Overview

Sheldon’s new Sydney office serves as both a vibrant, functional workplace for staff and an immersive environment that reflects the company’s integrated design, construction, and manufacturing expertise. A fusion of strategic workplace planning and artistic expression act as key ingredients within the design, crafted to inspire both employees and clients through its thoughtful layout and attention to detail.

The office is thoughtfully divided into three main zones that optimise natural sunlight and encourage movement throughout the space. The front of house area is dedicated to collaboration, offering a variety of meeting spaces designed to promote teamwork and flexible interaction. At the heart of the office lies a hospitality-inspired social breakout space, which integrates rich finishes such as a custom carpet in Sheldon’s brand colours, vibrant natural stone surfaces, and modular banquette seating. The back of house focus zones prioritise calm and productivity with carefully selected calming colours, acoustic treatments, and soft furnishings to support quiet, deep work.

Lighting throughout the office is carefully layered and technology-enabled, incorporating circadian rhythm systems that enhance occupant wellbeing and visual comfort. Building services and integrated audiovisual infrastructure operate smoothly to support daily activities without disrupting the aesthetic harmony.

Overall, the design balances aesthetic presentation with practical functionality, resulting in a flexible, inclusive, and creative environment where Sheldon’s identity comes to life and clients can tangibly explore forward-thinking office possibilities firsthand. 

Project Details & Challenges

Sheldon’s new head office was designed to achieve multiple ambitious goals, balancing operational functionality, cultural authenticity, and the technical rigour required to meet both Gold WELL and 5 Star Green Star standards, while also demonstrating Sheldon’s design and construction capabilities. 

Led by Sheldon’s in-house workplace strategy team, the planning process began with extensive staff engagement, including surveys, leadership interviews, and collaborative workshops to gather insights on work habits, comfort preferences, and departmental needs. What was discovered was a strong desire for spatial diversity, flexibility, and better alignment between each division’s workstyle and its physical environment. For example, design and sales teams required collaborative, high-traffic zones near client areas, while finance and project management teams sought quieter areas that supported focus and confidentiality. This feedback directly informed the final zoning strategy, resulting in a floor plan that transitions naturally from lively front-of-house areas to calm, enclosed work zones.

Balancing WELL and Green Star certification requirements was one of the project’s greatest challenges. Many design decisions involved trade-offs between energy efficiency, acoustic performance, and material sustainability. Achieving superior acoustic comfort without compromising ventilation efficiency required precise coordination between Sheldon’s electrical, mechanical, and partitioning teams. These competing demands were resolved through targeted material selection, modular detailing, and integrated service design, ensuring compliance without compromising user comfort. 

Supporting neurodiversity through spatial diversity was another key driver of the project. Insights from the engagement process highlighted differing sensory needs across teams. The final layout deliberately combines social, collaborative zones such as the hospitality-inspired kitchen breakout and amphitheatre with low-stimulation focus spaces like the quiet lounge and phone rooms. These environments are enhanced by the Moodsonic biophilic soundscaping system, circadian lighting, and air-quality monitoring, offering employees meaningful choice over how and where they work while reinforcing inclusivity and well-being.

Authentic cultural integration also required careful research and collaboration. Cultural storytelling was embedded through architectural and material expression rather than applied ornamentation. This includes display shelves featuring Indigenous artefacts and the CoDesign Room, where arched windows and acoustic panels showcase Indigenous artefacts. These elements were developed in consultation with Sheldon’s internal design and manufacturing teams to ensure they were purposeful, respectful, and seamlessly integrated into the overall aesthetic.

Bringing together all of Sheldon’s internal divisions on one project presented both opportunities and logistical challenges. The manufacturing factory produced the majority of the furniture and joinery, including the all-timber, demountable workstations that underpin the project’s sustainability strategy. Meanwhile, the electrical division managed the installation of AV and lighting systems, the partitioning team delivered the curved glass and operable walls, and the construction team oversaw coordination and final assembly. Maintaining alignment across these specialist divisions demanded disciplined scheduling, open communication, and collaborative problem-solving throughout the build.

Ultimately, the project’s challenges shaped its strongest outcomes. Through internal collaboration, evidence-based design, and meaningful staff engagement, Sheldon delivered a workplace that not only meets its technical and sustainability benchmarks but also embodies the company’s values: sustainable, inclusive, and proudly self-built.

Key Products 

Sheldon’s all-timber fully demountable workstations – designed and manufactured in-house at Sheldon’s Somersby factory. These modular plywood workstations highlight the company’s sustainable manufacturing capability and can be easily disassembled and reused for future fit-outs.

Polytec – supplier of melamine finishes and timber-look panelling used across joinery and wall features, contributing to a cohesive material palette and a Level A Green Star rating.

Dulux – EnvirO2 low-VOC paint range used throughout, supporting WELL and Green Star targets for indoor air quality and sustainability.

Interface – supplier of modular carpet and flooring solutions, used to define zones and movement paths while meeting sustainability and acoustic standards.

Autex – acoustic panels installed throughout focus areas, meeting the acoustic performance requirements of the targeted Gold WELL rating.

SNB Stone – supplied the natural quartzite and marble stone used in the kitchen and feature areas, adding tactile warmth and material richness.

Tech Solutions

Moodsonic Soundscaping System – A biophilic soundscaping technology installed across the workplace to enhance focus, well-being, and inclusivity. It supports neurodiverse workstyles by adapting sound profiles to different zones, from quiet focus rooms to social breakout areas.

Integrated AV Setup – throughout the office, Sheldon’s electrical team implemented a connected AV system to support client presentations, internal collaboration, and live demonstrations.

Circadian Rhythm Lighting System – designed to promote wellness and productivity, this system adjusts light levels and tone to support the body’s natural cycles.

Air Quality Monitoring Sensors – part of the WELL accreditation strategy, sensors track temperature, humidity, and CO₂ levels to maintain comfort and indoor air quality.

Energy-Efficient Motion & Lighting Sensors – integrated throughout the workplace to reduce power consumption and align with 5 Star Green Star requirements.  

Overall Project Results

When designing Sheldon’s new Sydney headquarters, the goals extended well beyond creating a visually impressive workplace. The project set out to achieve multiple objectives simultaneously — meeting 5 Star Green Star and Gold WELL targets, showcasing Sheldon’s full in-house capabilities, and, most importantly, delivering a truly employee-first environment that reflects the needs of the modern worker.

The result is a space that celebrates flexibility, creativity, and craftsmanship, while offering a sense of belonging and pride for the team that inhabits it.

Almost immediately after the relocation, feedback from staff confirmed that the new workplace marked a major step forward compared to the previous office. Employees consistently highlight the atmosphere, design quality, and functionality as major improvements. The central CBD location has also had a tangible impact on engagement, with more team members inviting clients and visitors to experience the space firsthand. Many note that the office’s design and energy are key reasons they enjoy spending time there.

Six months post-occupancy, Sheldon has received a wealth of feedback from both staff and clients who have toured the new office. The most celebrated feature across both groups is the central breakout and kitchen area, which greets visitors immediately after exiting the lifts. This hospitality-inspired hub has become the heart of the workplace — a vibrant, social environment that encourages connection and community. With its sweeping skyline views, modular banquette seating, natural stone kitchen island, and a pool table beneath a mounted screen, it sets a welcoming tone and leaves a strong first impression. Over time, staff have embraced this area for daily catchups, celebrations, and even after-hours gatherings, reinforcing its role as a unifying element within the office.

Another standout space frequently mentioned in feedback is the Internal Divisions Library. Designed as an interactive zone showcasing Sheldon’s design and manufacturing capabilities, it features curated materials, project boards, and trade samples — offering an immersive environment where designers and clients can collaborate. This area has become one of the most unique and distinctly “Sheldon” spaces in the layout, embodying the company’s multidisciplinary expertise.

The creative lounge is another highlight, much loved by the client-facing teams. Furnished with vintage pieces and collectibles that reflect Sheldon’s creative character, the lounge provides a relaxed yet professional setting for informal meetings and relationship building. Similarly, the Focus Spaces and Wellness Room have been praised for their acoustic comfort, offering staff quiet, restorative areas for concentrated work away from the noise of the high traffic social areas. 

Overall, The feedback has been resoundingly positive, and moving into the future there is a high confidence that Sheldons Sydney office will continue to synegise high performance & genuine enjoyment — an authentic reflection of the company’s ethos and capability.

Main Contributors:

A defining part of this project’s story lies in the strength of Sheldon’s own divisions coming together to deliver the new Sydney headquarters. Foremost among them, Sheldon’s Manufacturing Factory played a pivotal role, – producing a large portion of the office’s joinery and furniture, including the all-timber, fully demountable workstations that embody both craftsmanship and sustainability. Based in Somersby, this facility enabled a high level of design precision and coordination, ensuring materials were locally sourced, waste was minimized, and every detail met the design intent.

Beyond manufacturing, Sheldon’s electrical division oversaw the integration of the workplace’s AV, lighting, and sensor systems, while the partitioning and construction teams brought each element together on site. Whether it’s manufacturing, construction, strategy, partitioning, electrical or mechanical each division contributed its expertise to realize a cohesive space that not only reflects Sheldon’s multidisciplinary capability but how collaboration between teams can elevate both process and outcome.

Meet the Design Team

Sheldon Interiors

Photography

Simon Whitbread 

The post Sheldon Interiors Unveils a Sustainable, Employee-First Sydney HQ That Blends Craftsmanship and Workplace Strategy appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

Overview

Building upon a history of collaborative work between the organizations, global real estate owner, operator and developer, Tishman Speyer, enlisted Spectorgroup to design its 1 Rockefeller Plaza Studio by Tishman Speyer coworking space. For its fourth location at Rockefeller Center, the cultural heart of Manhattan, the design draws inspiration from the city’s rich musical and nightlife history, creating an engaging and contextually-responsive work environment. Located across two floors at 1 Rockefeller Plaza, this flexible office and co-working space offers SMBs and enterprise companies alike an elevated physical location, providing easy access to transportation, amenities, and NYC’s vibrant culture in the heart of midtown. 

Spectorgroup and Tishman Speyer centered the design concept on the rich history of New York’s legendary musicians and iconic nightlife. From Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington to The Clash, Carole King, and The Velvet Underground, the design pays homage to these cultural icons through themed spaces, particularly in conference and phone rooms. Each room subtly reflects its namesake with custom color palettes, bespoke wallpaper designs, and thoughtfully curated furniture. The narrative extends to other areas, drawing inspiration from historic nightlife landmarks such as the Peppermint Lounge, Studio 54, and the Copacabana Club. 

The design also celebrates the architectural heritage of 1 Rockefeller Plaza by exposing and highlighting the building’s original brickwork. This is paired with a mix of wood, concrete, and carpeted flooring in meeting areas and office suites. To enhance acoustic performance, Sonaspray acoustical treatment was applied to the ceilings, complemented by acoustic wall treatments in key meeting areas to reduce noise and minimize auditory distractions.

Tishman Speyer partnered with Spectorgroup to create a cutting-edge, flexible office space that addresses the practical needs of today’s workforce while fostering creativity, collaboration, and community.

By blending historical references with modern design elements, the 1 Rockefeller Plaza location of Studio by Tishman Speyer strikes a balance between functionality and aesthetic appeal, offering a workplace experience that is both dynamic and distinctly New York.

Project Details & Challenges

The project required careful attention to acoustics due to its location in a high-traffic area, which influenced material selection and soundproofing strategies. From a construction standpoint, the space’s low ceilings created challenges related to maximizing ceiling heights without impacting the design. Light fixtures throughout were selected specifically to better accommodate these constraints. 

A significant portion of the design challenge involved creating visual identities in phone and conference rooms tied to musicians and locations with strong ties to New York City. For instance, Ella Fitzgerald’s conference room features a deep magenta burgundy wallpaper and a pearl light chandelier, while the Blondie room is themed with illustrated graffiti-style wallpaper and a twisted rope light fixture. Custom elements like wallpapers further complement an intentional FF&E selection that makes each room a unique destination rooted in the city’s cultural heritage.

Key Products 

Wallcoverings: Calico, Flavor Paper, HD Walls, Philip Jefferies & Trove

Flooring: Interface, Bentley & Shaw Contract 

Tech Solutions

Logitech Rally Bar & Rally Bar Mini

Overall Project Results

The completed space captures New York’s rich musical and nightlife heritage while reimagining it for the modern workplace. Shared areas, from the main reception to the cafe, pantry, lounges, and multipurpose rooms, provide flexible and functional environments that support collaboration and focused work, while a dedicated wellness room offers a thoughtful retreat for occupants. The careful selection of acoustic treatments, materials, and lighting strategies balances aesthetics with functionality, ensuring every design choice is both visually stunning and pragmatic.

The result is an office environment that feels vibrant, agile, and distinctly New York, perfectly aligned with Tishman Speyer’s vision for the future of coworking. 

As of September 2025, less than a year after opening, the space is 100% occupied. Given this success, Spector Group and Tishman Speyer will collaborate again to open an additional floor at One Rockefeller plaza, with broadly similar layout and design principles.

Main Contributors:

Architect: Spectorgroup

MEP Engineer: RDA Engineering

General Contractor: JT Magen

Furniture: Inside Source 

Expediter: DeSarno Associates 

IT-AV-SEC: 802 Consultants

Meet the Design Team

Steven South – Design Director, Senior Associate

Simon Yeung – Senior Project Manager, Senior Associate

Claudia Cipriani – Senior Project Coordinator

Zachary Harwin – Senior Project Architect

Sefako Ketosugbo – Senior Designer

Sara Tappan – Designer

Photography

Tommy Agrimodias and Jeff Garlin

The post Spectorgroup’s Music-Inspired Coworking Space Redefining Modern Workplace Design in NYC appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

The 7-Eleven Global Solutions Center – India project, branded as The Urban Playground, was a transformational initiative conceived to fundamentally redefine the modern corporate  environment. The strategic thought process centered on elevating 7-Eleven’s headquarters into a vibrant, flamboyant space that intrinsically channels the cheerful, convenient, and energetic vibe of the company’s retail stores. The core idea was to translate the abstract concept of an  extraordinary “11/10” workplace culture into physical form, thereby establishing an iconic  brand destination and a crucial asset for attracting and securing top-tier talent in the highly competitive tech hub of Bengaluru. 

The design team at Zyeta, embraced this ambitious mandate. Their approach involved  reimagining the office as a strategic destination that fostered human interaction and mirrored the innovation essential to convenience retail. This required carefully integrating the bold new design with an existing 7-Eleven office, a move guided by utilization analysis to maintain continuity while ensuring the new center possessed its own striking, unique identity. The design’s impact is generated through the deliberate creation of distinct, immersive environments tailored to support various modes of employee engagement and productivity. Key features include a highly stylized Arrival Experience and an Arrival Cube that intentionally evokes the retail “on the go” aesthetic, alongside innovative elements like a highly engaging photo tunnel designed to connect directly with the new generation of workers.  

This successful fusion of strategic intent and architectural flair has positioned the 7-Eleven GSC as a benchmark for experience-driven corporate design.

Project Details & Challenges

The project’s comprehensive workplace design strategy prioritized creating a truly dynamic and adaptive environment, necessitating a clear segregation of focused and collaborative zones to cater to all work styles. This involved designing ergonomically sophisticated work  neighborhoods for deep, focused work, balanced with numerous collaboration points, huddle rooms, and acoustically treated phone booths. The success of this spatial planning was critical for maintaining productivity amidst the high-energy amenities. 

A significant aesthetic and technical challenge was the management of lighting transitions. The design intentionally utilizes a vibrant mix of ambient daylight in core workspaces alongside dramatic mood lighting, including extensive RGB LED lighting in the arrival and social areas, to evoke an “after-dark” retail ambiance. Ensuring a seamless, non-jarring shift between the high CRI white light of the work areas and the moody, brand-colored RGB luminescence of the social spaces required implementing a sophisticated, IoT-enabled Smart Lighting Control System. This solution allowed for precise color and brightness management across zones, effectively solving the transition challenge while ensuring energy optimization. 

Further complexities included rigorous acoustic mapping and mitigation strategies essential for integrating high-decibel amenities like the Gym and Basketball Court directly within the  corporate office structure. This demanded specialized acoustic treatments to ensure noise  containment. Procurement presented its own set of challenges, requiring careful sourcing and integration of plush furniture and fixtures from international brands to meet the opulent aesthetic, all while maintaining strict quality control.  

Finally, the artistic vision required the complex, on-site execution of custom graffiti that visually integrated Bengaluru’s urban energy with 7-Eleven’s brand motifs, demanding specialized coordination and careful scheduling to meet project timelines. 

Key Products 

EGE Carpets 

Shaw Contracts 

Norr11 

Studio 19

Overall Project Results

The Urban Playground has yielded outstanding results, with its most significant impact being its success in the war for talent. The space has firmly established itself as a certified hotspot for Gen Z talent, directly validating the project’s strategic investment in a vibrant, amenities-rich, employee-centric environment. This immediate success in attracting high-value talent demonstrates the project is performing excellently to its primary goal. 

Employee sentiment is exceptionally high, with the design successfully embodying the cheerful, vibrant vibe of the 7-Eleven retail experience. The high-energy amenities, including the Basketball Court and Gym, are highly praised for promoting wellness and team engagement. More fundamentally, the deliberate integration of the literal Playground (with slides and rotating chairs) is consistently cited as a feature that fuels spontaneous joy and creativity, confirming the design’s power to translate culture into architecture. The dramatic aesthetic of the arrival areas and photo tunnel, achieved through the intricate RGB LED lighting, is also a favorite, contributing significantly to the office’s brand identity and social media appeal.  

Furthermore, the project’s innovative approach has earned it significant industry acclaim, establishing it as a global benchmark for new age, experience-driven workplace design. The thoughtful integration of IoT for lighting and robust service models for the high-end amenities also ensures that the long-term operational performance is efficient, confirming the space is a strategic asset.

Main Contributors:

Design: ZYETA 

PMC: Cushman & Wakefield

Meet the Design Team of ZYETA

Kishore Mano, Principal Architect 

Nikhita Ravindra, Lead Designer 

Aswin Suresh, Environmental Graphic Designer 

Vaisakh Vijay, 3D Visualizer 

Muhammad Abuzar, BIM  

Pooja Akki, Cost Manager

Photography

Prashant Bhat Photography 

The post Inside 7-Eleven’s “Urban Playground”: Zyeta Designed A Vibrant, Tech-Forward Workplace That Redefines Corporate Culture in Bengaluru appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

Overview

This landmark project redefined what a shared workplace amenity could be – transforming an overlooked transfer floor into an exclusive, multifunctional destination that seamlessly blends hospitality, business utility, and premium service. 

What began as an open question – how to better utilize a vacant public floor – evolved into a new model for tenant-focused business amenities across HKRI Taikoo Hui’ commercial portfolio. Through stakeholder engagement, workshops across Hong Kong and Shanghai, and immersive tenant interviews, we helped craft a strategic response to a complex brief: to create a new paradigm of shared space, built around tenant experience, operational viability, and brand alignment. 

With no initial design brief, led by Founder/Design Director, Doug Newkirk (Newkirk Creative), a reverse brief was created to define the opportunity for this underutilized floor to serve as a vibrant business lounge, event space, and social hub. We saw this as more than just an opportunity to design a beautiful space, but to also solve a real estate problem for the landlord – how to keep their current tenants when they need to grow. The solution was to offer a business amenity space in the building, only for the tenants, that would allow them to reduce certain shared spaces – like large pantries, boardrooms, or training rooms – to make way for their own potential expansion. Tenants would have access to a shared business center – an idea that evolved into a form of tenant clubhouse. This became a commercial “third space” specifically designed and curated for the tenants of HKRI Taikoo Hui.

Project Details & Challenges

The space needed to meet diverse goals. For the landlord, it was about creating long-term value while enhancing the overall tenant experience. For the space operator, it served as a premium extension of their executive offering, reinforcing their brand presence within the building. For the F&B partner, the design had to support a carefully calibrated footprint to ensure commercial viability. By placing these needs at the center of the design process, the space was conceived not just to function, but to thrive.

To create a successful brief and space program, we began with interviewing selected tenant representatives and asking questions around how their business functions, meeting behavior, work culture, and what workplace amenities they lack at Taikoo Hui that could greatly improve their operational needs. This includes a tenant mix of companies across diverse industries – from cosmetics, real estate, gaming, tech, fashion, science, business consulting, and the landlord. The data was compiled and presented back as the outline and metrics for design and success of the project.

The Vision: An elegantly modern, sustainably designed platform for connecting business and community.

What the tenants and stakeholders desired was an upscale multifunctional area that combines features of an airport first class business lounge with and event space.  Additionally, a requirement from the landlord is to make this a prototype for sustainable design – achieving both LEED and WELL Platinum level.

In defining the essence of the project, we drew inspiration, not from workplace design, but from private members’ clubs and hospitality. The space, on the 38th floor of one of the most premium multi-tenant office buildings in Shanghai, has the opportunity to act as an exclusive access shared services space, like a members’ club. We looked at the SOHO houses from around the world and other similar premier clubs. We knew the space should be designed around experience. Tenants and visitors would be able to enjoy light food & beverage from morning to evening, a co-working style lounge, modern meeting rooms that boast the ultimate acoustic privacy and hi-tech video conferencing capabilities, and a multi-functional event and learning space for presentations, panel discussions, or celebrations, and by contrast, a quiet respite room that promotes health and wellbeing.

Key Products 

We partnered with Steelcase to tap into their partnerships of high end product brands such as: Wendelbo, Viccarbe, and Coalesse to bring the premium aesthetic into the space.

Fixed and operable partitions where fabricated and installed by JEB Group, where we customized their product to provide double-layer fluted glass to provide visual privacy with elegance, and acoustic performance. We also customized the color with an anodized champagne color on the metal frames.  

Wood flooring in the lounge, by Imondi Flooring, was created with a custom radial shape for a more dynamic aesthetic.

Tech Solutions

• Digital LED screens in the lounge, meeting rooms and multifunctional event spaces.
• Integrated sound masking system throughout and localized sound/music systems for each room
• Air & Energy monitoring system and digital dashboard by RESET (based in Shanghai)

Overall Project Results

To provide a fully realized transformation of the space, we refinished and redesigned the entire floor, including the lift lobby walls, flooring, and ceiling around the core. The core is wrapped with a cream color fluted stone and bronze metallic trim to produce a warm, softer, more hospitality-centered aesthetic. Digital directories were added to offer community information and enhance the user experience.

Anchored by an all-day F&B offering, the bar and lounge area serves as the social heart of the space, ideal for casual business conversations, client hosting, or breakout moments between meetings and events. The aesthetic evokes the comfort and exclusivity of a private members’ club. The seating, provided by Steelcase’s partners, is diverse, premium, and practice for multiple discussion or work settings.

Six uniquely themed meeting rooms combine advanced technology with rich storytelling. Drawing initial inspiration from the five Chinese elements, each room evolved into a symbolic character drawn from Greek mythology: 

AURA (Air) – The secluded room with circular table offers clear, open corner views to the city skyline that gives a light, open feeling to a quiet 6-person setting.

NAIAD (Water) – An immersive room with curved digital LED screen across 2 walls, a reflective water-like ceiling, and blue color accents. The room offers a fluid and flexible meeting style.

METIS (Wood) – Inspired by a home library design, with wood shelves, wood flooring, and a bamboo-inspired ceramic tile on the bar counter. The room is flexible as a meeting or dining setup.

EOS (Metal) – Designed as a more conventional boardroom, with front AV wall, and long elegant marble table, the room boasts metallic finishes and trim, with a warm, but light, neutral color scheme. 

GAIA (Earth)  — A smaller, yet conventional meeting room (10 pax) that has a more insular feeling, with no windows to the outside, and a richer, earthy material palette.

HELIOS (Fire) – Created as an active workshop-style meeting room, furniture is flexible with both low lounge sectionals and high bar stool and tables. The audio-visual is a larger, touchscreen for both standing or seating presentation

Each room offers a distinctive spatial and digital experience tailored to different types of interaction, from strategy sessions to client presentations. 

A highly adaptable event zone comprising three rooms with operable acoustic partitions. When opened, the space becomes a fully scalable venue for training sessions, presentations, or brand events. The sculptural ceiling, featuring clean, scalloped forms, required precise integration of services within minimal technical zones. 

A modern interpretation of the workplace wellness room integrates hyperbaric oxygen capsules and programmable water-pressure massage beds, sourced from a local specialist provider. Reinforced STC 55-rated walls insulate the space acoustically, providing true refuge in a highly activated environment. 

This is more than a space, it’s a strategic asset that elevates the office tower’s value, supports tenant wellbeing, and reflects a shift in how we think about shared amenity in the workplace. Through immersive design, stakeholder alignment, and creative problem-solving, the sky lobby has become a signature offering that sets a new standard for premium commercial developments.

Main Contributors:

Newkirk Creative – Lead Strategy & Interior Design

WSP – MEP Engineering

Studio Illumine – Lighting Design

JCK Acoustics – Acoustic Engineer

David Laris Creates – F&B consultant

PTS – Audio-Visual Consultant

CBRE – Project Management / Sustainability

The Executive Center (TEC) – Operations

Steelcase – Furniture supplier

JEB – Partition supplier

RESET – Air Quality/Energy Consumption monitoring system

Meet the Design Team

Doug Newkirk – Lead Designer & Strategist

Dayu Fatsy Djuanda – Senior Designer

Seth Henock – Design Coordinator

Edwin Wang – Senior Technical Coordinator (outsourced)

Photography

Edward Shi

The post Newkirk Creative Transforms HKRI Taikoo Hui’s Sky Lobby into a LEED & WELL Platinum Tenant Clubhouse appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

Overview

Supermayorista Vital, a leading Argentine company in mass-consumption products, embarked on a bold transformation to reimagine its work environment and spatial presence. The 5,000 m² building, spanning a basement, ground floor, and four upper levels, required modernization to accommodate new work dynamics while honoring its architectural character.

Contract Workplaces guided this evolution through workshops led by their Workplace Management team, shaping the values, behaviors, and culture that would define the new office. Recognizing the symbolic weight of the building, the design emphasized openness, flexibility, and horizontal connectivity. The four-level central atrium became the heart of the project: the “Vital” ecosystem. Each floor hosts plazas or “agoras” that open to the central void, fostering collaboration, interaction, and community.

A sculptural wooden staircase and bridge traverse the atrium, linking levels and creating a focal point for movement, visual connection, and contemplation. The ground floor functions as a vibrant plaza, anchored by a tall tree, circular tiered seating for town hall gatherings, and a large media wall, complemented by a cafeteria that supports multiple functions. Upper levels balance open-plan workstations with quiet areas for meetings, storage, and technical support. The fourth-floor terrace extends the dining area outdoors, with seating ranging from domestic-style furniture to urban-scale concrete elements.

Artistic interventions enrich the environment, featuring works by emerging national artists selected through a federal competition, creating a layered dialogue between architecture and art. Biophilic design, including native vegetation inside and out, strengthens the connection to nature. The renovation of Supermayorista Vital harmonizes corporate identity with a modern, open, and collaborative workspace, elevating employee experience, engagement, and well-being.

It is a vibrant, inspiring, and distinctly Vital office—where design, culture, and human connection converge.

Project Details & Challenges

The Supermayorista Vital project began with a clear understanding of the client’s desire to transform both the spatial and cultural dynamics of their workplace. From the outset, the building’s symbolic importance for the company’s leadership was recognized, and the CEO was actively involved in every stage of the process. The planning phase was guided by workshops conducted by Contract Workplaces’ Workplace Management team, which included sociologists tasked with aligning the company’s values and operational dynamics with the new office design. These workshops helped define the functional and behavioral principles that would shape the project, ensuring that the space would support collaboration, flexibility, and employee engagement.

The design process faced the challenge of modernizing a building that, while of excellent original quality, was constructed under standards and aesthetics of a previous era. The goal was to update the architecture while accommodating new workplace behaviors and integrating contemporary aesthetics. A key design requirement was to create open, permeable spaces that encouraged interaction and visibility, moving away from enclosed, segmented floors. This led to the reorganization of circulation around the central four-level atrium, which became the heart of the “Vital” ecosystem. Plazas or “agoras” on each floor were designed to open to the atrium, promoting informal gatherings, collaboration, and social interaction.

One of the most technically demanding aspects of the project was the construction of the large wooden staircase and connecting bridge. These elements were designed to traverse multiple levels, connecting previously isolated work areas while providing both functional circulation and points for visual connection. Their installation required careful structural planning to integrate with the original building framework, ensuring stability without compromising the spatial openness.

The project also addressed diverse user needs by creating a multi-functional ground floor, which includes a central plaza with a tall tree, circular tiered seating for townhall-style gatherings, a large media wall, and a cafeteria to support different functions. Upper levels combine open-plan workstations with quieter, supportive areas such as meeting rooms, storage, lockers, and technical support zones. The fourth-floor terrace was designed as an extension of the dining area, accommodating a variety of exterior furniture that ranged from domestic-scale pieces to urban-scale concrete elements.

Additional design considerations included the integration of art, which was curated through a federal competition featuring emerging national artists. These works were distributed throughout the building, enriching the user experience and establishing a dialogue between architecture and art. The project also incorporated biophilic elements, with native vegetation both indoors and outdoors, reinforcing a sense of connection to nature.

Throughout the project, close collaboration with the client and iterative workshops were key to addressing unexpected challenges, including aligning the structural modifications for the staircase and bridge with the existing architecture and maintaining the original character of the building. The careful balance between preserving historical elements, introducing new structural features, and creating open, collaborative spaces exemplifies the project’s complexity and innovative approach.

The renovation successfully modernized the building while transforming workplace culture, aligning corporate values with a dynamic, open, and collaborative environment.

Key Products 

Equipment – Interieur Forma

Carpets – Atlantis

Wood Paneling – Patagonia Flooring

Lighting Fixtures – Signify & Emporio de Luz

Overall Project Results

At the heart of the building lies the four-level central atrium, the “Vital” ecosystem, which establishes a visual and social axis connecting every floor. Plazas or “agoras” open to the void at each level, creating layered moments of encounter and informal gathering. This vertical openness allows employees to engage with one another across floors, fostering interaction, curiosity, and serendipitous connections. 

The ground floor functions as a central plaza and social heart, centered around a tall tree and circular tiered seating that invites assemblies, townhall-style meetings, and casual exchange. A large media wall and an adaptable cafeteria complement the space, enabling flexibility for diverse functions and daily interactions. Upper levels balance active collaborative zones with quieter, supportive areas, including open-plan workstations, meeting rooms, lockers, storage, and technical support, ensuring both focus and connectivity. The fourth-floor terrace extends the dining area outdoors, featuring a mix of domestic-style furniture and urban-scale concrete elements, offering spaces for reflection, informal gatherings, and a tangible connection to nature.

Art is interwoven throughout the office, curated from emerging national artists through a federal competition, generating visual dialogue and enriching the spatial narrative. Native vegetation, both inside and outside, further reinforces biophilic principles, connecting employees with the natural world and enhancing sensory engagement.

Ultimately, Supermayorista Vital embodies a workspace that is alive with energy, creativity, and movement. Standout features—the central atrium, sculptural staircase and bridge, terraces, plazas, and curated art—create memorable experiences, elevating daily routines into moments of inspiration. By harmonizing architectural innovation, cultural expression, and human-centered design, the project has not only modernized the building but also transformed the way employees inhabit, interact with, and experience their workplace. The result is a distinctly Vital office: open, flexible, and vibrant, where design and culture converge to support collaboration, well-being, and enduring organizational identity.

Meet the Design Team

Contract Workplaces

Photography

Andrés Negroni

The post A Living Atrium: How Contract Workplaces Transformed Supermayorista Vital into a Vibrant, Connected Ecosystem appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

Overview

When popular coffee chain Dutch Bros set out to support its rapid growth and expand corporate functions beyond its headquarters in Grants Pass, Oregon, it tapped Corgan to help reimagine its 140,000 SF office space in Tempe, Arizona. The goal was to create an environment that would foster connection, energy and ignite a sense of purpose for the Dutch Bros team.

Early on, employees expressed a desire for a space that felt energizing and distinctly “Dutch Bros.” This feedback, paired with targeted research and a brand audit, led the design teams to create a vibrant, immersive environment that reflects the evolution of the brand since its founding in 1992. The design prioritizes experience and storytelling, inviting employees and guests alike into a space that feels both purposeful and playful.

A neutral material palette layered with bold, immersive moments tells the story of the brand while staying true to its mission of being fun-loving, mind-blowing company that makes a massive difference one cup at a time.

Project Details & Challenges

Rather than focusing solely on operational needs, the design team at Corgan led an in-depth brand audit with Dutch Bros to ensure that the new office environment would authentically reflect the company’s identity, values, and culture. The pre-planning phase involved incorporating input from key stakeholders through a series of interviews and facilitated sessions that established project objectives and guiding principles. 

The entry sequence begins with a “hype tunnel” to energize employees. The bold, high-energy corridor is layered with dynamic digital displays, brand graphics, and signage for a fully immersive experience. A wrapped logo design leads visitors from the entrance through to the main lobby, serving as both wayfinding and a visual narrative of the brand’s journey forward.

A unique design feature that required special attention was the incorporation of the brand’s iconic windmill — a symbol deeply tied to founding brothers’ heritage. To modernize the emblem, the team developed a large, illuminated windmill centerpiece in the lobby lounge complete with cartoon illustrations and positive messaging. This element anchors the space and connects employees and guests to the company’s roots.

Graffiti-style murals created in collaboration with local artists and Dutch Bros team members capture the creative pulse of the brand. One wall includes playful references to fan-favorite drink flavors like “Gummy Bear,” “Fire Lizard” and “Laser Cat,” further embedding the brand’s culture into the physical space. Another custom wall covering — made from handwritten employee notes collected during a company retreat — highlights the genuine care and passion behind the company culture and serves as a constant reminder of the “why” behind the brand.

A full-scale mock retail storefront grounds the office in the customer experience. Designed to mirror a real location, the space allows corporate teams to interact with signage, displays and operational layouts exactly as customers and shop crews do. The immersive environment goes beyond aesthetics to provide a dynamic, hands-on opportunity to test new ideas, create mock campaigns and ensure consistency across all touchpoints.

Designing spaces for authentic interaction was a key priority, leading to the strategic placement of lounges and social zones throughout the office. The “Radiate Kindness Lounge,” inspired by one of Dutch Bros’ core values, offers a tranquil environment for employees to recharge, while fostering a culture of positivity. Recreational amenities like a pickleball court and a functional arcade were added to support team building and relaxation. 

No Dutch Bros space would be complete without a place to refuel. Multiple fully operational coffee bars are thoughtfully placed throughout the office, giving employees easy access to their favorite drinks and to connect with others. Every employee is trained to make drinks from the menu, keeping a shared understanding and reinforcing the shared culture of the brand. 

Key Products 

Overall Project Results

“Combining thoughtful design with the power of the Dutch Bros brand, our new HQ has become more than just a workplace,” Jess Elmquist, Chief People Officer of Dutch Bros said. “It’s where energy, creativity, and teamwork come to life.”

Behind the eye-catching design, the adaptable office layout can easily accommodate expanding teams and shifting workflows. A thoughtful mix of open and enclosed areas ensures the environment supports both focused work and dynamic collaboration. With a variety of strategically planned zones, employees can optimize their individual functions and collaborate with teams more effectively. Convenient conference rooms also provide privacy when needed. 

“The feedback has been incredible,” Elmquist said. “Our teams love the positive energy, vibrant design, and spaces that spark connection, allowing them to do their best work.”

Main Contributors:

Architect/Designer – Corgan

General Contractor – Wespac Construction

Furniture – Forward Tilt, LLC

MEP – IMEG Corp. 

Structural – PK Associates, LLC

Meet the Design Team

Jenn Consentino, Karah Tennyson, Rikki Panza, Lacey Lujano, & Dani Franklin

Photography

Corgan

The post Designing for Connection: Inside Dutch Bros’ Playful, Purpose-Driven HQ by Corgan appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

Modern offices are no longer just workplaces; they are increasingly becoming spaces that foster relationships between employees. The latest project by SAAN Architekci is a perfect example of how thoughtful design can influence atmosphere and user comfort. The Fresha office, located in Central Tower in Warsaw, immediately impresses with its bold approach to color and materials. The entire space reflects the modernity, energy, and innovation that are integral to Fresha, a global company developing software for beauty salons.

The architects from SAAN Architekci, who have won multiple awards in Poland and abroad for their office interiors, set out to create a modern, dynamic, and inspiring environment for Fresha’s team of developers. The 470 m² open-plan office encourages employee interaction, with a clearly defined and well-thought-out functional layout. Vibrant colors, natural materials, and transparent glass partitions play a key role in maintaining a sense of spaciousness while ensuring separation between different company departments.

Project Details & Challenges

One of the most striking areas is the kitchen, seamlessly integrated with the communal space—the heart of the office. Dominated by a deep blue color scheme, this area creates a distinctive character that contrasts with the warmth of natural wood. A standout feature is the large wooden island with a suspended lamp-planter, which serves both practical and aesthetic purposes. This multifunctional space is not just for meals but also for informal team gatherings and company events.

Another eye-catching element is the lounge area, furnished with a large, plush seating arrangement, perfect for relaxation and socializing—whether for games, movie nights, or casual interactions. The project is also distinguished by neon accents, such as the motivational phrase “Make it happen”, which adds a youthful, edgy vibe to the interior.

SAAN Architekci drew inspiration from Fresha’s ideology and values—modernity, dynamism, and a fresh approach to business and teamwork. The abundant use of natural greenery, including hanging plants above the conference table, adds lightness to the interior and introduces elements of biophilic design to the Warsaw Ochota district office.

Working within the historic Central Tower building presented certain challenges, such as structural inconsistencies and aging infrastructure. Despite these obstacles, the designers successfully crafted a contemporary space using eco-friendly solutions, including acoustic ceilings, vinyl flooring, and felt carpeting. A crucial aspect was ensuring ergonomic spaces for hybrid work and coworking, allowing for both individual focus and team collaboration.

The office interior merges two design styles: modern minimalism, characterized by clean lines and bold color accents, and soft loft aesthetics, featuring exposed technical ceilings. The hallways, painted in vibrant lime green, energize the workspace and uplift employees.

Areas dedicated to individual work maintain a muted color palette of white, natural wood, and green, fostering focus and productivity. Meanwhile, meeting rooms and creative workspaces feature intense orange accents, which enhance the dynamism of business discussions.

Attention to acoustic comfort is evident in soundproof phone booths, ensuring quiet and privacy for employees’ conversations. Throughout the space, modern lighting effects such as mirrors, neon lights, and backlit stretched surfaces further emphasize the contemporary character of the design.

Key Products 

Flooring – FORBO & IVC

Ceilings – Ecophon

Furniture – JUDAR Daniel Markiewicz & Pedrali

Plants/Greenery – Zielona Fabryka

Wall Finishes – Profit Line

Overall Project Results

SAAN Architekci has designed a space that goes beyond a traditional office —it reflects Fresha’s organizational culture, where shared breakfasts, lunches, and team-building activities play a significant role. Through a well-thought-out concept and meticulous attention to detail, the architects have created an environment that inspires, motivates, and ensures comfort for everyday work. This project demonstrates that, when entrusted to the right architects, an office can become a vibrant, creative, and uplifting place.

Main Contributors:

Dominika Ogłoblin, Viktoria Piatruchyk, Karolina Wojenka, Natalia Sękowska, Agnieszka Kubsik, Martyna Blaśkiewicz

Meet the Design Team

Iga Sawicka & Aleksandra Niedużak

Photography

Tom Kurek 

The post Fresha’s Warsaw Office Redefines the Modern Workplace with Bold Color, Connection, and Creativity appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

Overview

The Haworth Hyderabad project was envisioned as more than just a workplace — it was designed to be a living expression of the brand’s global ethos, where minimalism, innovation, and people-centric design converge. The goal was to craft a space that reflects clarity, functionality and hospitality, while creating an environment that inspires collaboration and well-being. Lighting played a central role in defining the character of the interiors, not merely serving its functional purpose but becoming a tool to shape spatial identity, depth and ambiance. Subtle ambient lighting, layered with focused accents, was orchestrated to create a sense of rhythm and variety across different zones, making each area distinct yet connected.

Complementing this, the material palette was kept intentionally minimal, anchored in solid color finishes and tonal differentiations that clearly distinguish collaborative pockets, lounge zones and workspaces, while maintaining an overall harmony. Together, these design moves achieve the project’s overarching goal: to deliver a people-centric workplace that is vibrant yet calm, minimal yet engaging and deeply aligned with Haworth’s vision of creating environments that inspire people to connect, collaborate and thrive.

Project Details & Challenges

One of the key challenges during the project was achieving minimalism without monotony. With the client’s vision focused on clean lines and solid colour finishes, the design team had to ensure visual richness through subtle contrasts — textures, tonal shifts and lighting compositions became the tools to avoid flatness while staying true to the minimalistic approach. Another challenge was integrating lighting as a design feature rather than an afterthought. The solution involved a layered lighting strategy, where ceiling baffles, pendant lights and focused spotlights not only enhanced functionality but also became sculptural highlights in themselves.

The project also required balancing global standards with local sensibilities, ensuring that the workplace reflected Haworth’s international brand ethos while remaining relevant to Hyderabad context. Material sourcing and execution timelines added complexity, but through close collaboration with vendors, contractors and the client’s global design team, these challenges were navigated successfully.

The result is a workplace that overcame its constraints to deliver a refined, people-centric environment, where light, materiality, and spatial planning work together to create an office that is timeless, collaborative, and aligned with Haworth’s forward-thinking values.

Key Products 

Haworth – Modular Furniture

Buzzispace – Light Fixtures

Hush Office – Meeting Pods

Cappellini – Loose Furniture

BoConcept – Loose Furniture

Boss Design – Loose Furniture

Interface – Carpet

Overall Project Results

The project outcomes are reflected in the way employees and visitors experience the space: open lounges and collaborative hubs foster connection, the hospitality-driven high counter acts as a natural gathering anchor, and quiet focus zones provide balance for individual productivity. The brand showcase area, designed as a gallery-style zone, not only highlights Haworth’s products but also reinforces the company’s identity and values within the workplace itself.

In essence, the outcome is a timeless, future-ready office that reflects Haworth’s forward-thinking culture, strengthens its brand presence in India, and sets a new benchmark for workplaces where design, functionality, and experience converge.

Main Contributors:

It was a perfect collaboration of the in-house design team of Haworth with their global design vision and ethos & legacy of the organization to carry forward, and the localized expertise and technical prowess of Acorp Consultants team. While the ideas of integrating the wide range of products into the space design by Haworth, coupled with the lighting design made a huge difference, at the same time, the technical nuances executed to the Tee by Acorp was one of the key highlights of the project. 

Architect/Designer – Haworth

Design and Build Partner – Acorp Consultants

Project Management – PRS Elite

Furniture Supplier – Haworth

Meet the Design Team

Liz Teh – Haworth

Mohamad Anwar – Haworth

Akash V. – Acorp

Photography

Yamini Krishna

The post Haworth Hyderabad: A Minimalist, People-Centric Workplace Designed for Connection and Clarity appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

Overview

Stonecutter is a transformative redevelopment of an entire urban block in the City of London, reimagining a complex corner site at 1 Stonecutter Court and 81 Farringdon Street within the evolving Fleet Street Quarter. Commissioned by La Caisse and PIMCO Prime Real Estate and developed by CO—RE, tp bennett was appointed as lead architect to create a next-generation office building that would respond directly to contemporary workplace needs and post-pandemic office design requirements.

The project’s primary goal was to deliver an exemplary 240,000 sq ft, 13-story office building that would attract business occupiers seeking high-quality, experiential and flexible workspace while setting new standards for sustainable development. The design needed to address the complex challenges of an island site situated in close proximity to the Grade II listed 18th century Hoop & Grapes public house, the Fleet Street conservation area, and strategic viewing restrictions to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Creating a cohesive architectural response to these diverse streetscapes while ensuring the building appealed to a broad range of occupiers was fundamental to the project.

Central to Stonecutter’s ambition was the restoration and enhancement of the surrounding urban realm, contributing positively to the public realm through the creation of a new pocket park with glazed pavilion, relocated courtyard space, and improved accessibility to historic Harp Alley.

The building was designed to support hybrid working patterns with efficient, virtually column-free floor plates, floor-to-ceiling windows maximizing natural light, and multiple roof terraces offering exceptional city views.

Advanced sustainability measures, including the reuse of existing foundations and a fully electric-powered system, were integrated from the outset to achieve the City of London’s ‘Aspirational’ embodied carbon target. The project successfully secured leading international law firm Travers Smith as anchor tenant, with Trainline subsequently taking additional floors, resulting in full occupancy prior to completion in June 2025.

Project Details & Challenges

Stonecutter presented a complex array of design challenges that required innovative solutions across heritage, architectural, and workplace requirements. Most significantly, as one of the first new build office buildings to complete in the City of London designed in direct response to post-pandemic workplace concerns, the project needed to reimagine how office spaces could support hybrid working patterns and employee wellbeing. The interior design strategy focused on creating flexible environments that would address the evolved understanding of workplace needs revealed during COVID-19.

The ground floor was conceived as a dynamic, welcoming environment featuring dual reception areas, coffee bar, townhall space, and art gallery showcasing local emerging artistic talent. The double-height foyer, flooded with daylight and featuring interior planting that blends with exterior greenery, creates long vistas connecting occupiers with the urban landscape, responding directly to increased pandemic awareness of the critical importance of access to nature and natural light for tenant wellbeing. Six roof terraces provide exceptional city views and crucial outdoor amenity space, further prioritising occupier wellness and connection to the external environment.

The design team’s solution drew inspiration from the diamond cutting heritage of adjacent Hatton Garden, incorporating materials and geometries that reflect local character while creating a building that enhances rather than detracts from its historic context. Careful massing studies balanced heritage requirements with commercial needs, maximising lettable floor area while respecting viewing corridors and neighbouring listed buildings. The lightweight structural system with 13.5m x 9m grids enabled virtually column-free floor plates, providing unprecedented flexibility for occupiers while maximizing natural light penetration through floor-to-ceiling windows across all facades.

Beyond addressing heritage constraints, tp bennett leveraged the project to improve the public realm, relocating and enhancing the courtyard space to create better accessibility while adding a pocket park with glazed pavilion. The result is architecture that serves both commercial tenants and the broader neighborhood while celebrating the unique character of this historic quarter.

Key Products 

Overall Project Results

Stonecutter is an exemplar of post-pandemic office design and sustainable development. This is evidenced by the fact that the building achieved full occupancy prior to completion, with leading international law firm Travers Smith signing a 158,000 sq ft pre-let for its new London headquarters, followed by Trainline taking floors two through four totalling 61,500 sq ft in March 2025. This rapid commercial success demonstrates market confidence in tp bennett’s design strategy and approach to post-covid working environments. 

One of the project’s most significant outcomes is its sustainability achievements. Stonecutter is the first office building in the City of London to deliver the ‘Aspirational’ target for as-built embodied carbon, achieving 538kgCO2e/m2 compared to the London Plan benchmark of 950kgCO2e/m2. This represents lower upfront emissions than any other major new build in the City since Life Cycle Carbon Assessments came into force in March 2022. The innovative material specifications, including 40-60% cement replacement in concrete throughout the building and reusing existing foundations to save an estimated 2,600 tonnes of CO2, have created a replicable blueprint for future sustainable construction.

The building also prioritises operational sustainability performance, with a fully electric-powered system, 2,700 square feet of solar panels, and advanced energy conservation methods ensuring Net Zero Carbon operation in alignment with the Paris Climate Agreement. The smart building technology collates data around energy usage, allowing occupiers to monitor and react to their own emissions, supporting tenant sustainability goals.

In terms of design, the building’s standout features extend beyond the office spaces to create a genuine contribution to the local area. The pocket park with glazed pavilion provides much-needed publicly accessible green space along the Farringdon corridor, featuring a coffee shop and restaurant that add vibrancy to the streetscape. The pavilion itself showcases architectural innovation with its diagrid façade and inverted roofscape containing diverse flora, creating an activated garden space that draws visitors into the courtyard.

The interior spaces have been carefully crafted to support the evolving needs of modern workplaces. The elegant timber lattice ceiling in the reception echoes the exterior façade’s geometry, creating design coherence that references the cut stones and gems of nearby Hatton Garden. The super-flexible podium level can transform to support different tenant needs, while the six roof terraces provide exceptional city views and outdoor amenity space that has become increasingly valued in post-pandemic workplace design.

Stonecutter demonstrates that ambitious environmental targets can be achieved while creating commercially successful, architecturally distinctive buildings, evidenced by achieving full occupancy prior to completion. The building’s smart capabilities and dynamic welcome experience create an innovative post-pandemic office environment that supports the evolving needs of modern businesses in a vital part of the city. 

Main Contributors:

Client: La Caisse and PIMCO Prime Real Estate 

Developer: CO—RE

Architect: tp bennett

Structural Engineer: Thornton Tomasetti

Main Contractor: Mace 

LCA Assessor: Thornton Tomasetti

Meet the Design Team

Julian Sharpe – Principal Director

James Elliott – Director

Simon King – Project Director

John Pritchard – Project Director

Teresa Rodriguez – Associate Director

Thomas Cheek – Senior Architect

Erin Copland – Senior Technologist

Danny Leung – Senior Interior Designer

Photography

Hufton+Crow

The post tp bennett Delivers London’s First Post-Pandemic, Net Zero-Ready Office Landmark appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

Overview

Plus Company, a global collective of more than 25 advertising, media production, and public relations agencies, recently reimagined its Liberty Village campus in Toronto, where over 600 of its 3,000 global staff are based. Originally spanning more than 70,000 square feet across four industrial buildings, the campus underwent a transformative redesign in response to the pandemic’s impact on workplace culture. Partnering with architects Lebel & Bouliane, Plus Company consolidated 15 Canadian agencies into a single, fully hybrid hub at 32 Atlantic Avenue, reducing its footprint by 30% while creating a more collaborative, adaptable environment.

Guided by empirical research and a forward-looking vision for the future of work, the new 50,000 square foot campus was designed as a flexible, creative ecosystem. Highlights include Plus Co Park, a social and informal workspace, the Forum, a 150-person venue for all-agency gatherings, shared creative production facilities, and more than 1,100 meeting and desk seats coordinated through advanced room-scheduling technology. Agencies enjoy flexible territories with shared buffer zones, allowing scalable growth without relying on rigid hot-desking models.

The design prioritized minimal demolition, human-scale experiences, intuitive wayfinding, and modularity. The former WWII munitions warehouse was transformed around a central ‘Street’ spine, linking two industrial sheds featuring clerestory-lit open work areas and private meeting zones. Abundant natural light, neutral materials, digital billboards, and customizable branding elements enable each agency to maintain a distinct identity while thriving within a cohesive campus environment.

This is an engine for creative exchange – designed to foster connection, spark ideas, and make the return to in-person collaboration not just possible, but irresistible. 

Project Details & Challenges

Prior to undertaking the design, Lebel & Bouliane led Plus Company’s leadership team through a year-long strategic visioning process which involved key members of each agency, business leadership and Plus Co’s technology team. Understanding each agency’s vision for hybrid team work was fundamental to the planning and design process that followed. The year-long process was also a critical aspect of the company’s change management process: engaging staff through surveys, open dialogue, and a transparent intention of increasing in office attendance through a mix of strategic scheduling, flexible programming and responsive design.  

In collaboration with the Plus Company team, Lebel & Bouliane (L&B) articulated organizational objectives: improve internal coordination, ignite synergies between agencies, support organizational and cultural growth, and fuel Plus Company’s creative culture. With an empirical framework of real, trending and projected data to form a shared vision among all agencies, design options were iterated and stress-tested under various conditions – including organizational pivots and disaster recovery. 

Transforming Plus Company’s Liberty Village campus into a flexible, hybrid creative environment posed a series of complex challenges spanning design, infrastructure, culture, and organizational strategy. A primary hurdle was accommodating 15 distinct agencies under one roof, each with unique workflows, identities, and spatial needs. The campus vision extended beyond simply housing these agencies, it needed to enable them to grow, contract, or reconfigure dynamically. This required a design that balanced flexibility with functionality and comfort. Traditional hot-desking models were insufficient, as they can undermine team cohesion and ownership. Lebel & Bouliane introduced an innovative solution: scalable, overlapping workspaces, buffer zones, and shared meeting areas that support both permanence and adaptability. Implementing this approach necessitated significant investment in technology, including intuitive room-scheduling systems and real-time feedback mechanisms, allowing space usage to be continuously monitored, refined, and optimized.

Hybrid work culture demands spaces for collaboration, creation, and connection. With this in mind, the team designed large-scale social and communal areas like the Café and Plus Co Park, a library, a separate workshop room alongside a variety of focused workspaces and private booths. These environments foster informal encounters — ‘bump-into moments’ — adjacent to quiet concentration spaces. 

Another major challenge was transforming a historical building into a 21st-century creative campus. Its double-height ceilings, exposed steel structure, and lack of ground-floor windows lent character but created limitations in light distribution, acoustics, and human scale. To address these challenges, open workstations were strategically placed beneath skylights and clerestory windows, while large-scale planters anchored key gathering areas to help with acoustic control. Compressed transitions were used to emphasize the grand scale of spaces such as the Forum and Plus Co Park. Floating meeting rooms and geometric wayfinding elements further organized the campus and guided movement, all while preserving openness, flexibility, and a sense of cohesion.

Key Products 

In Plus Company’s renovation, material selection played a defining role in shaping both the aesthetic and functionality of the space. With its expansive, double-height interiors, acoustic performance was paramount. Ezoboard Baffle Clouds and wall panels were introduced throughout, creating acoustically balanced environments while enhancing the character of each zone. Suspended baffles lowered the scale of collaborative areas, carving out intimate, booth-like spaces ideal for focused conversations. Wall panels surrounding meeting rooms and offices provided soft, absorptive surfaces that maintained clarity and comfort. Another key feature was the Colour + Space Microtopping, applied across millwork benches, planters, and most notably, the tiered seating in The Forum. Its concrete-like finish evoked the feel of urban park benches, pairing durability for high-traffic use with a tactile softness that made it inviting for everyday seating. Flooring further unified the design, balancing performance with visual impact. Interface’s Open Air carpet tiles offered a subtle, neutral base in meeting rooms, while Interface Syncopation introduced pops of color and layered texture in the Plus Co Park-bringing warmth, vibrancy, and rhythm to the overall palette.

Tech Solutions

Plus Company relies on an internally built space utilization platform that tracks daily Wi-Fi connections by agency and department, helping leaders monitor attendance targets of 75–80% while protecting employee privacy. Additional tools include Envoy for seat booking and deliveries, Google Calendar with Evoko tablets for flexible room scheduling, and an AV system designed with hitplay to deliver a seamless Google Meet hybrid experience. Standardized, certified hardware with proactive monitoring ensures reliability, while advanced setups like Shure ceiling mics, Q-Sys cameras, and Logitech Rally Systems with RightSight speaker tracking.

At the heart of the office is the Forum, a town hall space designed for high-impact events and hybrid gatherings. Outfitted with K-Array Line Array speakers, integrated stage lighting, and a 163” LG DirectView LED wall, the space supports hundreds of events annually while doubling as a brand showcase. Centralized event controls and BrightSign digital signage extend content throughout the workplace, allowing Plus Company to combine cutting-edge technology with architectural design for an immersive, flexible, and future-ready environment.

Overall Project Results

The outcomes of the Plus Company Creative Campus project highlight a successful transformation of a traditional workplace into a forward-thinking, flexible, and collaborative environment- reflecting the evolving nature of creative work in a hybrid world. By consolidating 15 independent agencies into a single 50,000-square-foot campus at 32 Atlantic Avenue, Plus Company not only reduced its physical footprint by 30% (from 83,000 square feet), but also enhanced operational efficiency, workplace culture, and the overall employee experience. This consolidation preserved individuality and creative freedom: modular branding opportunities, digital billboards, and neutral architectural elements provide a flexible canvas for each agency to express its identity within the shared environment. Anchored by a warm maplewood palette, exposed steel structure, and carefully managed natural light, the interior design strikes a balance between cohesion and distinction, fostering both agency autonomy and cross-pollination of ideas.

A key measure of success was the rebalancing of space from fixed workstations to collaborative and multifunctional areas. The project reduced dedicated desks by 38% while increasing collaborative seating by 153% and meeting room capacity by 33%. This shift in spatial priorities directly supports hybrid work behaviors, where employees come to the office for intentional interaction, creativity, and strategic work rather than routine tasks. Purpose-built areas such as the Forum, Café, Plus Co Park, and floating meeting rooms act as activity hubs, accommodating everything from large-scale pitches to impromptu brainstorming sessions. Smart scheduling technology ensures these spaces remain accessible, efficient, and adaptable to evolving needs. The Forum, in particular, has become an emblem of the new campus culture, widely used across all agencies for all-hands meetings, client presentations, and company-wide events.

Another key outcome of the project has been a measurable improvement in employee engagement and attendance. Prior to the redesign, in-office attendance hovered around 30%; by Q1 2025, that figure had increased to 55%, with teams organically organizing their in-office presence around meaningful collaboration. This increase reflects not only the functionality of the new design, but also the emotional resonance of the space—its ability to foster connection, creativity, and a renewed sense of community after years of remote work. The inclusion of quiet zones, phone booths, and focused work areas further supports different workstyles, making the campus inclusive for introverts, extroverts, and everyone in between.

From a business perspective, the investment in digital infrastructure – representing 25% of the total budget – has proven invaluable. Real-time data collection and feedback mechanisms enable teams and leadership to monitor space utilization, identify friction points, and continuously refine the workplace experience. The result is a truly agile environment that supports strategic objectives, fosters creative excellence, and positions the company for long-term growth. Ultimately, the Plus Company Creative Campus has surpassed its initial objectives, establishing a new benchmark for hybrid workspaces in the advertising and media sector. It serves as a scalable, human-centered model that seamlessly integrates space, technology, and culture to deliver maximum impact.

Main Contributors:

Architects: Lebel & Bouliane 

Structural: Contact Structural Engineers

M&E: Loring Consulting Engineers

Lighting: ALULA Lighting Design

Plantings: Ambius

AV: hitplay

Builder: Pentacon Group

Meet the Design Team

Photography

Tom Arban Photography & Riley Snelling Photography.

The post Lebel & Bouliane Transform Toronto Campus into a Hybrid Creative Hub appeared first on Work Design Magazine.