Recent Projects

Booking.com

Design at Work won the opportunity to design a contemporary, fun and quirky office facility for Booking.com. The brief was to provide open work space, a welcome area, meeting/training facilities along with informal meeting and breakout spaces that reflected Bristol without being “cliche’d”.

References to Bristol’s maritime past, vibrant urban arts scene and high tech modern industries were all included in the design proposals. Reflections on the water in the docks, packing case flooring, cobblestone carpets, urban photo murals were all devices used to create a high energy contemporary work space. The project was finished on time and on budget and the users were delighted with the outcome of their new facility.

THB Cheltenham

THB originally commissioned Design at Work to assist them in identifying the size of space they required for their Cheltenham team. The lease on their current accommodation was ending and they needed to identify possible alternatives of which there were few available in the area of the right type of size. The relative mixes of collaborative space to desk space were explored to demonstrate the various options and the effect it would have on the total area required. The space finally selected was originally developed as retail space in the lively Brewery Quarter, and benefited from high ceilings and plenty of natural light from the large full height windows.

The space plan was then developed into a scheme design and the selection of the loose furniture elements that would form the building blocks of the fit out. Much of the ethos of the design was to construct as little as possible and use free standing furniture products, pods, huddle spaces, acoustic enclosures to do most of the work. This in turn would provide a truly flexible and future proof workspace along with greatly reducing any making-good costs at the end of the lease. Lighting enhancements were also kept to a minimum, with ceilings being enhanced with acoustic blades which not only provide interest but inject colour and significant acoustic attenuation to the space.

Trethowans Solicitors

Following the success of the Salisbury office and with the subsequent experience of 6 years working there, the brief for the Southampton office was to build upon and enhance the successful elements from Salisbury. Design at Work took the opportunity to introduce new, enhanced solutions, ideas and products that had become available in the interim, whilst still keeping the successful elements of the Salisbury office but with a contemporary feel.

Their new facility totals 16,000 sq.ft. and provides flexible, Fee earner and Support staff work areas, Client areas, Conference facilities, Meeting Rooms, Quiet Rooms, Study areas, ‘Third Space’ Informal meeting, Collaborative zones and Breakout areas. Once again the client and staff are delighted with the outcome, especially as the project was completed on time and on budget. Design at Work also undertook the design and planning application for the external signs.

1 The Square

A refurbishment for the Landlords of this multi tenanted Building at Temple Quarter Bristol. The space was upgraded from a cold looking and rather bleak unloved double height entrance area to provide a far more welcoming space by adding softer finishes, colour, and more effective and appropriate lighting. The area of walk of barrier matting was increased along with uplifting ceramic flooring to provide a mat well for a hand made woolen rug bringing texture and pattern to the space. The mezzanine balcony area, which previously was getting little use, was enclosed with bespoke hardwood glazed screening to provide a discreet, short stay meeting space.

New, high level wall wash lighting was upgraded and new, suspended over-sized drum pendant lights were added to enhance the volume. Decorative marble paneling was added to house a plasma information screen and create a feature wall with a quality feel. A new reception desk was designed to elegantly comply with DDA requirements with a solid block walnut worktop and acrylic stone clad carcass. The landlords and tenants were all delighted with the outcome.

Collins Aerospace

When UTC, now Collins Aerospace needed to relocate to a new office facility, Design at Work were asked to produce designs to reflect their leading edge position in the marketplace along with references to their iconic history in the aviation world. A combination of open collaborative work space, meeting rooms, semi open huddle spaces and a multi-function breakout space provided UTC with a balanced mix of facilities to maximise their use of space. The project was managed by Design at Work over a 5 week contract period and was delivered on programme and on budget.

Creative England

Pictured here, Creative England’s quirky and sometimes eclectic new Bristol office is now complete. Located at College Green, the brief was to create a stimulating working environment but without looking too “corporate”. With a very challenging budget, we were able to recycle some redundant furniture from other locations, only adding new where absolutely required. The careful use of large scale graphics, photo montage and pin boards all help to give the feel the client was looking for. The client has now moved in and with plenty of positive feedback, are delighted with their new facility.

"Design At Work managed to deliver our new workplace in Bristol within a very challenging time frame and budget. We were so pleased with the result, we commissioned them to roll out a similar solution in our Manchester office”.
Mehjabeen Price Financial Director

ISL Recruitment

When ISL needed a fast fit out of their new premises in central Bristol, Design at Work were appointed by the Project Managers, Service Charge Associates to produce designs and detailed drawings in a very demanding time frame and budget. The project from inception to completion on site took only 7 weeks including overseeing the specification and delivery of furniture, partitions comfort cooling and lighting modifications. The accommodation includes a Welcome area, Meeting Rooms, Breakout Space and Open plan office space for 36 staff.

Zurich Insurance Group

We were asked by the Zurich Insurance Group to create a collaborative team environment comprising a variety of different types of space. Everything from stand up “town hall” meeting areas to quiet pods for small groups of people needing a more informal setting to work was introduced into the central part of the floor. Traditional desks are deployed either side of this team environment but the desks are not allocated to specific individuals but rather set out as neighbourhoods with associated teams working together. Extensive use is made of magnetic white boards on vertical surfaces as well as flat screen TV monitors to which laptops are connected to work collaboratively.