Size

7800 sq ft

Location

Nottingham

Activity

Professional Services

Duration

12 weeks

We've helped leading audit, tax and consulting firm RSM UK transform its Nottingham workspace through a strategic relocation within 2 Tollhouse Hill, delivering a forward-thinking environment that embraces hybrid working and maximises flexibility.

Our combined CAT A and CAT B fit out has created an innovative 7,800 sq ft workplace on the building's second floor, complete with exposed ceilings, a stunning Heart space, and multiple work settings that promote choice and collaboration.

The project has achieved SKA gold certification, demonstrating RSM's commitment to sustainable workplace design.

RSM's lease on the seventh floor of 2 Tollhouse Hill was approaching its end, presenting an opportunity to reassess its workplace needs in Nottingham.

Following an extensive search of potential locations across the city, which included our team conducting test fits and space planning for four different buildings, RSM decided that its existing location remained the ideal choice. The building had recently undergone refurbishment, including the addition of a new café area on the ground floor, and the landlord provided favourable terms for RSM to remain in situ.

Rather than refurbish its existing 12,500 sq ft space on the seventh floor, RSM chose to relocate to a smaller 7,800 sq ft floor plate on the second floor. This strategic downsizing reflected the firm's adoption of hybrid working practices and its vision for a more efficient, flexible workspace.

Our challenge was to maximise the potential of this smaller space through innovative design and furniture solutions while working within the building's unique architectural constraints. The project would also need to maintain consistency with RSM's other locations while pushing the boundaries of what was possible.

Our office design for RSM Nottingham delivers a workspace that feels distinctly different from any other floor in the building, thanks to our delivery of both the CAT A and CAT B elements of the project.

Taking a landlord contribution in lieu of their standard CAT A specification enabled us to create a truly integrated solution, including the construction of a demise wall and lobby to separate the floor.

The workspace is entered via the Heart space - a multifunctional area that serves as both a client lounge and staff breakout space. With its mix of high and low-level seating, it can transform into an all-hands presentation area for town hall gatherings, enabling the whole company to come together.

A stunning linear light feature runs through the space, complementing exposed ceilings throughout—an unusual choice for RSM driven by the building's low ceiling height. By revealing the ceiling void, we've maximised the available height while creating a modern, industrial aesthetic that sets this office apart.

The workspace is characterised by its emphasis on flexibility, with carefully chosen work settings that maximise choice for staff. No one has a dedicated office, reflecting RSM's commitment to hybrid working and collaborative practices.

Technical challenges were overcome through innovative solutions, including the installation of secondary glazing to enhance performance specifications. With no raised access flooring throughout the space, our team chased into the concrete slab to install floor boxes for power distribution, ensuring all services were fixed and seamlessly integrated.

The design maintains consistency with RSM's other locations through its colour scheme while introducing iterative improvements that push the design forward. Most importantly, it achieves all this while securing SKA Gold certification, demonstrating RSM's commitment to sustainable workplace design.

Stephen Parsons, Group Managing Director of OP, said: "Our partnership with RSM continues to evolve with each new project. In Nottingham, we've delivered a workplace that makes incredibly efficient use of a smaller floor plate while providing more choice and flexibility than ever before. The exposed ceilings and stunning Heart space create a modern, dynamic environment that sets this office apart while maintaining the professional aesthetic RSM is known for."

Our new office space has been carefully designed to take into account the new hybrid way of working and will provide our teams with plenty of opportunities to engage, collaborate and grow. This is RSM’s first office that has an urban feel to it with a fully open industrial ceiling, a feature recommended by OP, and we have received great feedback both internally and externally. I have thoroughly enjoyed working on this project with the OP team, who have been professional and fully committed from start to finish in delivering the exceptional design agreed at the outset.

Sheetal Sanghvi, Managing Partner - East Midlands Region at RSM