BACKGROUND

City Asset Management is a London-based boutique investment firm, serving its diverse clientele for more than 30 years. With a team of 55 based in their central office, City Asset Management caters to a diverse clientele, including private clients, charities and corporate, and therefore required a suitable office space.

• Location: London, EC2N

• Company Size: 55 Staff

• Project Size: 7,200 Sqft

• Sector: Finance

• Duration: 8 weeks

PROJECT OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES 

With a small but growing team, City Asset Management sought a new office space that would reflect the firm’s brand and identity to clients, while fostering a productive atmosphere for the team.

The brief was clear: a workspace that reflected the company, while fostering teamwork, collaboration and well-being. Cityspace were accordingly selected to complete the fit out and design, after the location had been selected.

CHALLENGES AND EXPECTATIONS

The new office’s location was positioned on the lower ground floor of its host building, thus limiting natural light. Natural light was available from only two sides of the building, posing challenges both in design and energy efficiency. Cityspace would need to find solutions that enhanced lighting in the office, even during daylight hours, in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way, while avoiding unnecessary costs.

RECOMMENDATIONS

In response to the challenges, the design strategy firstly focused on maximising natural light in. Open plan desks were arranged near the windows to ensure ample light for staff members through the day. To enhance this, natural planting and timber effect flooring were installed to soften the design and contribute to an uplifting environment, as workplace science so tells us.

Several meeting rooms were designed with clear glass windows to ensure they benefitted from the lighting, and a large, central reception was created in the middle of the meeting room suite. The central reception cleverly serves as a focal point for meeting room occupants, giving the illusion of a brighter, open-plan space.

A spacious boardroom was also added to the meeting room suite, equipped with acoustic treatments to the walls and comprehensive AV facilities.

PROJECT OUTCOMES

The relocation and design of City Asset Management’s new office results in a sophisticated and highly functional space, where limited lighting doesn’t impact the day to day operations.

Through expert space planning and innovative design solutions, Cityspace successfully addressed the logistical and environmental challenges of the lower ground floor location. The completed project met City Asset Management’s objectives, delivering a workspace that reflects their brand’s heritage and values, while promoting a culture of creativity, collaboration and well-being.