Workspace Design Show, the leading trade show bringing together the UK workplace design community, returns to London’s Business Design Centre for its eagerly awaited third UK edition from 27-28 February 2024. At the 2023 event, visitor number increased by an impressive 75% year on year with exhibitors from over 20
CEG has just completed two floors of bespoke designed and fit-out space for transport, infrastructure, and engineering company SYSTRA, at the iconic 28-storey Alpha tower in Birmingham. The 10-year lease of 14,000 sq ft marks the largest custom fit deal delivered by the investment and development company to date. Richard
The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI) is delighted to share the news that the Level 2 Fitted Interiors Installer apprenticeship, which until now has been a pathway within the Furniture Manufacturer apprenticeship standard, has been approved to have its own standard by the Institute for Apprenticeships
Works will transform former manor home into Cat A office space Award-winning contractor, Gilbert-Ash has been appointed to carry out the fit out of a former London manor home, transforming it into a modern Cat A workspace. Situated in the heart of Richmond, Kew Studios is a building steeped in
Global real estate investment management firm, Blue Noble LLP, has announced plans to refurbish Eleven Brindleyplace, a 110,000 sq ft Grade A office building in Birmingham city centre. The new design will reconfigure the building’s substantial double height reception and ground floor business lounge and deliver best-in-class amenities including an
James Latham introduces Swiss Krono’s One World, a unique selection of Melamines specifically for the UK and Ireland. Yesterday, James Latham, one of the UK’s leading independent distributors of architectural materials and finishes, announces the UK and Ireland launch of Swiss Krono’s One World collection. Specially curated for James Latham,
Project will preserve iconic Brutalist landmark facade for the ‘affordable luxury for the people’ hotel Award-winning construction and fit out contractor, Gilbert-Ash, has been appointed as the main contractor to develop Ireland’s first citizenM hotel: citizenM Dublin St Patrick’s. Molyneux House on Bride Street has a long and varied past
Interior design consultancy Office Principles North, has completed the design and delivery of the new green office of Energy & Utility Skills in Solihull. Office Principles North has handed over 5,000 sq ft of CAT B office space on the first floor of Avon House off the A34 Stratford Road,
Hotel fitout specialist, Polcom Furniture by Volumetric Building Companies, has been awarded contracts worth more than £2m to provide bespoke fitted bedroom and bathroom furniture for four Premier Inn hotels and one hub by Premier Inn. Working with Whitbread’s main contractor for each scheme – Gilbert Ash, Carter Lauren and
Wigan based commercial interior design & fit out company, Truline celebrates 35 years and a record increase in year-on-year sales with a restructure to reposition within the market. Truline saw a sales increase of 35% year on year and so in its 35th year the team decided to update the
Workspace Design Show, the leading trade show bringing together the UK workplace design community, returns to London’s Business Design Centre for its eagerly awaited third UK edition from 27-28 February 2024. At the 2023 event, visitor number increased by an impressive 75% year on year with exhibitors from over 20 countries showcasing innovative and transformational workplace interiors products over the two days. Building on this success, over 75% of stand space is already booked for 2024. The organisers of the Workspace Design Show have unveiled an array of exciting plans for the upcoming February event. This year, the show will revolve around the theme of Bloom: Exploring the thriving ecosystem of work life. One of the standout features will undoubtedly be the raft of collaborations with renowned architects’ practices, promising an unforgettable experience for attendees. Gensler will be designing the Design Talks Lounge, BDP will be curating the Insights Lounge, both of which will be sponsored by Hunters, and tp bennett will be responsible for creating a experiential entrance design. Workspace Design Show will be the place in London for architects, designers, occupiers, developers, consultants, coworking companies and fit-out companies to explore the latest industry trends, see the latest products, and find inspiration in the thought-provoking talks programmes. Commenting on the last edition of Workspace Design Show, Gurvinder Khurana, Director, M Moser Associates said: “I would highly recommend attending the show next year, it is a brilliant chance to learn and to meet many people through a shared interest in the design sector.” Natalie Smith, Principal, Planning and Strategies, London, Perkins and Will added, “Highly recommend – a show that brings the entire industry together; a great place to network.” Workspace Design Show 2024, 27-28 February 2024, Business Design Centre, 52 Upper St, London N1 0QH Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
CEG has just completed two floors of bespoke designed and fit-out space for transport, infrastructure, and engineering company SYSTRA, at the iconic 28-storey Alpha tower in Birmingham. The 10-year lease of 14,000 sq ft marks the largest custom fit deal delivered by the investment and development company to date. Richard Brookes, investment manager at CEG, explains: “Most companies don’t employ experts at design and fitting out workspace. They have a business to run and staff to manage, so a landlord willing to deliver this, especially one that will amortise the costs within the lease, can help clinch the deal. “SYSTRA were already located on one floor, but as they swiftly grew, they wanted bespoke, contemporary workspace befitting the expanded team. We agreed a deal over two floors, with a full design and refit package, providing 160-strong workspace, meeting and board room and kitchenette facilities – all designed to retain and attract the best talent. “Our in-house team of building and project managers know Alpha better than anyone and were able to design the most efficient space, working in harmony with existing pipework, air/cooling system and fire constraints. We managed the process from end to end, meeting SYSTRA’s goals from design and layout to productivity, health and sustainability, with the client also making cost savings thanks to our supply chain buying power.” In recent years, CEG delivered a £16.6 million refurbishment of Alpha, creating a contemporary and collaborative working environment for corporates wanting space floor by floor to Let Ready fully furnished flexible studio space for smaller and growing companies. As a result, the building is now 85 % let. John Porter, facilities manager at SYSTRA said: “Alpha is well located within central Birmingham close to New Street station, which makes it really accessible for the team. The recent refurbishment has also provided some of the highest quality space in the city, and the Let Ready studios were ideal. “The ability to accommodate our fast growth within custom-designed space be-fitting of our brand was perfect, and the fact that it could all be delivered by the landlord at no risk to us was even better. “We have a well-motivated team which loves coming to work in our new workspace. they benefit from the café, wellness studio and gym on site, and the Life by CEG app is great for keeping everyone up to date with events and offers.” Since early 2022, CEG has delivered more than 150 Let Ready Custom Design + Fit Out deals, with the help of its UK network of agents. By the end of this year that is likely to grow to more than a 100 deals per annum, creating bespoke workspace for thousands of people. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI) is delighted to share the news that the Level 2 Fitted Interiors Installer apprenticeship, which until now has been a pathway within the Furniture Manufacturer apprenticeship standard, has been approved to have its own standard by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE. This is a significant development and indicates an important juncture in the process of building a sustainable workforce – not just for the installation sector, but the whole KBB industry – as KBB installation career opportunities become instantly more visible to education leavers and those considering a career change. Even more so, having a standard specifically for KBB installation provides an opportunity for the industry to build other apprenticeship pathways within the standard to meet the needs of the sector, such as specialist pathways in kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom installation, as well as other disciplines including surveying, fabrication and even site management. The IfATE has advised that the Fitted Interiors Installer apprenticeship will be approved for delivery imminently, ahead of over 100 apprenticeship standard revisions which are currently being fast-tracked through internal processes, many of which within the construction and built environment team. Damian Walters, CEO of BiKBBI commented ‘This development is a game-changer for our industry, and we should all be very excited about the opportunities that now exist as a result of having a stand-alone apprenticeship standard for fitted interiors. It has been a long and arduous process to get the standard approved, and a huge amount of credit must be given to Lisa Williamson and her team at Achieve + Partners, who have been instrumental in driving this through. The possibilities for attracting new talent to our sector and addressing the skills shortage across the KBB industry are, quite literally, endless as a result of this achievement.’ Lisa Williamson, Director at Achieve + Partners said ‘We are delighted that we now have the standalone apprenticeship available, giving the KBB industry the recognition it rightly deserves. I would also like to thank the KBB industry for their continued support through the extended development process. We look forwards to working with the KBB industry and training provider network to offer apprenticeships and help build a skilled workforce.’ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Works will transform former manor home into Cat A office space Award-winning contractor, Gilbert-Ash has been appointed to carry out the fit out of a former London manor home, transforming it into a modern Cat A workspace. Situated in the heart of Richmond, Kew Studios is a building steeped in history and rich in character which will be completely transformed into stylish office space with a strong focus on sustainability. The £10million project includes the refurbishment of the building to include structural works to create a staircase, lift core and mezzanine plant platform. There will also be alterations to external openings, building repairs, replacement of MEP services to reconfigure the building for subdivision and fitout. Work to the Kew Works building includes roof and front elevation with front and rear extensions, new roof including a green roof, insertion of mezzanines, external and internal refurbishment including fit out to shell and core. The project, which will be carried out in three phases, also includes external hard and soft landscaping. Gilbert-Ash Managing Director, Ray Hutchinson said the company is delighted to be working on such an innovative project which includes a number of sustainable initiatives. He said: “The architect, AMD along with our client, 10JSP Investments has developed a really exciting vision for the future of this building and one that is respectful to its long history. “Much of the original building will be preserved but it will be enhanced with features such as a living green roof, electric vehicle charging, cycle storage and solar panels. “Gilbert-Ash has an excellent reputation for delivering high quality fit out projects and we are excited to be working on the scheme at Kew Studios.” Just a short distance to the River Thames and Chiswick Bridge, Kew Studios is also only a short walk to the iconic Kew Gardens, making the new office space an excellent choice for companies working in the capital. Gilbert-Ash has a unique approach to construction, fit out and refurbishment based on the belief that great buildings come about through hard work, inspired innovation and genuine collaboration. Sustainability is a key focus for Gilbert-Ash with a number of initiatives underway to help the company to drive down its carbon footprint. To find out more about Gilbert-Ash visit www.gilbert-ash.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Global real estate investment management firm, Blue Noble LLP, has announced plans to refurbish Eleven Brindleyplace, a 110,000 sq ft Grade A office building in Birmingham city centre. The new design will reconfigure the building’s substantial double height reception and ground floor business lounge and deliver best-in-class amenities including an on-site café and a client event space. With strong focus on ESG, the scheme also includes an upgrade to ‘end of journey’ facilities, comprising secure bicycle storage and repair station, fully equipped showers and lockers. Interior design consultancy Office Principles North, has been awarded the refurbishment contract and the project is due to complete in October 2023. Nicole Steed, director of asset management at Blue Noble, said: “We’re excited to progress our plans to further enhance the facilities at Eleven Brindleyplace. We are proud to be delivering this scheme to an already impressive building, creating outstanding and well configured on-site amenities that provide the space and experience modern occupiers want.” Eleven Brindleyplace boasts floor-to-ceiling glazing on all 12 floors, with 24-hour access and on-site parking. Carter Jonas and Fisher German are leasing agents marketing 38,000 sq ft of available office space at the building. Alex Tross, partner and head of office agency Midlands at Carter Jonas, said: “The high-quality, affordable office space and range of amenities make Eleven Brindleyplace an ideal base for businesses looking to establish a presence in Birmingham’s thriving business community. The building offers convenient access to the city centre and benefits from both secure parking and close proximity to local transportation links, including the West Midlands Metro.” Charles Warrack, partner at Fisher German, said: “Eleven Brindleyplace is an ideal opportunity for occupiers to secure some of the best office space in Birmingham, as the market bounces back and occupiers seek a flight to quality accommodation.” For more information on availability at Eleven Brindleyplace, please contact Alex Tross at Carter Jonas on 0121 306 0401 and Charles Warrack at Fisher German on 0121 561 7885, or visit https://www.elevenbrindleyplace.co.uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
James Latham introduces Swiss Krono’s One World, a unique selection of Melamines specifically for the UK and Ireland. Yesterday, James Latham, one of the UK’s leading independent distributors of architectural materials and finishes, announces the UK and Ireland launch of Swiss Krono’s One World collection. Specially curated for James Latham, One World brings together 37 of Swiss Krono’s highly sought-after, premium melamines in one place. Offering a near-unrivalled variety of patterns and textures, One World covers all the bases, including monotone, woodgrain, material reproduction and design surfaces. Unlocking creativity, One World’s surfaces can be continually combined in new and interesting ways, opening up a diverse range of design possibilities and firing the imagination of any specifier, daring them to mix, match and experiment. A cornucopia of decors Available across all James Latham’s 14 UK and Ireland depots, the distributor possesses a full stock holding of black, white and standard carcass decors, with three distinct collections: UNI, Woodgrain and Camustyle TX. Taking a closer look: UNI: From subtle to bold, and beautiful in their simplicity, this collection comprises a wide variety of on-trend colours, updated on a regular basis to ensure everything ‘in fashion’ is always available. Woodgrain: features realistic oak, elm, chestnut and walnut finishes with a timeless and elegant finish that will enhance any style. Camustyle TX: Inspired by limestone and textile surfaces, these sophisticated decors feature an impressive vintage look and a rugged texture, offering massive creative potential for furnishings and interior design at an affordable price point. Form and Function The quality of the One World range is not just skin deep. Lightweight and simple to fabricate and install, it’s suitable for a variety of commercial and residential internal surfacing applications, from furniture and shop-fittings to kitchens, bedrooms, hotels, and offices. PEFC™ certified, the range meets the new low-emission class of ED2020 (E0.5), halving the formaldehyde content of E1 melamines. Available in the UK and Ireland from James Latham, One World comes as 2800 x 2070 x 18mm sheets. For more information on the One World Collection, click here. For more information on James Latham’s award-winning distribution services, click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Project will preserve iconic Brutalist landmark facade for the ‘affordable luxury for the people’ hotel Award-winning construction and fit out contractor, Gilbert-Ash, has been appointed as the main contractor to develop Ireland’s first citizenM hotel: citizenM Dublin St Patrick’s. Molyneux House on Bride Street has a long and varied past including spells as a Huguenot Church, a bird market and the offices of well-known Irish architect, Sam Stephenson. The distinctive façade of the building, originally designed by Stephenson, is set to be retained as Gilbert-Ash transforms the site into a 245-room, nine-storey hotel featuring citizenM’s signature bedrooms, inspiring workspaces, a living room filled with art, designer furniture and a 24/7 canteenM serving breakfast, coffee, cocktails, and grab-and-go food. It will also feature a double-height open air art gallery accessible from the ground floor, a terrace courtyard, and four societyM rooms – citizenM’s take on meeting rooms but with a twist. All of these spaces will be open to the public, with societyM rooms available to book for full- or half-day use. The project, designed by citizenM’s long-standing architecture firm partner concrete Amsterdam, will get underway in August 2023 with completion set for early 2025. Known for its hybrid hotel concept that answers to the common frustrations of modern travellers by not only providing a great place to sleep but also to work and play, citizenM currently has 31 hotels across the UK, North America, Europe and Asia. The new Bride Street project next to St Patrick’s Park marks the brand’s first venture into Ireland, although it is actively seeking further opportunities in Dublin city centre. citizenM Dublin St Patrick’s will be Gilbert-Ash’s second project with citizenM, having last year completed the fully modular construction of its London Victoria Station hotel. Gilbert-Ash Managing Director, Ray Hutchinson, said the company is pleased to be continuing its excellent working relationship with the hotel brand. He said: “citizenM is known for disrupting the traditional hotel model with a real focus on lifestyle, guest-centric technology, efficiency, value and genuinely great customer service. “Gilbert-Ash takes on a lot of niche projects which require innovation to succeed, and we share a lot of the same values as citizenM, therefore, we feel there is a real synergy between our companies. We are excited to be working with citizenM once again and we are delighted to be taking on another project in the heart of Dublin.” Klaas Van Lookeren Campagne, CEO of citizenM, says: “Dublin has been high on our list of target cities for some time, and we are thrilled to have secured this location as our first entry into the Irish market. We believe our affordable luxury concept is a great fit for the city, appealing to both visitors and locals alike, and look forward to connecting with this vibrant community.” Gilbert-Ash has a unique approach to construction, fit out and refurbishment based on the belief that great buildings come about through hard work, inspired innovation and genuine collaboration. Sustainability is a key focus for Gilbert-Ash with a number of initiatives underway to help the company to drive down its carbon footprint. To find out more about Gilbert-Ash visit www.gilbert-ash.com, and for more about citizenM visit www.citizenM.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Interior design consultancy Office Principles North, has completed the design and delivery of the new green office of Energy & Utility Skills in Solihull. Office Principles North has handed over 5,000 sq ft of CAT B office space on the first floor of Avon House off the A34 Stratford Road, near Shirley. Its design facilitates hybrid working for up to 70 employees, offering a combination of modern, open plan office space, with hot desking, meeting rooms and collaboration and breakout areas. Sustainability is a key feature of the fit out, in line with Energy & Utility Skills’ vision of ‘skills for a greener world’, and boasts a range of environmentally friendly features such as biophilia, planting and a moss wall. The scheme has been independently assessed as having surpassed sustainability good practice criteria and is one of only a handful of UK office fit out projects to have achieved Ska gold certification. Energy & Utility Skills has signed a ten-year lease at Avon House and has relocated to the building from Blythe Valley Business Park. Katie Jarvis, account manager at Office Principles North, said that Energy & Utility Skills is one of many employers that have chosen to redesign office space to support hybrid working.She said: “The role of the office continues to evolve from solely being a place where work is carried out, to a destination that promotes collaboration and brings people together. “Energy & Utility Skills is committed to providing an inspiring and inclusive workplace for its employees and clients. We have delivered a flexible space where people have the freedom to move around and work in different ways, giving them a great experience. “As a business that operates in the energy and utilities sector, the environment is hugely important to Energy & Utility Skills, so we used the Ska rating method to ensure that the project followed sustainability good practice criteria.” The fit out is the latest project awarded to Office Principles North in the West Midlands. The firm has previously completed the design and refurbishment of 148 and 154 Great Charles Street in Birmingham city centre on behalf of Ergo Real Estate, the creation of 24,000 sq ft of Grade A office space at nearby Summer Row for Aegon Asset Management, and the Solihull headquarters of fast-growing underwear and apparel brand, Lounge. More recently it delivered more than 23,000 sq ft of CAT A office accommodation on level 14 of Birmingham’s The Cube, and the new Birmingham home of law firm Shoosmiths at 103 Colmore Row. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Hotel fitout specialist, Polcom Furniture by Volumetric Building Companies, has been awarded contracts worth more than £2m to provide bespoke fitted bedroom and bathroom furniture for four Premier Inn hotels and one hub by Premier Inn. Working with Whitbread’s main contractor for each scheme – Gilbert Ash, Carter Lauren and CLC Group – Polcom is manufacturing furniture for nearly 1,400 guest rooms for new hotels in Swindon, Cardiff, and London Paddington and for hotels undergoing refurbishment in Belfast and Dublin. Two other furniture projects for Whitbread have recently been handed over to Gilbert Ash – hubs by Premier Inn at Clerkenwell and London Camden. Polcom is manufacturing and installing a range of bespoke fitted furniture for the bedrooms, including a closet with mirror, desk, bedside tables, headboards, coat panels, coffee tables, and pelmets. A vanity unit for the ensuite bathrooms will also be provided by Polcom for each scheme, as well as bath panels for the Premier Inn projects. Commenting on Polcom’s partnership with Whitbread, Wojciech Chyrek, Commercial Director – Hotels at Volumetric Building Companies Europe, said, “We have a longstanding relationship with Whitbread and their contractors for the hub by Premier Inn hotels brand. Our team’s performance overall and interaction with Whitbread has been consistently good. We provide valuable input to our hotel clients on how we can continually improve efficiency in cost and installation such as looking at weights and loadings, and how we can adapt non-standard rooms to optimise the space available.” “We have developed a genuine partnership with Whitbread and our approach is one of close collaboration on every project. We have manufactured and installed the furniture on every hub hotel project since 2014 in addition to our fitout work on other Whitbread hotel schemes and it is great to be working on this latest batch of projects.” Joanna Szwochert, Furniture Director at Polcom Furniture, said, “We have been manufacturing furniture for Whitbread for more than a decade, working on both new build and refurbishment projects across the UK and as far afield as Doha and Dubai.” “We are really proud to have furnished well over 10,000 guest rooms for Whitbread to date. This level of repeat business is testament to the high level of service we offer – from the preparation of technical drawings by our in-house technologists, to the quality of our furniture manufacturing and strong aftersales service for maintenance or product replacement when needed.” Acquired by Volumetric Building Companies in 2022, Polcom Furniture has more than 20 years’ experience in the hotel sector and has delivered bespoke furniture and fitout contracts across the globe for a wide range of hospitality brands including Premier Inn, Holiday Inn, citizenM, and Marriott International. Polcom offers high quality and flexible furniture solutions for bedrooms and ensuites which are manufactured in Europe and can meet any brand specification for hotel customers across the globe. This gives operators in the hospitality space the benefits of shorter lead times, greater certainty of supply, and stringent quality standards – from materials sourcing to production and installation. Polcom Furniture also has strong logistics and project management to meet contractors’ scheduling and programmes, particularly on constrained city centre sites. For further information, visit www.vbc.co/polcomfurniture. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wigan based commercial interior design & fit out company, Truline celebrates 35 years and a record increase in year-on-year sales with a restructure to reposition within the market. Truline saw a sales increase of 35% year on year and so in its 35th year the team decided to update the business to branch out into new sectors and build on existing strong client relationships. Following an internal restructure of the business, Truline recruited an interior design team to provide a full design and build service. This team is headed up by Martha Lorains who was recruited to lead change within the team and secure more design-led schemes. Recent design-focussed projects include education & collaboration spaces at Hugh Baird College in Liverpool, redesign and fit out of AJ Barr’s head office. Truline has also provided a full solution with design and fit out at a large Blue Chip manufacturing plant. Truline has also recently completed multi-million-pound education projects which have seen a variety of refurbishments including spaces within Grade II listed buildings. The company as principal contractor has also seen a growth in the Healthcare sector, with projects delivered at Hospitals, Mental Health & Medical centres across the North-West region. The business has also invested six figures in a rebrand which comprises a new website, logo, colourways, uniform & head office refurbishment Mike Hyde, MD at Truline, added “Our business is at a pivotal point as we’re seeing the results of the last few years of hard work and relationship building start to truly deliver. It is the perfect time to refresh our look and internal structure to ensure that we’re in the best possible position correctly to drive further growth of the business. The enhanced services provided by our design team has a dual benefit as it offers added value service to support traditional contracts with consultants and also provide a full turn key solution for direct clients. “We are confident in the future of the business as the property industry in Manchester is now growing faster than London and with the fact we have our own interior design team, bespoke joinery workshop and multi skilled in-house operatives means we’re in a strong position to grow and expand into new & existing sectors.” Martha Lorains, head of design and business relationships, added: “It’s a hugely exciting time to join Truline. The team already has a reputation for delivering high quality construction and fit out services and we want this to extend into offering high quality, bespoke design. I directed the rebrand of the business to feel more design-led and move forward into a broader service offering for clients.” Truline is a leading commercial interior design and construction provider that employs over 50 people in Wigan and is a living wage employer. For more information, please visit https://truline-cis.co.uk/
