Osborne Clarke needed a people-focused and sustainable office to bring their 780 employees together in the heart of Bristol. We created them a cutting-edge workspace that serves as a best-in-class example of how to design for both people and the planet.
Osborne Clarke came to Interaction with a simple yet expansive brief.
They were moving into the top five floors of Bristol’s Halo, (one of the UK’s most sustainable buildings) and they needed a destination workplace that fully aligned with the needs of their people, clients and potential employees.
In addition to office design, this project involved many of Interaction’s key services:
Workplace strategy
Our workplace strategy team worked closely with Osborne Clarke to conduct surveys, interviews and workshops, getting to the heart of issues such as approaches to Hybrid, future ways of working, accessibility requirements, what true flexibility looks like and types of furniture needed.
Wellbeing consultancy
Safeguarding and improving employee wellbeing was one of the key principles of the brief.
We viewed the brief through the WELL Building Standard (WELL) framework, holistically approaching its seven concepts: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind. We additionally utilised the BREEAM framework for sustainability considerations.
Utilising the WELL framework, our key principles were maximum daylight, maximum impact, Biophilia and creating communities.
Sustainability
From the base build to the scatter cushions, sustainability factored into every decision made on this project. When it came to creating a future-facing workspace for their people, sustainability was one of Osborne Clarke‘s key priorities. It couldn’t be a bolt-on: the issue had to be approached in a genuine and authentic manner and align with Osborne Clarke’s key values.
Fit-out
The fit-out was a complex multi-floor project with equally complex logistical considerations. We started the process while the main contractor was still on site which restricted access to key areas and meant that we initially had to adhere to their logistic frameworks. This meant having to realign our site logistics and access on day 1 and work to their operating processes, including the coordination of all deliveries.
Despite challenging at times, we still delivered on time and exceeded Osborne Clarke’s expectations – we call it Perfection at Pace.
Furniture & Interior Styling
To align with the impressive sustainability credentials of the overall design and fit-out, every single item was chosen based on a sustainable ethos, whether through:
Sustainable packaging
Sustainable materials
Carbon offsetting
Durability
Independent & local makers
Zero-waste
Commenting on working with Interaction, Mary Lavin, Sustainability Manager, at Osborne Clarke said: “We couldn’t have done it without Interaction. Our partnership has been fantastic. It’s been an eye-opening journey designing our new Halo office, and it shows that we can put sustainability at the heart of the brief and come out with a fantastic end result.”
The end result is the epitome of a destination office – one designed to delight existing Osborne Clarke employees and make the best talent in the market turn their heads.
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