A practical and efficient workspace for Close Brothers Asset Management in Glasgow
Close Brothers Asset Management decided to downsize post-covid and secured a top floor office space on St Vincent Street.
The space had been partially refurbished to a rudimentary Cat A level and required a complete fit-out.
Industrial look of exposed air conditioning ductwork
Circular Office Furniture
As part of their CSR policy, re-using as much furniture as possible from their previous office was requested. Amos Beech provided removal and storage services to allow this to happen as their move and occupancy of the new space was a few months apart.
Working with the Building Consultancy Team at CBRE and the concept design that had been commissioned, Amos Beech developed the design element to the point where it could be executed.
The fusion of a high quality feel, alongside the quasi-industrial look of exposed air conditioning ductwork makes for an incredibly light and airy space. Prior to the build, you needed some imagination to picture it ending up like it has!
From Cat A level to a complete fit-out
A significant part of the project was alterations and additions to the HVAC (Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning) system. To ensure that all areas of the new layout were adequately ventilated, the installed system was carefully removed and re-instated along with additional equipment to service the desired layout.
A high security access control system was installed along with a CCTV system to ensure staff safety within the building.
Although the meeting room furniture has been re-used, its high quality belies the fact in as much as it looks extremely smart and compliments the space perfectly. This in itself, confirms why spending more on quality furniture actually saves you money in the long term and reduces carbon footprint. We wish everyone made this sort of intelligent investment.
The use of colour and biophilia throughout the space provide a feeling of calm and purpose which together with the intelligent acoustic treatments of walls and ceiling makes an extremely practical and efficient workspace.
Given that the office is significantly smaller than their previous one, the feedback from staff is very positive and they are delighted to have an office that they can come back to:
Published: 22 February 2023
Design, Build, Text & Photography: The Amos Beech Team
Office re-design for Fred. Olsen in Stirling
Fred. Olsen Renewables
Fred. Olsen Renewables is an energy producer operating 12 wind farms with more than 338 wind turbines in Scotland, Norway and Sweden and one under construction south of Fort Augustus.
Amos Beech were approached by Fred. Olsen to re-design their expanding office space in Stirling. In this case-study we describe 3 phases finished in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Office fit-out and refurbishment Fred. Olsen, Stirling
With the country slowly coming out of lockdown and with the hope of eventually heading back to the workplace sometime this year, the client felt it was the ideal time to introduce a more flexible way of working and refurbish the office space and facilities. A fresh start in a fresh space for staff to return to.
Stirling office refurbishment
Phase 1
Half of the office space is dedicated entirely to a variety of collaboration and break out areas. The introduction of large collaboration tables and a large media screen for presenting, allows staff to come together in a vibrant co-working environment. High hot desk benching along the windows allows views out to the surrounding green spaces.
Lockers and a high back meeting booth divide the office without the use of walls. A mix of fixed benches and height adjustable desks make up the more focused workspace. The furniture allows a complete ergonomic selection contributing to a healthy working environment.
New shower and kitchen facilities
New shower and larger kitchen facilities have been introduced, providing staff with cycle to work options and an area to have breaks out with the workspace. The focus on staff well being is apparent and truly reflects the company’s ethos and values.
The design finishes reflect Fred. Olsen branding in the colours and images selected. A large wind farm graphic dominates the glass on the Boardroom, adding interest and colour to the entry corridor. Colour blocking to the walls define spaces and a splash of much needed colour to the walls. Colour pops in the furniture continue the branding throughout the space.
Phase 2
After the success of the initial office refurbishment in Stirling, Fred. Olsen reached out to Amos Beech again when the requirement for additional space arose to accommodate the Fred. Olsen Seawind team.
The brief was to open up the office to create a shared space to connect the teams whilst still giving each their own designated area. The design also had to incorporate an upgrade to the entrance area and enhance acoustics and lighting throughout.
A gateway of colour:
Directional paint “points the way”
The entrance at Fred. Olsen required the same modern, contemporary imagination that the rest of the office has. There is no assigned reception desk, so the entry way must welcome any visitors and make it easy to navigate the space. The design creates a gateway of colour to walk through and draw you into the space. Clever directional paint “points the way” and is instantly recognisable as part of the Fred Olsen brand colours.
Through the “gateway” a new stand-alone glazed partition, separates the Seawind space from the corridor. Specific branding images on the glass represents the Seawind team and reflects the original Fred Olsen Renewables graphic opposite on the Boardroom glass. There is no doubt as to whose office you have entered.
It was important to emphasise the sharing of the collaboration and meeting/breakout facilities by both Seawind and Renewables teams however, the open plan desking, although not separated by partitions retains the feeling of their own identity. The finishes from the original refurbishment continue into the new space which makes it feel fresh and part of the whole.
Phase 3
Phase 3 of the Fred. Olsen project had multiple facets: the initial one being acoustics. The existing meeting room partitioning was not providing the acoustic needs required for the space. Since opening up the Seawind section of the open plan office as part of Phase 2, they were having issues with noise transfer.
Acoustic solutions
As Amos Beech did not build these rooms originally, we had to come up with solutions to retrofit products and bring the partitions up to the acoustic rating necessary. In addition to above ceiling insulation, we partnered with acoustics specialists BuzziSpace to carry out reverberation tests within each room and come up with the ideal aesthetic solutions to help the sound transfer.
The solutions included several products: acoustic wall tiles, felt wall covering acoustic blocking panels to entire walls, acoustic planters and a timber acoustic panelling system.
Acoustic wall tiles whose foam has extraordinary noise-absorbing capabilities which work on all sound frequencies. These tiles come in different colours, thickness and formats allowing designs appropriate to the room to be developed with the appearance of a piece of art.
A felt wall covering over acoustic blocking panels allowed us to re-create the original feature wall decoration to the small meeting room using various colours. Keeping the bold colour block design, whilst improving acoustics and becoming a tackable surface. It is the perfect solution for reducing speech and high tones in the space due to its large surface with excellent absorption capabilities.
The client replaced their original planters in the meeting rooms with acoustic planters, an upholstered colourful pot made from high density foam to absorb excessive noise whilst also housing greenery creating healthier environments for people to thrive.
The Boardroom has been upgraded to a timber panelling system surrounding the wall mounted screen which not only helps the acoustics but also creates a high end look to the space. Sound insulation material was used behind to build the wall out and create the housing for the TV.
The second part of Phase 3 was to upgrade the storeroom built in Phase 1 and make practical, whilst attractive solution for PPE storage. A simple yet effective birch plywood unit was designed to fulfil storage needs whilst the seat pad offers a pop of colour to tie into the Fred Olsen branding demonstrated throughout the space.
A shared collaboration space
The third and final part of Phase 3 was to re-arrange the Seawind section of the open plan office to become a shared collaboration space.
Utilising the existing furniture throughout the office the high back booth, large round worktable and high poseur tables were brought together to form a more collaborative section of the office. This stresses even more the importance of the acoustics implemented above.
Into this zone Fred. Olsen have added a single person acoustic work pod, in which to make VC and private calls away from the desk without booking out a full meeting room. The Max Calma Z acoustic pod has its own lighting and ventilation system, desktop with power/USB and in-built soft seating. The acoustic felt ceiling and side wall ensure you won’t be disturbed by outside noise and creates a comfortable workspace for concentration.
These additions to the office have ensured a better working environment, and relatively simple changes to the furniture layout have made sure the space is functioning correctly for the current needs of the Fred. Olsen business.
Published: 23rd August 2021 (phase 1), 12 December 2022 (phase 2), 30 Januari 2024 (phase 3)
Text & Photography: The Amos Beech Team
CAT-B Office Fitout for ClearScore in Edinburgh
ClearScore is a business dedicated to helping people improve their financial wellbeing by giving them access to their credit score. ClearScore is one of the most recent examples of a FinTech or Financial Technology ‘scale-up’ success story. Starting in 2015 the company was valued at £650 million+ in 2021. With their growth and having created an incredible environment for their 300+ staff incorporating hybrid & agile workspace in London, they then set their sights on Scotland and the exploding TMT Sector (Technology, Media and Telecommunications).
CAT-B Office Fitout for ClearScore in Edinburgh
CAT-B office fitout for clearScore, Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the 1st UK location outside of London and although the architecture of the buildings differs greatly, ClearScore wanted to create the same feeling of design continuity in the workspace and this is where Amos Beech became involved. Working closely with the Senior Executive’s based in London our team was able to realise their design vision for their Scottish based colleagues.
Regular, open communication was key to the success of this project, and by this Amos Beech were able to demonstrate economies of scale on both time and cost with our delivery model which included clarifying and addressing the differences between English & Scottish laws and working with their preferred suppliers.
The end result? Amos Beech were able to take a pre-existing, un-loved, tired space and deliver a fresh, clean, bright and forward-thinking space, more closely aligned with that of ClearScore London, as a base to grow their presence and tap into the talent pool here in Edinburgh.
Project: CAT B Fitout
Value: £100K
Duration: 6 weeks
Sector: Financial Technology / FinTech
Published: 10 January 2022