Operations Control Area, with Michael Taylor as designer and Project Manager.

The refurbishment of the OCA centred around a new purpose-built desk that was the hub for the Station’s 24-hour-a-day activities.

The desk was designed and mocked-up out of wood and foam card, so the Controllers could establish their working practices and approve the overall design.

The final piece of furniture was manufactured locally by Mowlem Group company, E. Thomas, who also undertook the complete refurbishment of the semi-circular electronic rack array and the remainder of the Room – without any down-time in the station’s operation.

Equinox Partners were also invited later to add two further desks in the similar style to the original.