Turning ‘An Anonymous Space’ to an ‘Activity-Based’ Workplace
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Turning ‘An Anonymous Space’ to an ‘Activity-Based’ Workplace:
Turning ‘An Anonymous Space’ to an ‘Activity-Based’ Workplace
Timescale:
6 to 8 Weeks
Type of project:
Office Refurbishment
Location:
Maidenhead
Year:
2022
Client profile
The UK Headquarters of a premium car manufacturer based in Maidenhead houses UK Sales, Finance and IT teams. Twenty-four thousand square feet of office space are set over three floors and home to more than two hundred staff.
Client challenge
This organisation prides itself on its work experience standards, branding and quality of office furniture as evidenced in their Nordic head office. They believe in supporting their staff to be as collaborative and productive as they can be in their working day. The UK HQ realised that their office accommodation wasn't up to standard and the on set of hybrid working resulting from the pandemic threw this into sharp focus. The customer had three floors of anonymous space, filled with desks and pedestals,some 24,000 square feet of blank canvas that they needed to improve, and fast!
Time was so tight that putting the project out to full tender was not possible, instead the project was benchmarked with a Quantity Surveyor. Active, who had completed several small works for the customer in the past, agreed to complete a comprehensive pricing study alongside the surveyor.With the office due to be closed during the refurbishment, speed was of theessence and if that wasn't enough of a challenge: Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine were playing havoc with prices, staffing, and supply chains.
Active's prices and evident knowledge of suppliers, product availability and the staffing power to deliver, meant that they were awarded the contract with a window of 6-8 weeks to complete it.
Active solution
The organisation's ethos is to support Activity Based Working – which involves offering a variety of working opportunities rather than just a computer on a desk. Daily working activities might necessitate an area for a one-to-one meeting, large group meetings, stand-up working, taking aprivate call or receiving external visitors. The space needed to encourage collaboration and productivity as well as be pleasant and practical to be in. Despite geopolitical difficulties causing chaos in the supply of materials,with luck and tenacity in equal measure, Active were able to deliver the project within the tight timescale.
The project was split into three phases.
- Phase one involved HVAC modifications,partitioning, glass frontages and complete redecoration. Phone booths and one to one meeting rooms were constructed on the uppermost floors and feature lighting and new flooring installed throughout.
- Phase two focussed on the Café remodelling and seating arrangements.
- The final phase was transforming two large but barely used meeting rooms into a spectacular 'Community Hub.' A place where casual interactions and socialising might develop into spontaneous collaboration and innovation.Complete with bespoke furniture crafted by Active, a feature fireplace and décor that would not look out of place in a five-star hotel; the standards of finish in this area are particularly spectacular.
Commenting on the project, Kristen, the client's Work Experience Lead, said:
“That Active delivered the project on time and on budget given the current global uncertainties is a testament to how good they really are!The staff love the results, I haven't heard one negative comment about the layout or finish. The only trouble is that some areas are so popular that our workers have to be encouraged to share and not monopolise them!
Active supplied us with an excellent Project Manager, he was incredibly experienced and really proactive. He even managed to secure the last box of ceiling tiles in the known universe to finish the look. It was really clear that Active is supremely well-connected within their supply chain networks and able to achieve a fantastic out put of work even in challenging circumstances. In fact, our office is now on a par with the standards and quality of our Nordic Head Office. And our Community Hub is much admired by other divisions in the business – now they all want one!"
Benefits and results
In Need of Your Own 'Active Workplace Solution'? We Can Help!
If your company is thinking about making improvements to its office space soon, then the team here at Active can offer you the ideal workplace solution. Our client-focused approach to all projects ensures that every job we carry out is unique, done so to abide by the client's specific wishes. This way, we can ensure that the job will have long-lasting benefits,long after you've settled in.
Want to learn more? You can get in touch with our office relocation team by calling on 0845 130 9066 or by sending an email to info@activeworkplacesolutions.co.ukFor More Information Or To Make An Enquiry, Please Don't Hesitate To Get In Touch
The Active team work hard to design visually brilliant and practical office workspaces; making the best use out of the available space. If you are interested in any of the professional office interiors services that are available from the Active team, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
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