JWA Architects UK, in partnering collaboration with SWA Architects in Turks & Caicos, is proud to announce the completion of the new headquarters for Provo Water Company (PWC) — a landmark development that brings administrative offices, customer-facing services and the islands’ most advanced water-testing facilities under one forward-thinking roof.

JWA Architects UK served as the lead design architect, developing the full architectural vision for the headquarters. Our partners at SWA Architects will deliver the post-contract build-out, bringing the project to life on the ground with their local knowledge, construction expertise and established on-island relationships.

This project marks the culmination of a multi-year design and construction journey grounded in cultural sensitivity, environmental responsibility, and technical precision. The result is a contemporary Caribbean workplace that reflects both PWC’s public mission and the islands’ progressive approach to future growth.

A Vision Rooted in Place

From the very beginning, the project demanded more than a standard commercial building. PWC required a headquarters that could unify its diverse functions while also showcasing the importance of water—the islands' most essential socio-economic and environmental asset.

Located on a prominent corner at the intersection of Leeward Highway and Industrial Drive, the site called for a building with presence, clarity and purpose. Our team sought to create an architecture that was both distinctly suited to the history and culture of Turks & Caicos and capable of supporting a highly technical, efficiency-driven workplace.

This meant designing a building that was:

• Transparent and accessible

• Simple to navigate and maintain

• Culturally rooted, yet forward-looking

• Shaped by climate, community and context

Designing for Climate, Culture and Community

The architecture takes its form from the region’s maritime heritage. Two smaller building volumes sit beneath a single, lightweight roof plane, with softened “bow-like” shapes that gently guide breezes and people toward a shaded central courtyard—the social and ecological heart of the building.

The exterior is intentionally restrained: a heavy white rendered façade that references historic island architecture. This simplicity gives way to more expressive elements inside, including:

• Weathered timber features

• Louvered fenestration for natural ventilation

• Lightweight screens and green bridge walls

• Daylit walkways and open staircases

• Shaded, naturally cooled courtyard areas

These components work together to enhance comfort, increase permeability and reduce reliance on mechanical systems. The building feels open, cool and breathable—a response that is both cultural and climatic.

Technical Performance and Sustainability

Efficiency was a key project driver. The headquarters integrates its laboratory, customer-facing, and administrative operations into a single, cohesive development to streamline workflow and communication.

Environmental strategies include:

• Passive ventilation across all circulation routes

• Reduced elevator reliance through connected open-air walkways

• Water-saving and recycling systems

• Sustainable planting suited to local climate

• Shaded, heat-mitigating landscaping

• Thermally resilient materials

At the centre sits a simple, cool water feature designed to animate the courtyard and cast ripples onto the surrounding elevations—a quiet homage to PWC’s role in transforming ocean water into the life-sustaining resource that supports all who live and work in the islands.

The Construction Journey

Delivering an environmentally responsive and culturally grounded building required close collaboration between JWA Architects UK, SWA Architects, and local construction teams.

Together, the partnership supported:

• Adaptation of materials to island climate conditions

• Structurally efficient systems suited to coastal environments

• Integration of laboratory specifications into office workflows

• Development of passive cooling and shading strategies

• Crafting interior and exterior details that reflect local identity

A Contemporary Workplace for a Growing Island

The completed PWC Headquarters is more than a building — it is an investment in the wellbeing, transparency and long-term sustainability of a critical public utility.

Key outcomes include:

• A unified, efficient headquarters

• A workplace that attracts and supports top talent

• A landscaped courtyard that encourages interaction and wellbeing

• A sustainable, climate-responsive approach to commercial design

• A development that sets a benchmark for future island architecture

As Turks & Caicos continues to grow, the new PWC Headquarters stands as a symbol of progress: a modern building shaped by history, guided by culture and built for the future of the islands.

We are honoured to have partnered with SWA Architects on this significant project and look forward to continuing to support PWC and the wider community.