'The Kremlin' - Quarry Hill

[raveydavey]

Leodian wrote: Steve Jones wrote: another annoying thing about it when I used to use the meeting rooms there was that the lights are movement sensitive so if you were sat quietly listening to or watching something all the lights would suddenly go out as the system assumed it was an empty room and switched them off automatically.cue frantic arm waving etc. until they came back on. Hence the expression 'Many hands make light work'.

[tilly]

Leodian wrote: Steve Jones wrote: another annoying thing about it when I used to use the meeting rooms there was that the lights are movement sensitive so if you were sat quietly listening to or watching something all the lights would suddenly go out as the system assumed it was an empty room and switched them off automatically.cue frantic arm waving etc. until they came back on. Hence the expression 'Many hands make light work'. Nice one Leodian.

[Bruno]

I've been in several times to use the sports hall (for 5-a-side soccer) and swimming pools for a local junior football team's Christmas party. So the sports facilities are available for hire by private parties, even if they are not open to individual members of the public.I don't think anyone has detailed this as yet; as you look at the building from the Woodpecker junction viewpoint, the sports hall is the section on the right of the entrance, with small windows at about 2nd floor height, and the swimming pools are to the left of the entrance.

[BIG N]

Jogon wrote: Lavish carpets, mood fountains, on-site dentist, bar..This is confirming all the bad perceptions of public sector largesse Not totally certain but I seem to recall stories that when the Kremlin was being planned it was intended to close all the other locations like Blenheim House completely, however in an attempt to coax staff from further afield to transfer to Leeds to work in Quarry house they needed to install all the lavish extras such as a bar, gym etc etc. This in turn reduced available office space and led to other locations having to remain open.

[BarFly]

As I understood it it was meant to be the only office needed -- then when it was built is was too small.That has echoes of the "International Pool" though so perhaps it's a myth.

[raveydavey]

Wasn't the idea to relocate a lot of staff from elsewhere in the country (specifically London and the south east) to reduce costs and the 'luxury' offices and facilities were part of the plan to make the 'grim north' seem more attractive? I'm fairly sure that was also given as the reason for the special bus service that still runs virtually continuously betwixt there and the railway station even to this day. Apparently the poor southerners couldn't be expected to make the ten minute walk from the railway station across the frozen wastes of Yorkshire.