Willmott Dixon Interiors has been appointed to finalise Stage 3 and 4 design for a refurbishment for London Fire Brigade (LFB) at 8 Albert Embankment. The project will see a significant overhaul of the historic building and landmark structure while introducing modern facilities and meeting standards for sustainability. It comes after proposals were developed in late 2025 with the aim of delivering a refurbished and upgraded Grade II Listed building, bringing the space back into use as the Brigade’s new headquarters. Key aspects of the original 1937 design will be preserved, while delivering a sustainable and modernised fire station. Alongside the main headquarters space, it will be home to approximately 840 staff, ensuring the Brigade can continue to serve London’s communities from this strategically important location. Willmott Dixon Interiors will be progressing design to include renewal of mechanical, electrical and public health systems, installation of new life safety systems, wholesale window replacement, re-roofing, and re-cladding of the CMC building (the 1980s extension, formerly a control room). New passenger lifts, partitions, ceilings, joinery and finishes will be installed throughout, along with a full refurbishment of the appliance bays and basement area. Located on the ground to second floors, the fire station will temporarily vacate during construction, which is expected to commence mid 2027. Provision will be made to maintain operational support for the nearby Lambeth river fire station on the Thames. There will be a new space for events and exhibitions on the ground floor. Procured via the SCAPE construction framework, this project will see Willmott Dixon Interiors deliver social value through job creation, education and skills development, and environmental initiatives. The contractor will also engage with local SMEs through a Meet the Buyer event, the Greater London Authority’s new SME business mentoring programme, and by establishing an on-site construction skills academy.  Laura Birnbaum, Assistant Director of Property and Technical Services at LFB, said: “This is a once-in-a-generation project for London Fire Brigade as we return to our historic headquarters in the heart of the capital. We are confident that partnering with such an experienced team will create a facility that supports our mission to serve and protect London for decades to come.” Rob Brown, project director at Willmott Dixon Interiors said: “It is a privilege to work with London Fire Brigade to develop their proposals into what will be a major refurbishment of their previous, historic headquarters. We’re focused on designing a facility that is fit-for-purpose while respecting the building’s heritage and balancing the infrastructure and flexibility needed to support the Brigade’s vital work for years and generations to come. Our collaborative approach will ensure we work closely with the London Fire Brigade and its stakeholders to bring them a new home right in the centre of London.” Mark Robinson, group chief executive at SCAPE, said: “This significant refurbishment will deliver a more efficient, modern facility that strongly supports the London Fire Brigade in keeping local communities safe. Through the SCAPE construction framework, our teams will work closely with Willmott Dixon Interiors to achieve time and cost efficiencies from the start, while also identifying how to maximise social value throughout the project from job creation to sustainability. Our ambition is for this development to leave a lasting sustainable legacy for the Fire Brigade and local community for years to come.” Opened by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937, the LFB’s restoration will seek to retain as much of the original structure as possible, including its grand Art Deco frontage, to ensure the listed building retains its historical significance as the ‘home’ of the Brigade. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Workplace consultancy Blueprint Interiors has achieved WELL Certification at Silver level for its HQ in Ashby. The WELL Building Standard (WELL) is a universally recognised healthy buildings standard that focuses on enhancing people’s health and wellbeing through the buildings where they live, work and play. As one of the first commercial fit out companies in the UK to achieve certification, and with Blueprint’s office – WorkLife – being one of only 86 buildings in the UK to meet WELL Certification, it’s a significant achievement. Research shows that WELL Certification benefits organisations by creating healthier, more productive spaces, boosting employee satisfaction and retention, and enhancing market reputation through science-backed design. It leads to reduced absenteeism, improved mental and physical health, increased creativity, and stronger ESG reporting, proving a tangible commitment to people’s wellbeing. Awarded by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the leading authority for transforming health and wellbeing with its people-first approach to buildings, the distinction has been awarded to Blueprint through IWBI’s WELL v2, the latest version of the WELL Building Standard. WorkLife earned the distinction based on ten categories of building performance — Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind and Community — to achieve the Silver level rating. Rebecca Beadle, Project Designer & Wellbeing Specialist at Blueprint Interiors, said: “People are at the heart of our business, both our own team and those working within the spaces we design. By committing to and achieving WELL Certification for our own office, we have created a more supportive and health-focused space for our team to thrive in. “Being the second company of our kind in the UK to hold this accreditation is an important milestone for us and sets us apart as the workplace design consultancy of choice. “Now accredited and experienced in delivery, and with two WELL Accredited Professionals within Blueprint, we can guide and support clients through the WELL Certification process and across all of the WELL ratings – enabling them to have certified and rated workspaces that are proven to improve the health and productivity of teams. “ John Tansur, Commercial Director at Blueprint Interiors, said: “As an employer it’s important that the health of our team members is a priority and that we recognise that the environment that many of us spend a third of our working lives in, supports basic health needs daily. From a business point of view the proven return on investment through increased productivity, reduction in absenteeism and team recruitment and retention makes it an easy leap to take.“ WELL is grounded in evidence-based research that explores the connection between buildings – where people spend approximately 90 per cent of their time – and the health and wellbeing impacts on the people using them. To be awarded WELL Certification by IWBI, WorkLife underwent rigorous testing and a final evaluation carried out by third parties to ensure it met all WELL Certified Silver level performance requirements. Ann Marie Aguilar, IWBI’s Senior Vice President, EMEA, said: “Worklife’s WELL Certification at the Silver level demonstrates outstanding leadership. Our mission at IWBI is to bring human health and well-being to the forefront of building practices, and it is industry leaders like Blueprint Interiors that are putting people at the center of design decisions and helping to advance this movement.” Visit www.blueprintinteriors.com to find out more. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Leading office refurbishment specialist, OP, has completed the transformation of a 1970s office building into Techspace’s newest flexible workspace at 9-13 St. Andrew Street, London.  The 16-week project has converted 16,800 sq ft of previously vacant office space into a contemporary flexible workspace environment, accommodating 274 workstations across the basement, ground floor and office floors 1 to 6.  The design approach centred on implementing Techspace’s ‘Distinctly Techspace’ design language whilst celebrating the building’s original features, including warm terracotta ceiling tiles and structural elements exposed throughout the workspace.  A key design intervention involved reconfiguring the ground floor layout through the strategic removal of an oversized entrance staircase. This created space for a centrally positioned café bar with feature mesh screen backdrop, forming the social heart of the building and encouraging interaction between members.  The workspace includes a suite of five meeting rooms in the basement serving the entire building, complemented by additional meeting spaces distributed across floors and a large boardroom behind the ground floor café. Phone booths are positioned adjacent to member offices, whilst breakout areas feature mixed seating with integrated power throughout.  The project demonstrates OP’s commitment to sustainable design through extensive reuse of existing materials. All glazing was retained and repurposed, and ground floor pillars were stripped back to expose their original character.  Alannah Laud, designer at OP, said: “Our vision was to create an authentic Techspace environment that would bring their “Distinctly Techspace” design principles to life in this unique building. By carefully stripping back to reveal the building’s character, we’ve created a flexible space that feels both contemporary and rooted in place.”  Paul Sandilands, Property Director of Techspace said “We’re delighted with how OP has transformed this challenging building into a space that truly feels like Techspace. They worked collaboratively with our team throughout, adapting the design during construction to meet incoming tenant requirements.”  The project was delivered whilst accommodating incoming tenants, with layouts adapted during construction to provide flexible workspace configurations across the building. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Global technology provider Worldline has moved into a newly refurbished office space in Wolverhampton, following the completion of a fit out by Blueprint Interiors. Having moved into a new space within the same building, located just off junction two of the M54, Worldline appointed Blueprint to deliver a design that better served the team and brought the same standard as its other UK sites. In the UK over the last four years, Blueprint has renovated Worldline offices in Nottingham, Darlington and Chester. The new 6,500 sq. ft Wolverhampton office space has been designed to create an open, bright workspace with social zones, improved acoustics which allowed Worldline to install upgraded technology throughout. Features include a cafe and breakout area with shared benches and a pool table, a hideout room for quiet breaks or personal calls, and planting and tactile finishes to add texture and warmth. ESG credentials were a significant driver across the project utilising waste reduction and extending the life of existing resources. Worldline supported Blueprint on initiatives such as PC monitors being assessed and reused and wall partitions retained. Chloe Sproston, Creative Director at Blueprint Interiors, said: “Our long-term relationship and collaborative approach with Worldline has played a key part in creating a space focussed on smart design for long-term impact. “As well as creating workspaces that best support the team and productivity, we developed solutions that connected Worldline’s office network in the UK, while reflecting the unique character of each location. “Blueprint and Worldline’s shared goal remains the same; to create spaces that are connected, accessible and designed to support people, and we are pleased to have had the opportunity to bring our clients’ vision to life again, by delivering a creative, bespoke fit out on time and on budget.” Andrew Linsley, Operational Delivery Director at Worldline, said: “Over the past four years, we’ve partnered with Blueprint to transform our office spaces into enhanced collaboration hubs, equipped with cutting-edge technology that our teams rely on every day.” Tony Burgess, Director B2B Closed Loop Payment Cards Business, said: “As the home of Worldline’s Business Pay and Contact Centre activities, it is great to see our West Midlands home evolve into a welcoming, positive space. The enhancements have been very well received by both staff and visiting customer.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Leading office interior design consultancy, OP, has completed a strategic space optimisation project for alternative investment management firm, Attestor Limited, at their London headquarters at 7 Seymour Street. Attestor Limited is a leading alternative investment management firm specialising in credit and direct lending strategies across Europe. The firm manages assets for institutional investors including pension funds, insurance companies, and sovereign wealth funds, with a focus on delivering consistent returns through disciplined investment approaches. The six-week project has successfully transformed the 6,300 sq ft workspace to accommodate an additional 8-10 workstations without expanding the existing footprint, demonstrating how smart design can unlock hidden potential within established business premises. OP delivered the comprehensive reconfiguration during the summer period, minimising operational disruption while maintaining the exact look and feel of Attestor Limited’s existing environment. The project centred on strategic space planning to maximise every element of the available floor area through precision planning and targeted interventions. OP created the spatial capacity needed for additional positions while ensuring optimal workflow patterns and maintaining collaborative opportunities. The transformation’s centrepiece is a custom banquette seating solution designed to accommodate meetings for up to 25 people within constrained parameters. This bespoke installation integrates seamlessly with existing joinery, delivering significant functional improvements without compromising the workspace aesthetic. The project showcases OP’s specialisation in technical design and construction management within compressed timelines. OP maintained design consistency through careful material matching and finish coordination. The collaborative approach with trusted supply chain partners ensured seamless delivery within the six-week window, with the result appearing as a cohesive, intentional workspace rather than an adapted environment. The solution enables Attestor Limited to accommodate their growing team within their established prime location, avoiding the significant time investment and operational disruption associated with relocation. The transformation delivers immediate capacity while providing flexibility for future growth requirements within the competitive alternative investments sector. Located in an area where OP has successfully completed other projects, this project demonstrates the consultancy’s deep understanding of the unique demands facing professional services firms in London’s business district. Tom Parsons, Managing Director of OP, said: “This project demonstrates how strategic space planning can generate substantial returns on investment by enabling business growth within existing assets rather than requiring additional real estate investment. We’re delighted to have worked with Attestor Limited to unlock the hidden potential within their Seymour Street headquarters, creating the additional capacity they needed while preserving the quality environment that reflects their market position.” David Alhadeff, Director at Attestor Limited said: “OP’s technical expertise and collaborative approach enabled us to accommodate our growing team within our established location without compromising on the quality of our working environment. The transformation appears seamless and intentional, supporting our high-performing culture while providing the flexibility we need for continued growth.”  The project showcases how rapid business growth can be supported through workspace optimisation delivering immediate capacity gains while future-proofing operations for continued success in London’s competitive financial services sector. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Fit-out specialist Overbury has been awarded a £13 million contract to complete the interior works for the BBC’s new creative base at the landmark Tea Factory redevelopment in Digbeth, Birmingham. The deal follows a competitive tender process that saw Overbury beat off rival bidder Heydon & Carr to deliver the high-profile project, which forms the final stage of the broadcaster’s relocation from its long-standing home at The Mailbox. Around 650 BBC staff are set to make the move once works are complete. Developer Stoford and main contractor BAM began transforming the derelict Tea Factory into a modern shell-and-core office building in early 2024. Practical completion of the base build is scheduled for December 2025, after which Overbury will take over for a nine-month fit-out running through to the end of September 2026. The four-storey fit-out will provide a suite of cutting-edge production and broadcasting facilities, including a TV studio and gallery, eight radio studios, ten edit suites, a radio drama studio, lecture theatre, and a range of apparatus, meeting and collaboration spaces. The works will also encompass full mechanical and electrical installations, raised access flooring, acoustic finishes, and the supply and installation of furniture, fixtures and equipment. Designs for the new base have been led by BBC Workplace, with project management by J4 Projects and cost consultancy from MGAC. Architectural and interior design input has been provided by AWW Architects and IDSR, while CMB is responsible for MEP design, Arup for structural engineering, and Ion Acoustics for the scheme’s specialist sound performance requirements. Once complete, the Tea Factory will become a key hub for the BBC’s operations in the Midlands, providing state-of-the-art facilities within Digbeth’s growing media quarter. The move reflects the broadcaster’s ongoing strategy to decentralise its operations and further embed itself within creative communities across the UK. Overbury’s appointment marks another major milestone for the redevelopment, signalling the start of the final phase in creating a world-class broadcasting environment in the heart of Birmingham’s creative district. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Fit-out specialist 8build has returned to profitability after successfully refocusing its business model towards faster-moving, fixed-price contracts and securing a strong pipeline of aviation work. The London-based contractor reported a £2.2 million pre-tax profit for the year ending 31 March 2025, marking a major turnaround from a £1.2 million loss the previous year. Turnover rose by more than a third to £167 million as the company shifted away from protracted pre-construction services agreements (PCSAs) towards lump-sum and design-and-build contracts that convert to site more quickly. Average operating margins improved from 0.6 per cent, though they remain relatively tight at 1 per cent. Cash reserves also grew 38 per cent to £19 million, with the company maintaining a debt-free balance sheet. Chief executive Nick Bellamy said that tighter bid discipline, streamlined overheads and a record secured pipeline had laid the foundations for another strong trading year ahead. “The markets, in our experience, have moved away from PCSA contracts and towards more fixed-price lump-sum and fixed-price design-and-build contracts,” he explained. “This has reduced the time period from enquiry to construction compared to the elongated PCSA process, helping to bolster our revenue for the period.” The company’s resurgence has been further fuelled by growth in its aviation division. While 8build has long maintained a strong presence at London City Airport, it has recently expanded its portfolio with new project wins at both Heathrow and Gatwick, reinforcing its position in the specialist airport fit-out and refurbishment sector. Looking ahead, Bellamy said 8build was well placed for sustained momentum, with £157 million of turnover already secured for the 2025/26 financial year and a £165 million forward order book in place. “Our focus remains on delivering predictable performance, maintaining strong client relationships and continuing to target high-quality projects in sectors where we can add real value,” he added. 8build’s return to the black marks a significant step forward for the business, reflecting the success of its fixed-price pivot and disciplined approach to operational delivery. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals