Design process

The tenant wanted a distinctive space that projected the agency in an open way, accommodating their staff in a space that did not feel typically corporate. They needed rapid occupation, as the licence on their existing space was approaching termination. Having just won a major account as a newly launched business, they also needed scope for expansion, and the flexibility to change within their space. As an advertising agency, image was deemed critical.

The developer was concerned to satisfy the aspirations and requirements of the tenant, but also to meet the investor's criteria and maintain investment value. This applied to aspects such as air-conditioning and lighting, although the developer was flexible with regard to the ways in which these were achieved. The most significant compromise was the atrium volume. Its glass roof was initially to have been placed at level four, but because of developer concern to sub-divide the building in the future, it was dropped to level two. This affected the layout of the workspace. As a result, office areas in both parts of the building above the second floor look inwards to an open void between the buildings.

The base build and fit-out elements were integrated into a single process. The design process entailed a framework to check design and obtain cost approvals from all the relevant parties, co-ordinated by the architect, with a phased design sign-off and approvals tied into the construction programme.

The requirement for rapid occupation was met by phased handover. The agency moved into part of the office space - second to seventh floors of the Golden Square building - three months after the project started on site, whilst major work took place below level two. The occupier then decanted to the Beak Street building to reconfigure and balance the air-conditioning in the Phase 1 area.

Given the listing to the Golden Square building, liaison on planning was considerable. This included substantial negotiation with English Heritage.