The timber seating units for The Gate – a set of 6 radius benches with cnc routed text – are currently being installed at the Central Chelmsford site. The benches are being manufactured by City Squared in Leeds & installed by Ground Control. The designs were developed in collaboration with City Squared. The cnc routed text refers to the history, location and memory of the space & is defined by the adjacency of the Anne Knight Building, which has been refurbished & is considered the anchor building of the development site.
![Plan drawing showing the arrangement of radius timber benches within the area known as The Gate.](http://christophertipping.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/14-05-02-TEXT-TO-THE-GATE-1024x727.jpg)
![One of the benches in the factory during manufacture by City Squared.](http://christophertipping.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/2014-10-10-15.03.08-1024x768.jpg)
![Detail: Timber sections set out in the factory. Note the cnc routed text.](http://christophertipping.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/2014-10-10-15.46.55-768x1024.jpg)
![For engineering & structural reasons, the long arcs of the benches had to be constructed in two sections.](http://christophertipping.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/2014-10-10-15.04.00-1024x768.jpg)
![Each of the benches has a timber upstand end against which one can rest or lean. The timber detail is reinforced with a stainless steel internal frame and horizontal steel pins.](http://christophertipping.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/2014-10-10-15.48.55-768x1024.jpg)
![2014-10-10 15.49.11](http://christophertipping.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/2014-10-10-15.49.11-768x1024.jpg)
![The timber benches sit atop a brick built plinth, which mirrors the semi circular setting out of the site. The benches here have not be fully installed and fastened.](http://christophertipping.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_7757-1024x767.jpg)
![Detail of cnc routed text](http://christophertipping.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_7759-767x1024.jpg)
![Image by City Squared.](http://christophertipping.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_7760-1024x767.jpg)