Inside Avison Young’s New London Office

Michal
Technology
2 days ago

Real estate company Avison Young hired workplace design firm Peldon Rose to design their new office in London, England.

“Their ambition was to create a high-performance workplace that not only supported agile working and their relationships with clients but also reflected their forward-thinking brand. Building on years of professional respect, and following a competitive tender, we were appointed to deliver this vision through a full design and build solution across four floors. The result is an innovative workplace that unites the business and provides a dynamic platform for client engagement and continued growth.

From the outset of the project, construction was shaped by agility and close collaboration with Avison Young, and with a total project team of 22, we worked with a ‘one-team mentality’ utilising our shared expertise to ensure a seamless delivery. Although initially scoped as a four-floor project, the inclusion of remodelling basement services to support the upper floors expanded the scale, increasing total delivery to over 42,000 sq ft. We also had to continually react to challenges presented to us by the building, requiring quick thinking and the ability to pivot at speed to ensure we stayed on track to complete on schedule.

Working to a fast-tracked 16-week programme, we managed an evolving design scheme and increase in build scope, ensuring the project was delivered on time and within budget, supported by strong site management and rigorous quality assurance. Delivering within a live building presented additional complexities. Our team maintained close communication with the landlord, building manager, and existing tenants to ensure the programme remained on track and disruption was minimised.

The design was led by the concept of a vertical city, with each level offering a different layer of experience, influenced by Avison Young’s presence throughout London. The ground floor provides the solid foundations of the building, acting as the welcoming heart of the office, featuring a central cafe and a flexible space to host client events.

The middle levels act as the centre of the city with its hustle and bustle, encouraging connection and movement through shared spaces inspired by the Serpentine Pavilion. The third floor offers a tranquil, sky-garden-inspired space that allows for informal discussions and professional meetings for both employees and clients, breaking down boundaries and supporting Avison Young’s ethos that the building is a space for everyone.

This bold new workplace is centred around a spiral staircase, which encourages foot traffic and spontaneous interaction. Strategically opening into collaborative zones on every floor, the design enables employees to use each floor for different purposes throughout the day. This flow of movement was a necessity, ensuring Avison Young’s recently merged offices of over 500 employees could work seamlessly together from day one.”