Swindon's Cellular Operations headquarters has been voted the best large office building in the world

The space age call centre, affectionately dubbed 'The Glass Cigar' or 'The Zeppelin by the people of Swindon, scooped the 'Best Large Office' award at this year's FX Magazine International Interior Design Awards.

The building, which was designed by architect Richard Hywel Evans with additional input from Cellular Operations Limited Chairman Ric Lee, is situated opposite Peatmoor Lagoon in Hillmead, West Swindon.

Cellular Operations won the award in the face of some stiff competition from huge multi-million pound corporations such as Ericsson, Boots and Egg.

A distinguished panel of judges described the building as "a tour de force both aesthetically and technically", adding that 'the space-age envelope communicates the forward looking company philosophy, while ensuring humane workspaces for the staff."

Commenting on the award architect Richard Hywel Evans said: "the brief had a number of requirements, not least to keep the staff in a high turnover area and create an iconic building to put a small company on the map. Staff turnover has decreased from above the 5% national average to 2.7% with the result that the building has been described as the happiest workplace in Britain."

The Cellular Operations building cost £6 million and took 15 months to build. It features a curved frameless glass superstructure, which is 9 metres high and is held up by cantilevered steel.

Its many features include a huge movable wall of glass, which serves as the main entrance into the building, lifts operated purely by motion sensors, a water fountain which shoots up into the air to greet people coming out of the lifts together with a range of themed toilets.