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Paramount go back to the future with new Bristol office

Fit out, Design and Build specialists Paramount have used maritime history to inspire their new South West of England base and help revitalise a “forgotten” part of Bristol. The company’s design team have delved deep into the past and taken a lead from local architecture in a move it is

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BDC 319 : Aug 2024

paramount interiors

Paramount appointed to lead £11-million refurbishment of 3 Rivergate building on Bristol’s Temple Quay

Paramount appointed to lead £11-million refurbishment of 3 Rivergate building on Bristol’s Temple Quay

Paramount has won a prestigious £11-million contract to transform a Bristol city centre office complex for global investment bank, Credit Suisse. The design, build, fit-out and refurbishment specialist has been tasked with providing a high-spec refurbishment of the building on Temple Quay, with the view of creating one of Bristol’s greenest commercial buildings. Paramount will undertake the refurbishment alongside architect and design firm AWW and property consultants CBRE as project manager for clients Credit Suisse in a major boost for the South West economy. Together, the project team will target the highest construction industry standards for sustainability and wellness, working towards securing the coveted BREEAM Excellent, Wiredscore Platinum and 3-star Fitwel 3 certification. Kevin Mashford, the Paramount Sales Director who heads up the company’s Bristol team, said: “We are all delighted to have been handed responsibility for transforming 3 Rivergate and creating a truly inspiring workplace. “We have developed a strong reputation for using our expertise to create spaces that are truly special, and we will ensure 3 Rivergate has a striking transformation and is an outstanding place to work. “We look forward to working in close collaboration with CBRE and AWW on behalf of Credit Suisse to ensure 3 Rivergate is also one of Bristol’s greenest commercial buildings with sustainability and wellness at its heart.” The year-long refurbishment project, which is now under way, will see the seven-storey, fully serviced Grade A office complex undergo a comprehensive refurbishment which will pave the way for 75,000 sq ft of available, flexible workspace via agents Lambert Smith Hampton and CBRE. A range of new features will include a new striking façade, generous landscaping, amongst best-in-class end of journey facilities. Paramount will introduce the latest energy-efficient systems, new building management system, solar energy panels, upgraded fire alarm, new security system, CCTV, access control, access barriers and a cycle-store.  Jack Sawbridge, Credit Suisse Asset Manager, said: “3 Rivergate is an exemplary project demonstrating our ability to adapt and recycle existing real estate for the modern occupier.  “We are delivering a modern workspace with a commitment to both occupier well-being and environmental sensitivity.  “Sustainable and renewable elements have been meticulously integrated, and the newly enhanced building will offer adaptable floor plates, best-in-class facilities and considerable new public and dedicated landscaping.  “Our chosen contractor, Paramount, has demonstrated a deep understanding of our vision and we look forward to delivering this ambitious project together.” Paramount, whose turnover currently stands at £38.5 million, is well known across Wales and England where it has created high-quality space for a number of leading companies. These include football legend Gareth Bale’s Par 59 bars, multi-million-pound redevelopment of Hodge House in Cardiff, Development Bank of Wales HQ refurbishment, transformation of the landmark 360 Bristol office complex and office revamps in Bath for American software  SmartBear and financial services consultancy Altus.  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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Paramount go back to the future with new Bristol office

Fit out, Design and Build specialists Paramount have used maritime history to inspire their new South West of England base and help revitalise a “forgotten” part of Bristol. The company’s design team have delved deep into the past and taken a lead from local architecture in a move it is hoped will invigorate Bristol’s historic Welsh Back dock area. The interior design of the harbourside office painstakingly reflects the area’s history with corten steel, burnt timber, rope and metalwork all prominent features all tying the base to the docks. The focal points of the workspace are the boardroom which is hidden behind a slatted door and a bar area which resembles a boat-shaped below a rusted cage structure named the Portcullis in keeping with maritime traditions. Local architectural firm AWW was responsible for the creative concept of the building regeneration. Developer and investor was V7. Gareth Davies, Paramount’s Senior Designer who masterminded the design, said: “We are privileged to be able to call Bristol’s famous floating harbour the setting for our new office because it’s an area that is steeped in history. “We’ve gone Back to the Future for inspiration to create a hybrid working environment that celebrates the bygone days of the Welsh Back area. “A workspace that encourages professional collaboration and helps build team dynamics with a nod to the storied past of Bristol’s dock area was our priority and we’ve worked hard to turn that vision into a reality.” Taking inspiration from neighbourhoods, it is hoped that Paramount’s new workplace will become a thriving community for their teams and industry colleagues alike. Paramount Sales Director Kevin Mashford, who will lead the Bristol team, added: “We set out to create Bristol’s most ‘Instagrammable’ office and thanks to our exceptionally talented design and project team I am proud to say we have achieved our goal. “With a variety of interconnected spaces our new office is a prime example of how you can take inspiration from ‘community’ and create neighbourhoods within the office where the same energy and connection people feel sitting in a coffee shop, or the same level of focus they experience in their own home, can be achieved within one space. “These are exciting times for Paramount, and we are proud to play a part in the regeneration of the Welsh Back area which is forgotten for some people but is now really buzzing and is set to be a brilliant place to do business and socialise.” The new workplace signals the acceleration of Cardiff-headquartered Paramount’s growth and will create up to 20 specialist jobs in the city as it targets £50-million turnover within three years.  Paramount Managing Director Richard Jones, who led a management buyout in 2018, said: “Our brilliant new office represents a substantial investment by Paramount which will ensure company growth continues to gather pace across the South West of England. “The Bristol base is a real statement of intent and demonstrates our confidence. Paramount will strengthen its presence in a vibrant region and build on our proud reputation as a company with an outstanding record of creating places where people want to be.” Bristol-based Bafta-nominated natural history film-making company, Offspring Films also now call the Welsh Back building home following a design and fit-out by Paramount.  Paramount, whose turnover currently stands at £33.5million, is already well known across England where it has developed office space for a number of leading companies and have revitalised 360 Bristol – formerly South Plaza – in Bristol city centre.

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Paramount designers rise to challenge of creating ‘inspirational’ office in historic Bath

Commercial interiors specialists Paramount say they are “proud” to have been appointed to create an “inspiring workplace” at the heart of historic Bath’s flagship regeneration project. The Paramount Bristol-based team are masterminding the interior design of the prestigious new office space in the Bath Quays office building for leading local financial services consultancy and software provider, Altus. Paramount, whose headquarters are in Cardiff, were engaged by Altus to transform the 9,445 sq ft workspace on the top floor of the five-storey, energy-efficient office building, after Altus had signed a deal to move its headquarters to the city centre site. It confirmed Altus as one of the first tenants of No 1 Bath Quays – the first new office block to be built in Bath for a generation and a key part in Bath and North East Somerset Council’s ambitious regeneration programme and climate emergency priority. Paramount Client Lead Carly Willis said: “Paramount create places where people want to be; workspaces that inspire employees and embrace well-being. “We have relished working closely with Altus to create an inspirational, attractive, sustainable, and eco-friendly workplace for a company at the forefront of bold local authority plans to revitalise Bath as an economic hub. “Our objective for the new Altus office is to create an uplifting workplace that is both a showcase to clients and a joy for staff – high-end destination space that encourages positive interactions between staff and clients. “Bath is a stunning city, famously steeped in history. We are proud to play a part in ensuring it enjoys a vibrant commercial future, creating a workplace that will help Altus – and Bath as a whole – go from strength to strength.” In order to ensure that the new workplace met Altus requirements and post-pandemic hybrid working habits, Paramount conducted a company-wide staff survey and several stakeholder engagement sessions. Results showed an increased need for a variety of meeting places, easy access to video conferencing, privacy, enhanced acoustics and plenty of collaborative social space. Paramount Lead Designer Bethan Hellings said: “The words ‘collaborative’, ‘spacious’ and ‘fun’ came up time and again during our engagement sessions and they’ve coloured my work in more ways than one. “Finishes have been carefully selected to be soft and calming yet also happy and bright and we have been particularly mindful of enhancing light and space, avoiding dark colours and keeping the space as open as possible. A calming base palette is unobtrusive and minimises visual stress, but we have also added uplifting colour accents to add life to the space.” Timber finishes provide warmth and bring natural texture. Rounded corners provide soft transitions and easy movement between spaces and angles have been used throughout in desk positioning and floor finishes to create more interesting sightlines. Now the new office, which includes a terrace offering stunning views of the city, is in the final stages of development, with Altus staff expected to move in by mid-October. The move will represent a significant milestone for the Bath business, which was founded in 2005 by a small group of friends, but which now employs more than 100 people and prides itself on its strong roots in the local community. Altus Consulting Director Martyn Evans said: “Paramount are very much like Altus in size, culture, values, and their team just ‘got us’. They are very receptive to our ambition to provide an inspiring workplace for our staff while focusing on environmental consciousness. “Our new HQ will provide the next step in the growth of our business and will provide an inspiring place to work for current and future staff. We are delighted to be moving the business to No 1 Bath Quays and to be part of the city’s regeneration journey.” The 4.5-acre Bath Quays project incorporates a blend of historic buildings and contemporary architecture and will become a key strategic site for the city centre. Councillor Kevin Guy, Bath and North East Somerset Council leader, said: “We are delighted Altus has chosen No 1 Bath Quays for its new headquarters. This is an excellent endorsement of our commitment to delivering market-leading, next generation workspaces to help attract skills and talent to Bath.”

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