Confidential Private Equity Client

Following our highly regarded refurbishment of their previous St James’s office two years ago, this respected Global Private Equity firm invited us to deliver its new 27,000 sq ft UK headquarters at the eastern boundary of London’s Mayfair. The relocation marked a major step for our client, calling on us to strike a balance between an expanded and multi-functional workspace, and a front-of-house experience that would reflect the firm’s status and provide an appropriate backdrop for the conduct of prestigious client relationships.

These objectives brought with them significant challenges. The transition had to be accomplished with our client operating from temporary serviced offices between moves, calling for detailed and meticulous planning to ensure deadlines were met. With a mix of flexibility, strategic foresight and a high level of coordination, we were able to deliver a smooth changeover to an enthusiastically received new HQ.

Our existing understanding of our client’s business and workplace culture gave us a strong foundation with which to approach this project. We aimed to evolve the ideas and principles we had applied to their earlier premises into a new environment that would maintain the warmth, quality and ambience they valued highly, while accommodating their increasing need for flexibility of use, and accommodation of growth.

As always, we involved our client fully in all decisions. Carefully structured meetings and open lines of communication allowed us to navigate challenges while keeping all parties aligned. Our solution, which includes thoughtful consideration of the journey to reception from the elevators, via the bridge walkway which spans the full height atrium, balances our client’s corporate presence requirement with the working needs of its employees. Warm timber finishes, soft lighting, and a carefully curated palette of cool blues and textured greys create a welcoming and professional first impression, while a mix of 40 private offices, open-plan desking for 110 people, and support spaces such as meeting rooms, IT help desk, and wellbeing room, enhance efficiency and comfort and enable effortless collaboration.

The completed space is emblematic of our client’s evolution as a firm, while staying true to the principles that made their previous space so effective. The client suite, a key focus of the project which includes a listed and landmark space - the Bridge Room - spanning a bustling thoroughfare on Mayfair’s Soho border, is designed to host up to 7 meetings and events simultaneously. Five meeting rooms edging the main area of this suite are constructed with an intricately engineered folding wall system. This enables the entire area to undergo seamless transformation into a single large, or multiple smaller, event spaces as required. Comprising 33 glazed and fabric-clad panels, this bespoke solution was designed to meet the need for versatility without compromising either the structural integrity or acoustic performance of these areas.

The front-of-house experience for visitors is refined and welcoming, while the working environment, which includes a combination of bookable private offices, sit-stand desking and 5 internal meeting spaces, caters for both individual and collaborative tasking. To complement this, we designed the staff breakout space to support both informal interaction and quiet retreat, contributing to a pleasingly-balanced working environment.

With regard for both budget and sustainability, we paid careful attention to integrating new, repurposed and existing furniture throughout. Despite the inevitable challenges, the outcome is a seamless, high-quality workspace that not only reflects our client’s standing, but provides the functionality and flexibility to support their continued success.