Lewis And Hickey India Private Limited

Making use of the double height space, the design of the new head office for Ocon in a Grade II listed 19th Century warehouse introduced a mezzanine floor, bolted into the existing cast iron columns. The project provided office accommodation arranged around a central void, comprising open plan workstations with fully glazed meeting rooms and private offices around the periphery. An architecturally appropriate intervention within the historical fabric, the design minimises the impact of the modern structures and celebrates the industrial heritage of the warehouse.

The structural steel of the mezzanine and the existing brickwork were left exposed, and minimal structural glass balustrades create a feeling of openness. Two double height arches to the external wall were opened up and glazed to allow maximum daylight influx. The project presented a range of challenges dealing with Planning, Conservation, and difficult Building Control issues. We worked with a specialist fire engineer to ensure that the initial open plan design concept was achieved whilst adhering to a fast-track programme dictated by the need for Ocon to vacate their former premises.

The Trinity Gardens scheme is a 2250m2 CAT 2 office fit-out project on behalf of Deloitte Lawyers to house their new North Eastern headquarters. The accommodation comprised primarily of open-plan workspaces, broken up with ‘break-out’ pods and ‘tea-points’.

In addition to this, high specification meeting areas and boardroom facilities were designed to accommodate numbers from 2-4 up to 30 persons, several of which were equipped with the very latest Audio Visual wall technology. A central canteen, with hot / cold catering provisions and associated dining / convalescence space was also formed to offer employees an area to eat and relax during their respective breaks.

Working closely with Deloitte’s concept designers’, we ensured that concept delivery was not compromised whilst managing with Building Control issues and technical construction detailing. The project itself was on a fast-track programme with delivery of the accommodation taking 12 weeks from commencement on site.