Charles Stanley
Brief
Following a competitive tender exercise, we were commissioned to assist Charles Stanley with the design and Cat B refurbishment/fit-out of their newly acquired Chelmsford office.
Location: London, South
Design: Wagstaff
Sector: Corporate
Scope: Design & Fit-Out, Furniture Consultancy & Move Management
Across a single floor, this would accommodate approx. 90 staff positions with associated client areas, meeting rooms and breakout spaces. The remit was to provide a bright and engaging space for the return of staff from lockdown, with a strong emphasis on the company brand to be reflected throughout staff and client areas alike.
Key Challenges
Our design team worked closely with Charles Stanley’s facilities team developing the design in a way that did not compromise the original budget. However, additional requests and unforeseen changes came thick and fast, expediting decisions as the deadline for occupation was set and dependent on us completing on time.
Acoustics has been a problem in current offices, where noise travels across an open-plan area and is accentuated as teams of people compete with each other. There was a fear that in a smaller office, this would be replicated and perhaps even worse. The client was wanting to specify a very high level of acoustic control through the partition systems and elsewhere which would have likely exceeded the budget substantially.
Our Solution
Our transparency with what was and wasn’t achievable within the timescales and budget created a trusting and open relationship which flourished as the project developed. This in turn allowed the facilities team to appreciate the advice given and instruct us with confidence. Such a collaborative approach with constant communication at all times proved invaluable and there was never a time when either party felt they could not be contacted to discuss any element of the project.
Prior to any agreement on the design and final costing, we arranged for a visit to an existing installation to demonstrate the level of acoustic control that could be achieved with our proposed solution. We then advised the client to refrain from doing any further enhancements (e.g. Acoustic survey, sound masking etc.) and to consider this post-occupation. This would allow them to save any initial expenditure and appraise the conditions and noise levels once the office is actually occupied and in use. Any of the additional enhancements could then be implemented retrospectively ONLY if they were deemed to have any beneficial impact.
During the pandemic, Charles Stanley were quick to assess and appraise the impact it would have in terms of remote and hybrid working styles. Video calls would now always form an integral part of daily office life and the pods we provided have the best value for acoustically controlled rooms to conduct video calls without disruption.
Added Value
As part of our initial and ongoing collaboration, we ensured that Charles Stanley were made aware of all up-to-date regulations and obligations that perhaps they were unaware of previously, e.g. appointment of a ‘Principle Designer’.
To save cost and keep to budget, we proposed the use of architectural film to wrap over existing doors, this saved anywhere from £800-£1000 per door set. We also replaced the fronts and tops of an existing kitchen tea point.
Community Benefits
We introduced Charles Stanley to Waste to Wonder (W2W), a charitable organisation that oversees the re-distribution and re-purposing of redundant office furniture for good causes. Charles Stanley has since commissioned W2W to remove all of the unwanted furniture from the old office which has been reallocated toward their School-in-a-Box projects.
We are happy to say that we have been asked to complete further regional projects in Guildford and Cambridge.
Have a project in mind?
Whether you’re planning a new project or looking for advice on products, pricing, or our partner brands – we’re here to help.
