London Councils
London Councils is the collective of London local government, the 32 boroughs and the City of London Corporation. They come together through London Councils to work in collaboration to deliver their shared ambitions for London and Londoners.
Challenge
In response to rising property costs and a need for more flexible working arrangements, London Councils set a goal to reduce its office space. The move from 59 1/2 Southwark Street to Arthur Street in the City of London was essential to this strategy.
Objectives
1. Reduce office space and costs
2. Provide officers with a modern, bright and flexible place to work
3. Become a space for collaboration for all boroughs and their partners
Approach
We carried out an initial comprehensive feasibility study, working with our clients to understand how the organisation worked and looking at working practises and patterns, individual and team requirements, storage needs, attendance data and future office aspirations.
Creating a future hybrid office layout drawing to support new working patterns confirmed the total reduced amount of square feet required and this became the foundation on which our client could search for new smaller suitable office premises.
Planning
Following confirmation of the new site we designed an office layout with a focus on collaboration and flexibility. A central working drop-down space and large committee meeting facility was complemented by hot-desks, meeting booths, privacy areas, ad-hoc and formal meeting rooms, all with flexible furniture throughout.
Delivery
We project managed every element of the fit out and staff moves, fully delivering a successful relocation to the new office. Key tasks included procurement and management of QS, designers and fit out contractors, selection, procurement and installation of furniture and full removals and transfer of storage, equipment and necessary items.
Simultaneously our focus on people and change throughout the project ensured a potentially challenging move to the new modern and hybrid working office was smooth for the workforce.
1%
reduction in overall space
