INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP UNVEILS NEW MANCHESTER OFFICE
Project Overview
We’re delighted to reveal our latest workplace in Manchester for global specialist financial services firm, Benefact Group. Last year, we were selected as the company’s preferred partner to deliver its new 6,600 sq.ft space in the heart of the city centre, working alongside the client team and architectural design firm, Spacelab, to create the company’s flexible new workplace on the third floor of 11 York Street.
Benefact Group is an independent, specialist financial services group that exists to give all its available profits to charity. Owned by a registered charity, Benefact Trust, Benefact Group’s family of businesses provide specialist insurance, investment management and broking and advisory services in the UK, Australia, Canada, and Ireland.
As part of the group’s workplace strategy the business has invested heavily in new office spaces for its employees, including its new headquarters in Gloucester. This has seen moves to more modern offices with lower carbon footprints at three locations across the country – including a new office in Brighton.
ADT Workplace has completed the project at 11 York Street over the past 12 months and we were able to utilise our previous experience to deliver a high-quality fit-out, successfully negotiating the complexities of working within an occupied city centre building, to finish the programme on time within 13 weeks.
Design Vision
Creating a space which would support hybrid and agile working to enhance employee wellbeing and comfort, and encourage empowerment and autonomy for people over where and how they work, was key for Benefact Group.
As well as agile desk settings, the office needed to incorporate a flexible working space separate to the main open plan workspace, a number of private meeting rooms varying in size, areas for collaboration and space for individual focus work. It was also crucial that the new workplace include somewhere for the team to relax and socialise with colleagues in an informal setting.
Office Fit-Out
Following the selection of the perfect office space, ADT Workplace collaborated with Benefact Group to refurbish the new space. This included all M&E systems and furniture, as well as the Cat B and C fit-out, having developed the initial designs and completed a value engineering process to provide additional value, while ensuring the design vision and quality remained.
The design concept centres on creating a warm and welcoming environment which promotes openness and connectivity. The open plan layout throughout supports a natural journey around the workplace, with ceiling and carpet tiles used cleverly to create walkways and zones, framing areas without the need for internal walls.
Visitors and employees arrive into an inviting welcome area, complete with informal booths, comfortable seating and planting. Adjacent to this is a breakout area incorporating a kitchen, café and bar-style seating and sofas, providing employees with ample space to relax or socialise with colleagues.
Moving through the rest of the workplace, in addition to an abundance of open plan desk space, there is a central collaboration zone and three private sound-proofed pods for individual focused work or calls. Glazed partitions have been used sparingly to create three private meeting rooms, including a boardroom and two smaller project rooms, with acoustic panelling integrated to provide additional sound comfort and offer privacy.
Oak slat paneling is prominent throughout, along with natural textures, tonal finishes, and planting, delivering a calming yet timeless and high-end environment. Splashes of teal and orange on furnishings throughout add personality and give a nod to the company’s brand, helping to create a sense of identity and belonging for employees.
Intelligent feature lighting including suspended pendants, wall lights and recessed spotlights, aids comfort and improves energy efficiency. This is supported by floor-to-ceiling windows which provide an abundance of natural light and create a spacious working environment. With the latest technology integrated throughout and interactive meeting spaces, the new environment will improve communication and connectivity for Benefact Group’s teams based across the organisation’s multiple locations.
The new office space reflects the Group’s dynamic growth ambitions and supports its journey towards reducing its direct climate impact by moving to offices with a lower carbon footprint.
Commenting on the new workplace, Una Glover, group premises director at Benefact Group, said: “As part of our commitment to being a world class employer, we’ve developed a workplace strategy which includes creating the best possible working environments for our staff.
“ADT Workplace have helped us to realise that ambition, fitting out our new Manchester office with a modern, environmentally sustainable and flexible workspace that will help our teams to thrive.”
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If you are interested in learning more about our successful renovations and how we can transform your workspace, please visit our Case Studies page or contact us below. We are here to help revolutionise your workspace and create a space that inspires productivity and creativity.
ADT Workplace
The Workplace, Zebra Court, Greenside Way, Manchester M24 1UN
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