‘The vision was to launch the business into a completely new and modern way of working, in an office environment that fostered mentorship and collaboration,’ explains Tony Knight, Director at BDG architecture + design, who worked on the strategy and design of this new 25,500 sq ft space.
BDG supported this client’s property search, working with Montagu Evans’ real estate team to look at potential new HQs, eventually deciding to take two levels of 70 St Mary’s Axe, colloquially known as the Can of Ham in the City of London. BDG used input from a variety of sources, including building and occupation analysis, stakeholder interviews and scenario planning, recording over 6,500 survey measurements in the process. ‘This then allowed us to design and create spaces with connection, health and inclusion, with a range of modern work settings,’ explains Adam Childs, BDG Creative Director. ‘This is a very human office, designed to nurture community, encourage collaboration and care for the wellbeing of its people.’
On level 11 of this curved high-rise building, designed by Foggo Associates, a series of glazed and open flexible meeting spaces fan out to either side of the central core with its new stylish black steel staircase, installed by BW: workplace experts as part of its fit-out works here at 70 St Mary’s Axe. The staircase has a glass balustrade with no immediate posts or supports and presented a challenge in terms of ensuring the quality of finishes and interfaces. Responding to this, BW built a full-size section so these could be fully investigated and signed off before being installed.