Size

20,000

Location

Lincoln

Activity

Energy & Utilities

Duration

16 weeks

Anglian Water was moving to new space around the corner from its existing office. The project at Whitham Park House, an old factory, was split into two to allow an initial CAT A fit out for the landlord. CAT A work comprised of a full strip out of the space, which had been previously tenanted, to take it back to its original shell. This then provided the canvas for a full fit out for Anglian Water.

Anglian Water has elements of a call centre operation, which needed to be considered. The team also includes a younger demographic, whose needs and sensibilities had to be catered for.

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The overall design incorporated agile and collaborative areas with traditional call centre spaces. Two distinctive sides were created: One side of the space was orientated to work stations and the work environment. The other hosted a more collaborative environment, housing the main kitchen, washrooms, quiet booths and phone pods. A corridor divided the two main areas however the space was planned to encourage movement and a regular flow between each side.

Work on the project included the installation of new M&E services, lighting, a raised floor buzz bar and floor boxes, gender neutral individual WC and wash rooms, raised access flooring, ceilings, state of the art technology, independent AV systems and acoustic product. The latter included acoustic curtains, ceiling baffles and hanging horizontal panels, which also acted as dividers in the space between activity functions and gave a firm nod to specific Anglian design features and branding.

The main kitchen comprised a commercial kitchen installation to provide a varied offering for the staff. The space was to be run by an external catering company and so there was much liaison while the project was underway to ensure the area contained all the necessary kit and was completed to specification. Detail included stainless steel tops with silver laminate fronts and a particular coffee machine which is used throughout the property portfolio.

Gender neutral, individual toilet spaces were agreed, with individual sinks and hand-driers, in recognition that there is a younger workforce, with a different dynamic, who may not all wish to identify in the same way. New drainage runs had to be provided and a concrete slab removed to accommodate these new facilities.

During the works, it was realised that there was a lift shaft in the middle of the space that we then set about converting into small meeting rooms.

The overall new look reflected a step forward for both Anglian Water’s workplace environment and its standing as a business.

The design was intended to create an industrial look and feel, with exposed services and brick panel walls to complement the external façade of the old manufacturing factory. This look was countered by the high technology, complete with interactive screens on mobile stands and AV systems coupled with immersive wireless devices.

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Office Principles has converted dull and dated units into a modern and vibrant working area which will be enjoyed by all our colleagues. The project delivery was flexible and proactive. Adaptations to the design were incredibly well managed and implemented. I found the team to be very accommodating throughout the whole process and they showed great enthusiasm to overcome any challenges found. I would highly recommend using Office Principles and hope to work with them again in the future.

Richard Phillips, Project Surveyor, Anglian Water

This project involved a lot of third party engagement and liaison, from the facilities management company and the landlord involvement in the early stages to the catering provider and the neighbouring tenants, with whom we had to negotiate the timing of some of the work. Covid presented the expected challenges but we sought to work around the limitations imposed by lockdown where possible and we’re pleased with the response to the completed space at handover.

Tina Batham, Managing Director