Leading office interior design consultancy, OP, has completed the fit out of Cooper Parry’s new 18,000 sq ft London hub at Broadwalk House in Broadgate.  The project has transformed the 5th floor space, consolidating Cooper Parry’s London operations into one central hub that reflects the rapidly growing accountancy firm’s unique brand personality whilst supporting team growth and client relationships.  The building’s nickname – ‘the Flowerpot Building’ – inspired a botanical design concept woven throughout the workspace, with nature-inspired naming conventions including the Bloom Lounge business reception area and The Greenhouse central social space.  The Bloom Lounge creates a welcoming first impression for drop-in workers and visitors, with the Bloom Room extending this area as a flexible space that doubles up as a training room when required. At the heart of the workspace sits The Greenhouse, a multifunctional hub serving as an alternative work setting, social space with gaming facilities, food preparation area, and event space for large gatherings.  Open plan desk zones accommodate full-time staff, with creative layout and design elements avoiding traditional office aesthetics. A dedicated meeting village provides client suite areas with multiple meeting rooms featuring themed botanical names, enhanced through carefully selected wallpaper and carpet.   Exposed ceilings throughout maintain an industrial aesthetic, whilst playful patterns on joinery and peach and red striped fabrics create unique personality elements. Sustainability was a key focus of the project, with OP implementing an extensive reuse strategy that retained 80% of existing architecture including meeting rooms. All existing desks and task chairs were reused prioritising retention over complete renovation and significantly minimising waste and carbon footprint.  The London project builds on OP’s strong relationship with Cooper Parry, having previously delivered successful hub projects across Manchester, Reading and Birmingham.  “Our vision was to create an inspiring workplace that supports Cooper Parry’s growth whilst maintaining their distinctive brand personality. The challenge was balancing high-density requirements with creating unique, aesthetically pleasing spaces.” Gary Tailby, Managing Director at OP  “We needed to create a London hub that brought together multiple offices while supporting our continued growth. OP delivered exactly what we required and more. The transformation has given us a workspace that reflects our personality as ‘rebels of accountancy’ while providing the flexibility we need for our CPers and constant flow of visitors. The social spaces has become the heart of our operation - it’s where our culture comes to life. We’re absolutely over the moon with the results.” Jo Giles, Head of Facilities at Cooper Parry. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Flexible workspace operator marks milestone anniversary with record growth, expanding across the UK’s biggest cities.  The last decade has seen the flexible workspace market change drastically thanks to shifts in remote and hybrid working patterns across the UK.  With new data revealing that daily office occupancy has reached post-pandemic highs, climbing to 40%, hybrid working has moved from an experiment to an established habit.(1)  As businesses rethink the purpose of the office and the value it can bring, flexible workspace providers are at the forefront of creating office spaces that offer genuine value to the people who use them.  One flexible workspace provider redefining how modern businesses operate is Orega, who are celebrating 25 years in business with a period of record growth, a growing corporate client base, and ambitious future plans.  Celebrating 25 years of growth Founded in 2001, Orega has grown from a single site to one of the UK’s most established flexible workspace brands, now managing 656,000 square feet of office space across 25 locations.  Developing a strong hold in the UK’s major cities, the company currently is home to over 12,000 clients across 550 businesses, including major corporates in sectors including finance, legal, recruitment and business services. Alan Pepper, CEO of Orega, comments:  “Reaching our upcoming 25th anniversary is a proud milestone for the business. The flexible workspace sector has evolved dramatically since Orega was founded – we’ve weathered the storm of three economic downturns and a global pandemic – and we’ve come out stronger than ever. “Recent data showing that daily office occupancy is increasing marks an important shift and this is something we’re also seeing across our portfolio. Businesses are rethinking the purpose of the office and the focus has moved towards spaces that foster culture, collaboration and improved wellbeing.  “Since 2001 and into the present day, our core values have always aligned with this need for comfortable, professional, hospitality-led environments that enable businesses to thrive. I’m proud of the lasting relationships we’ve built with clients who value our approach to flexibility without compromise and the team who’ve got us to where we are today.” Business highlights Over the past two and a half years, Orega has opened eight new premium centres and grown its team with key strategic hires including CEO Alan Pepper, COO David Kinnaird, and Commercial Director Sophie Turnbull.  Recognised as Operator of the Year at the 2024 Flex in the City Awards, Orega are the pioneers of Management Agreements with Landlords. This unique approach to flexible workspaces has been central to its success, setting a precedent for sustainable growth in the sector.  Recent milestones include achieving 100% occupancy in under nine months on the recently opened London Lime Street building and the signing of a new London Citypoint space, opening in spring 2026. The acquisition of Citypoint is a nod to the high demand from businesses who require state of the art flexible spaces in central, well appointed locations, a trend that is expected to continue due to the current economic climate meaning businesses are reluctant to be tied into long leases. Sophie Turnbull, Commercial Director at Orega, comments: “We’ve seen sustained demand from established corporates who want flexibility without sacrificing on quality or location and this is driving our expansion across the UK’s major cities.  “The market has matured since we started out and flexibility has become the central focus for many businesses and it’s reflected in the clients we’re attracting – professional service firms, financial institutions and established consultancies who see the workplace as a vital platform for success but want the flexibility to still scale up or down easily.”  Looking ahead Orega’s growth shows no signs of slowing down, with ambitious  plans to expand to 45 locations over the next five years at an average rate of four new sites per year. The focus will remain on London, the UK’s six big regional cities and select locations where demand for premium flexible workspaces continues to rise.  New offerings are also in development to serve client’s evolving needs, reflecting the company’s commitment to ongoing innovation and customer satisfaction.  Alan comments:  “Our future growth will be shaped by the same principles that got us to where we are today. We want to keep empowering businesses to unlock their true potential, remaining agile and responsive to the changing market. The flexible workspace industry is maturing and we’re proud to be at the forefront of that evolution.”  To find out more about Orega and available office spaces, visit: https://www.orega.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Located right in the centre of Birmingham’s prime business district, 81 Colmore Row, a Grade II listed building, has been fitted out by Thirdway on behalf of client Kinrise. Taking its design cues from the rich history and heritage features of the building, this 27,657 sq ft mixed CAT A & CAT A+ space offers unique, stand-out office spaces in the UK’s second city.  Heritage as a starting point  81 Colmore Row (formerly The Chatwin Building) was designed by Julius Alfred Chatwin and completed in 1862 – it was originally designed as a library, but instead became the Joint Stock Bank, and then Lloyds Bank. As such the building boasts many traditional features such as the Corinthian columns, and an arcade of arched windows on the façade. Taking these heritage features as a reference point, Thirdway aimed to create a seamless cohesion between the exterior of the building, and the newly fitted out interiors.  Rich textures and muted tones  The use of rich textures and muted tones, and understated lines allowed the heritage features to take centre stage. This is seen in the reception area, where dark natural wood frames the reception desk, and is crafted in a rounded shape, mimicking the shape of the arched windows of the building. This shape is continued subtly throughout the reception, as seen in the rounded furniture and even the light fixture. Focus on contemporary  While the design in part paid homage to the heritage features, it also had to deliver a contemporary feel as Kinrise’s brief was to create high-end, modern workspaces that would attract and impress the right tenants.  To achieve this, contemporary styling was used through with the placement of bespoke modern art prints, abstract sculptures, and brightly coloured furnishings that brought freshness and modern feel to contrast with the traditional architectural features.  An example of this is on the first floor CAT A+ space, where the welcome area features statement seating, adding a pop of colour to the neutral, timeless space.   Standing out from the crowd Thirdway’s challenge was to create spaces that really stood out from other premium workplaces in the commercial district. The fourth floor exemplified this ambition, with a full-service space designed with earthy tones and clean, modern lines to offer complete versatility; whether it was used for daytime meetings and client hosting, or as an adaptable canvas for evening events.  Enhancing this vision further, is ‘The Library’ on the third floor, which offers a contemporary communal workspace inspired by the building’s former life as a public library. Thoughtfully designed for informal meetings or as an inspiring alternative to open-plan seating, it features a striking gallery wall of modern art, brought to life with rich reds and browns that unify the space and encourage creativity. Flexibility for landlord and tenant To give ultimate flexibility for Kinrise and its tenants, Thirdway devised an adaptable floorplate that offered a choice of CAT A and CAT A+ spaces within the building.  Integrated in the interior fit out were larger fully-fitted spaces that allowed businesses to move in straight away, as well as CAT A floors that were ready for customisation, so that tenants could personalise their own space.  Thirdway also designed the second and third floors as CAT A+ spaces with smaller floorplates. These were designed to accommodate a variety of business needs, making them particularly suitable for smaller organisations or creative studios.  Each of these compact yet highly functional layouts included open-plan desk areas, phone booths, a tea point, a communal workspace, and a four-person meeting room, as well as a large boardroom. Design-wise they focused on enhancing the heritage features, while opting for natural materials and a gentle colour scheme. This blend of design and amenities ensured a versatile workspace environment which is adaptable and appealing to businesses of all sizes. “Having the opportunity to work on an important heritage building in the heart of Birmingham was a great privilege for the whole Thirdway project team. Delivering on Kinrise’s brief to create high-end, sought after contemporary, flexible CAT A & CAT A+ workspaces without detracting from the heritage features of the building was a challenge that we relished. We believe we have created something unique that will enhance the business district of Birmingham, bringing in new, dynamic businesses and occupiers,” said Abi Munslow.  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Workplace consultancy Blueprint Interiors has completed a full interior design and fit out for Inizio’s new office in Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Inizio, a global market-leading commercialization partner that specialises in healthcare, was formed in 2022 out of the combination of Ashfield Health and Huntsworth, under private equity firm  Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R). Ashfield Healthcare opened its first office in Ashby-de-la-Zouch back in 2002. Marking a new chapter for Inizio in the region and continued investment in people and communities across the UK, the company took the lease of Excelsior House on Excelsior Road, just off junction 13 of the M42. With 18,000 sq. ft. across two floors, Blueprint Interiors were briefed to create a workspace that integrated teams, enabled collaborative working, offered creative and flexible spaces, and a place Inizio could welcome clients. The space now includes areas for diverse working styles and activities, such as hot-desking areas for collaboration and interaction across teams and departments, private spaces for focused work and confidential conversations, and a state-of-the-art control for hybrid and virtual events. In line with the company’s core values, the project had clear sustainable goals. The building’s EPC A rating was maintained, existing furniture was repurposed, and recycled products made from ocean plastic were installed. Other features of the fit out included exposed ceiling designs, sustainable bespoke furniture pods and meeting rooms named after Ashby’s traditional trades, such as Smithy, Forge and Cooper. Kate Kelly, Managing Director UK & Ireland at Inizio Engage, said: “The new office has truly transformed how we work. It’s an engaging, sustainable space that brings our Inizio Engage teams together and adapts perfectly to our evolving needs. Every detail reflects our unique culture and values, creating an environment where our people want to spend time because they feel empowered to succeed.” Chloe Sproston, Creative Director at Blueprint Interiors, said: “Having worked with Ashfield Healthcare before it became Inizio, it was fantastic to be supporting them again on their impressive new office space. Just six minutes from our own HQ, the Inizio team were pleased to have sourced a local partner, echoing its sustainable and community focusses. “After immersing ourselves in the Inizio business and culture, we interviewed stakeholders to gain a view of the company’s aims and ambitions. With a clear sense of the project goals, we set to work to create a dynamic workspace that met the needs of the evolving business. “The space we designed brings people together and reflects the culture of the teams based out of the Ashby-de-la-Zouch location. With areas for different styles of working and socialising, alongside sustainable practices, Inizio has a workplace which enhances its wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and environmental policies.” As fit out designer, supplier and main contractor, Blueprint Interiors worked alongside Gleeds as project manager. Emma Wiggin, Director at Gleeds, said: “We were pleased to provide project management services on this exciting new space for Inizio. It was fantastic to work alongside them and other project partners to help achieve their ambitions for an office that truly serves their purpose. It was also great to lead on the delivery of a project that prioritised circularity, which aligns with Gleeds’ focus on sustainable practices in construction.” Blueprint Interiors follow the WELL Building Standard; a universally recognised benchmark which puts mental wellbeing and emotional health as key considerations when creating productive workplaces. The Standard helps organisations to optimise their workplaces around the health and wellbeing of their people, which allows teams to be their very best selves. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals