Government Office Design & Fit Out

Flexiform is delighted to complete this latest Government office interior design and fit out. As part of the Government’s Places for Growth, the department relocated its offices outside of London, hosting up to 300 staff and providing a workspace with the staff needs in full focus.

The Client had a clear vision for their new office space: to create a functional and effective workspace that was welcoming, homely and vibrant to entice staff back into the office post-COVID-19. They wished to embrace hybrid working, wellbeing and inclusive interior design to suit all members of staff and their needs. With the support of Branding, Marketing, the organisation’s Network Groups and Internal Communications teams, all staff were involved throughout the process creating a fantastic office interior embraced by all.

Project Data

CLIENT : Confidential
PROJECT LEAD : Tracey Pearce
PRODUCTS : Armchairs, tub chairs and sofas, occasional tables, office pods, dining tables and chairs, bespoke boardroom table, executive chairs, Jot-Up Lite height adjustable desks, dual monitor arms, on-desk electrics, Actualize task chairs, office pods, phone booths, banquette seating, high back armchairs, laptop table, Wilson meeting table, FlexiGrid shelving system, work table and work chairs, open office pod, meeting tables, high stools, bespoke seat/ table.
WORKSPACES : Library/ Quiet Working, Project Spaces, Reception/ Welcome Area, Open Plan Office, Call Zone.
SERVICES : Furniture manufacture, Supply & Installation, Showroom Tours, Bespoke Furniture.
COLLABORATIONS : McBains Office Design, Logans Construction.

quiet working area with library table and office bookcase

Domestic Office Design

To create a welcoming and domestic-inspired office design, the Client removed any formal reception area, opting for comfortable sofas, occasional tables, flexible ad-hoc workspaces and a coffee station. Combined with office plants, different textures, colours, smells and domestic accessories such as throws and cushions, this immediately makes visitors and staff feel more relaxed.

The domestic office interior design style is carried on throughout the workplace, making use of the beautiful natural surroundings, home accessories, signs and furniture choices communicating how the area is designed to be used. The team wished to create a different viewpoint from every part of the office to keep it interesting and stimulating.

Inclusive Office Design

Whilst designing the interior and selecting office furniture, the Client consulted their Network Groups team to adapt and guide their choices. They included a separate well-being room with a comfortable sofa, cushions, blankets and pictures to make inviting and homely. The walls were kept white for a calming environment. Lastly this was finished with a vacancy sign for added privacy.

Within the office space, the Client added focus spaces to allow users to work quietly and separately from colleagues. Flexiform assisted with adapting furniture including removing unnecessary pod manifestations to help it feel less enclosed. Care and thought were also taken in the choice of fabrics, ensuring they were inclusive of different needs.

Hybrid Office Furniture

During the procurement phase, Flexiform took the Client around our own, and our supplier’s, London office furniture showrooms to try and test a range of hybrid working furniture, collaboration and focus spaces. These visits shaped and defined how the office would work, pulling on Flexiform’s knowledge and experience with hybrid and Smart Working furniture. The Client found the breadth of Flexiform’s office furniture offering was just what they needed, giving flexibility to the design.

The office features a large range of flexible workspaces including open office pods creating an acoustic informal meeting space, a “Call Zone” area with phone pods, and “The Library” – a quiet working focus space with a library table and decorative shelving, as well as a large project space adaptable for team meetings to individual and collaborative working. This array of workspaces allows staff to move throughout their office to suit their needs and the task at hand.

Bespoke Office Furniture

Within the boardroom, Flexiform worked with their supply partners to create a unique boardroom table. This reconfigurable boardroom table is designed to host 24 board members, whilst the table can be flipped up and moved to the side when not in use, providing a large hosting space. Combined with high-specification finishes, built-in power and cable management and an executive comfortable leather chair, the boardroom furniture creates an impact whilst being practical and functional to their needs.

Flexiform also worked with the Client to create a unique high-back sofa with loose laptop tables, and a high bench table at the rear with high chairs. This seating configuration was perfect for maximising space, facilitating large group projects and providing ad hoc workspaces.

office reception and meeting area with office sofas

Office Fitout & Project Management

Flexiform’s project management team successfully delivered and installed the office fitout to accommodate up to 300 staff and existing furniture arriving from London to create a coherent office.

The office fitout was a huge success, creating a working environment to be envious of! A true testament to its success has been that it’s achieved the outlined goals with more staff using the space than ever before, with height adjustable desks being the first to be booked up, followed by the Library space, and staff scattered throughout the building on soft seating. Gaining regular comments such as “It’s the best office I’ve ever worked in”. Flexiform was delighted to work with the Client, Logan Construction and McBains to deliver this outstanding office space.