Anonymous Space to Activity-Based

The UK Headquarters of a premium car manufacturer based in Maidenhead houses UK Sales, Finance and IT teams. Twenty-four thousand square feet of office space are set over three floors and home to more than two hundred staff.

The organisation’s ethos is to support Activity Based Working – which involves offering a variety of working opportunities rather than just a computer on a desk. Daily working activities might necessitate an area for a one-to-one meeting, large group meetings, stand-up working, taking aprivate call or receiving external visitors. The space needed to encourage collaboration and productivity as well as be pleasant and practical to be in. Despite geopolitical difficulties causing chaos in the supply of materials, with luck and tenacity in equal measure, Active were able to deliver the project within the tight timescale.

The project was split into three phases.

• Phase one involved HVAC modifications, partitioning, glass frontages and complete redecoration. Phone booths and one to one meeting rooms were constructed on the uppermost floors and feature lighting and new flooring installed throughout.
• Phase two focussed on the Café remodelling and seating arrangements.
• The final phase was transforming two large but barely used meeting rooms into a spectacular ‘Community Hub.’A place where casual interactions and socialising might develop into spontaneous collaboration and innovation.Complete with bespoke furniture crafted by Active, a feature fireplace and décor that would not look out of place in a five-star hotel; the standards of finish in this area are particularly spectacular.

Commenting on the project, Kristen, the client’s Work Experience Lead, said:

“That Active delivered the project on time and on budget given the current global uncertainties is a testament to how good they really are! The staff love the results, I haven’t heard one negative comment about the layout or finish. The only trouble is that some areas are so popular that our workers have to be encouraged to share and not monopolise them!

Active supplied us with an excellent Project Manager, he was incredibly experienced and really proactive. He even managed to secure the last box of ceiling tiles in the known universe to finish the look. It was really clear that Active is supremely well-connected within their supply chain networks and able to achieve a fantastic out put of work even in challenging circumstances. In fact, our office is now on a par with the standards and quality of our Nordic Head Office. And our Community Hub is much admired by other divisions in the business – now they all want one!“