Hello. How are you?

 

I'm good, thanks. How are you? 

 

I'm very good. I wanted to ask you a little bit about the work that you've been doing recently for TP Bennett, and particularly on the Capital Group HQ in the Renzo Piano building over in Paddington. Can you talk to me a little bit about the work you've done there, and I suppose especially with regard to wellbeing, which I think is one of the key things you had to consider there.

 

Yeah, great. So, Capital Group is a project that completed about a year ago now, and they occupy nine floors of the fantastic Paddington cube, designed by Renzo Piano. It's a great example of West Coast LA meets the City of London. We had a very traditional client, very linear in their thinking, but that's not what the UK market wants. So, we challenged them. We went on quite a journey with them and we designed them a home that makes their people, feel more connected with spaces to suit the different parts of the business. Centred at the heart of the space there are two beautiful staircases. They unite the floors. They bring people together, creating this fantastic transition floor, which has numerous social and amenity spaces, including a cafe, a games area, and wellness studios, as you mentioned, and we brought all of this to the heart of the space. Each floor has its own wellness space as well, and that's all centred around that. So, it was a big change for Capital Group, because they didn't really focus on those kinds of amenity spaces before. But we know our competitors are providing spaces like this, so...

 

...Can I interrupt? What goes on in a wellness space, then, in the building?

 

So, they have a multi-functional wellness studio, where they have different types of classes throughout the week, so yoga, martial arts, all sorts of things, and then dispersed first throughout the building, you've got your mother's room, your multi-faith room, library spaces where people can just go away and relax away from technology...

 

What, where you can't get a Wi-Fi signal?

 

Exactly. I was there last week; we had a team event there, and those spaces are being really well used, so that's great!

 

And I suppose that's good for neuro-diverse people as well, is it, to escape the hubbub?

 

Absolutely. We know that people work in different ways, and it's really key that we're designing for all different types of people. And that was certainly a big thing that we looked at throughout that whole briefing process in the beginning, and not just in terms of the types of spaces, but the materiality, and integrating easy wayfinding through the types of lighting we used. So, it's nicely stitched into the design seamlessly and certainly wasn't an afterthought. It's something we thought about at the beginning,

 

Is that something in general terms you're being asked to do more and more, that particular focus on wellbeing?

 

Absolutely. I think, where some clients are aware of it, and it's a big part of their brand and who they are, others we tell them about it: we show them examples of what we're doing for others. And they want us to consider that in the spaces we design for them.

 

So, on this project, I read you used AD Lib, which is your proprietary sourcing platform. I know nothing else about it apart from its name! What is that and how does it work?

 

This was developed by our in-house sustainability team, and it's an online materials platform. It means that we are sourcing not only the best environmental products, but we're also making sure they're sourced in the most social and ethical way. We are linking in with suppliers all the time, making sure that our library is up to date, and we are only putting forward the best products that link into the criteria that we've developed, just to make sure that, you know, we are using the best timbers, the best, you know, just the best materials going forward. And I think it's something that has proved very successful and something that we might open source at some point so that it's available to the wider industry as well, and that they can feed into it. 

 

Couple of last quick questions. Firstly, with it being the turn of the year, what are you looking forward to in terms of projects or architecture or your own world of design? -And secondly, what is your view currently of the state of the market for offices? Is it tricky out there? 

 

At the moment, there's a lot of activity, and I think certain sectors are doing more than others. But, yeah, there's a lot of movement. I think the types of spaces we provide has perhaps got a bit more challenging. Obviously, post-COVID, everyone kind of went into panic mode and everyone was looking at the way they work, and this whole concept of hybrid working, which was happening anyway. But now we are having to think a bit more cleverly about how we design amenity spaces. I think clients are really keen on giving back the best spaces to their employees, to their people, and whilst looking to put amenity spaces for staff at the heart of their space, flexibility is really key as well. So, whilst people might not be looking at as much space as before, I think just how you use the space, how can it be adapted if, for example, in the first six months, it's not quite working how you want it to. How can we be clever about how we design these spaces going forward, so that they can adapt and change quickly, and efficiently in terms of cost as well?

 

And in terms of 2025, what's on the horizon for you?

 

Well, hopefully, lots of great, new and exciting projects! I think the pipeline is looking great. And for us, we just need to keep pushing forward. I talk passionately about supporting communities and the social value aspect that I'm really keen on, making sure that that can be a part of some of these kinds of bigger projects that we're looking at.  There used to be a time when social value initiatives came later, but I think it's definitely more at the forefront of the fit-out projects that I'm currently involved with that will go into the new year as well.

 

And in terms of --working with the communities, you also sit on the board of Impact Dance, which is a hip-hop and Street Dance Academy, for 11-to-19-year-olds. Is that part of that vision, really to work with communities? Is that driving that, or is it just a passion for that area, for music and dance?

 

So, there's a passion for that area anyway and representing underrepresented communities. I think Impact Dance is great, and I guess something I partly fell into. We created a home for Impact Dance. This is kind of where the story starts. They never had a space; we created a safe space for the young people to dance, hang out, build a community. 

 

Where is that?

 

 It's in Bloomsbury Baptist Church on Shaftesbury Avenue. So, it's a fantastic location. You know, the heart of the theatre district, and I've seen young people grow in confidence from having a space they can go to, they feel comfortable in, they can be themselves. And the great thing about Impact Dance is it's a two-way relationship. They've performed at our events. We have supported them through charity events, of some of the projects we've been working on. And yeah, it's a relationship that continues to grow.

 

Do you get involved yourself? Do you dance?

 

(laughs) I've been threatened with having some dance lessons. I'm sure will happen at some point. I wouldn't say dancing was my strong point (laughs).

 

Well, thank you for your time. It's been great talking to you and hearing all about your work. So, thanks a lot.

 

Thank you. Cheers. Bye!