Workplace Brochure

Workplace

We are architects, engineers, designers and urbanists.

Placemaking for a Modern World

We design at every scale and at every stage in the process of placemaking, from visioning to briefing, design, delivery and operation. The places we create are distinct; social, natural, useful and beautiful – a reflection of humanity.

The practice has grown to over 1,200 people operating from a collaborative network of global studios, all creative hubs connected to the cities and regions they serve.

BDP has an enviable track record in workplace design, undertaking commissions for some of the world’s biggest brands, including AstraZeneca, BBC, B&Q, PwC and Roche.

Our clients turn to us to create and deliver best in class work environments with an emphasis on wellbeing, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, a community that fosters a culture of choice, collaboration and innovation in a workplace that is functional, flexible and supports business needs.

Agility

Key drivers in workplace design are less about corporatism and more about freedom and choice. There should be spaces for extroverts and introverts, quiet spaces for problem solving and communal spaces for lively discussion and collaboration. These provide a variety of inclusive settings offering choices in where to work to suit the task in hand and enabling wellbeing by encouraging an agile daily work pattern.

Wellbeing

The workplace, if done well, motivates people to consistently perform at their best for both themselves and their employers. The best buildings are those with a heart, with outstanding facilities to make working experiences better, lives easier and more enjoyable; buildings that allow the connectivity, space and time to think and relax with great food and great coffee. These offer space to collaborate, teach, learn, inspire and innovate.

What is clear to us as a practice is what the main drivers are for our occupier clients. People and their wellbeing are the key concern. They do, after all, represent the major cost to most businesses and good, happy people make good, happy businesses. Put a good business in a better building and it will become a better, happier business.

Sustainability

As designers and engineers we continue to strive to create buildings that are sustainable, inclusive, flexible, support change, provide choice, embrace daylight, and offer good air and green space. We recognise that we are humans not robots, that we have feelings and need meaningful contact with the elements and with one another to thrive.

Resilient Places

We are committed to schemes that can offer opportunities for reuse/reappropriation, maximising financial and ringfencing carbon benefits. BDP have developed innovative design tools to support our clients in decarbonising their estates, eliminating carbon emissions through every step of the lifecycle and delivering net zero carbon developments.

LDN:W

Location London, UK

Client MEAG Cost Confidential Completion

2020

The refurbishment of a 1980s office building in the City of London includes work on its external façade and the creation of a semi-public ground floor space and a rooftop extension with terrace, opening up the roof level and offering views across the city. The scheme features an innovative structural glazing system on the ground floor, new lifts and core reconfiguration, prefabricated bathroom systems, and flexible ceiling-less office space.

PwC Birmingham

Location

GD ID

Birmingham, UK

Client

PwC

Cost Confidential

Completion

Phase 1: 2019

Phase 2: 2021

Following the agile workplace strategy introduced in PwC Manchester, the One Chamberlain Square offices provide a total of nine floors over 156,000 sq ft. We introduced a carefully considered mix of workspaces for collaboration, quiet time and presentations, in close proximity; gone are the zones of break-out and work area; instead an eclectic mix of different settings, balanced across practice floors, making the best use of natural light and quiet corners.

“

The development of One Chamberlain Square embodies a forward-thinking, aspirational workplace... The building purposefully embraces Birmingham’s diverse heritage with each of its seven floors taking on a unique theme, ambience and identity.”

Matthew Hammond Partner, Midlands Region Chairman, PwC

One Angel Square

Location Northampton, UK

Client Northamptonshire

City Council

Cost £40m

Completion 2017

One Angel Square enabled Northamptonshire City Council’s workforce to relocate from 12 separate properties into one BREEAM Excellent headquarters building. The brief required a flexible office to accommodate 2,000 employees and established a building that encourages collaboration and new ways of working for improved productivity, as well as serving as a catalyst for wider urban regeneration.

Judges

RIBA Awards

One Angel Square demonstrates a highly competent and elegant approach that showcases innovation in the workplace environment.”

AstraZeneca Global R&D Headquarters

Ar

Ac

Location Cambridge, UK

Client

AstraZeneca

We are delivering the vision for a new office headquarters and laboratory complex for 2,000 employees to support AstraZeneca’s drive for scientific leadership and best practice in low energy laboratory design. The BREEAM Excellent design encourages collaborative working across the organisation and provides easy access for the wider scientific community through an open campus environment.

Thomas More Square

Ar

GD

Location London, UK

Client Land Securities

Cost £30m

A 1980s office development near St Katharine Docks required upgrades to its principal office building and public realm. The main reception area was remodelled, and incorporates a new double height stainless steel entrance portico, a large reception with feature audio visual system, business lounge and coffee shop. The upper floors were refurbished to create grade A commercial space. The public realm was remodelled to provide new access routes, raised levels, planting, seating and lighting.

Our design team held a pivotal role in the collaboration process of this job, working closely from the outset with PwC, the developer and its team including the architect Foster and Partners. The first building in London to achieve BREEAM Outstanding it includes environmental innovations such as the use of 80% recycled aggregate within the concrete used, and recycling of waste heat to cool and warm the building.

Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal

Location

London, UK Client Houses of Parliament

The Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme has been established to tackle the significant work that needs to be done to protect and preserve the heritage of the Palace of Westminster and ensure it can continue to serve as home to the UK parliament in the 21st century. The Grade I listed palace dates from the mid-1800s and is now one of the most iconic and significant buildings in the world, and forms part of the UNESCO Westminster World Heritage Site.

Ar Ac BSE

C&S GD ID

La Su

Li Pl

PwC Watford

Ac ID

GD

Location

Watford, UK

Client

PwC

Completion 2021

A new north of London office destination, considered the company’s first biophilic office with an immersive garden floor; the welcoming interior features relaxed living spaces that evoke a feel-good factor where wellbeing, community connectivity and an inclusive flexible agile environment play a central role.

BDP has created an inviting office which paves the way for a fresh emphasis on people and wellbeing, a representation of PwC values and principles.

Northern Estates Programme

Location

London, UK

Client

House of Commons

Cost

£600m

Completion 2021

The refurbishment and development of multiple Grade I, II and II* listed buildings in Whitehall provides office space for the House of Commons. Our masterplan maximises their use and secures their conservation and repair for the long term, creating efficient, accessible and sustainable modern facilities.

Ar GD ID

La Ma Pl

PwC Glasgow

ID GD

Location Glasgow, UK

Client PwC

Completion

2021

Refurbishment of PwC client lounge by using net zero as a driver. The sustainability formula ‘Build less, build clever, design for adaptability & disassembly’ allows the newly designed interior to be disassembled and relocated to other PwC locations with less of a carbon footprint. This Refurbishment was the amalgamation of retaining existing features, refreshing, and improving functionality of a multifunctional space with a strong narrative related to location and history, therefore creating a distinctive space.

Wanhua Research and Development Centre

Ar La Ma

Location Shanghai, China

Client Wanhua Chemical Group Co Ltd

Completion 2019

An international research and development centre incorporates state-of-the-art facilities for Wanhua’s pioneering work in manufacturing. The design creates three elements which showcase their functions; scientific labs; serviced apartments for visiting specialists and scientists; staff offices, conference amenities and auxiliary spaces, all integrated by a landscaped plaza to promote relaxation and wellbeing.

Metaswitch

Location

London, UK

Client Stoford

Developments

Cost

Confidential

Completion 2020

A bespoke office headquarters in the London Borough of Enfield for software and network developer Metaswitch accommodates 500 staff across five floors arranged around a top-lit atrium with a feature staircase to enhance interaction between the floors. The design also comprises a ground floor reception with a café, a state-of-the-art data centre, a rooftop conference space and basement parking.

Synthetic Biology Technology Innovation Centre

Location

Ar

Tianjin, China

Client

Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

The National Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering is a partnership between Tianjin University and Nankai University.

Our competition design for the centre focuses on the innovative research on synthetic biology and bioprocessing engineering, exploring opportunities to engineer biosystems to fuel, feed and heal.

The Glasshouse

Ar

Location Manchester, UK

Client Manchester Science Partnerships

Cost £13.5m

Completion 2017

The former Central Toxicology Laboratory building (CTL) had been mothballed by AstraZeneca prior to their phased move from the campus. The remodelling includes two new entrance annexe and creates a new central atrium space on the site of a formerly planted external courtyard. The project provides 180,000 sqft of low level laboratory and office accommodation, which offers the flexibility to be sub-divided into varying customer suite sizes from 2,000sq.ft.

Blackburn Cathedral Quarter

Location

Blackburn, UK

Client Blackburn with Darwen Council

Cost £15m

Completion 2021

No 1 Cathedral Square is the first office building to be conceived within our masterplan for Blackburn Cathedral Quarter. The grade A, BREEAM Excellent six storey building completed in 2016 as a result of a partnership between us, Maple Grove Developments, Blackburn with Darwen Council and Blackburn Cathedral. The second phase will deliver No 2 Cathedral Square, a similar office building to the first phase.

Wuhan Qingshan Riverside Business District

Wuhan Qingshan Riverside Business District is an urban design project that aims to attract future investment into the city. Our concept for the 2.2 sq km site transforms the area into a vibrant 24 hour open-space community. The proposals include a core business area which includes workplace facilities and is supported by a mix of retail, hotel, apartments, cultural and education facilities.

Huawei Research Centre

Location

Ar ID

La Su

Hangzhou, China

Client Huawei

The new R&D centre for Huawei Technologies creates a workplace for 8,000 employees comprising six research centres, supported by an underground car park and two administrative buildings unified by a central canteen. The R&D centre will focus on VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), network security, telecom production, sales and after-sales services set in the picturesque landscape of the city of the arts.

The next generation infrastructure brings scientists together into multidisciplinary houses creating a ‘collaboratory’ of wet and dry science activities across chemistry, biology, physics and ecology to better understand plant and microbial phenotypes and how they impact on the evolution of plant genetics and development. Views into laboratories, glasshouses and other working spaces present a cross-section of the activities taking place.

PwC Embankment Place

Location

GD ID

Li

London, UK

Client PwC

Completion 2021

With increasing demand on the utilisation of its internal infrastructure BDP was asked to provide a new strategy to relieve the current flow of staff and client traffic using the first floor facilities. The installation of two new escalators provide access at street level through to a new concourse at first floor providing a new entrance. The existing client lounge and support spaces have been completely re-imagined providing an enhanced facility for guests and staff.

Roche HQ

Location Welwyn Garden City, UK

Client Roche Products Ltd

Cost £50m

This BREEAM Excellent headquarters building and clinical pharmacology unit incorporates laboratories for the testing, monitoring and analysing of samples and a production area for the storage, preparation and packing of products for this leading pharmaceutical company.

B&Q Store Support Office

B&Q’s head office is a low energy building housing administrative functions, research, development and store support operations. Key to the design is that it provides a building that works within the context of the locality and one which responds to the business and operational needs of B&Q. In addition to office space, the building contains a large atrium, restaurant area, conference and training centre.

Bonham Quay

Ar BSE ID Su

Location Galway, Ireland

Client Edward Capital

Cost €104m

Completion 2023

Bonham Quay is a mixed use project comprising grade A office space, retail units, restaurants and student accommodation. The workplace development is designed as four office blocks alongside two public squares that connect via landscape bridges. The project has a zero carbon target and is designed to accommodate a working community of 2,600. Additional amenities are included such as a cultural arts facility and a commuter and fitness centre.

Wuhan Towers

Ar ID

Li Ma

Location Wuhan, China

Client Wuhan Yijing

Property Ltd

Completion 2019

Two landmark office towers offer a modern urban complex that integrates grade A offices with high end residential units, a terraced retail and entertainment podium, alongside a five star hotel. The buildings are part of our Wuhan Tahan masterplan which is strategically located in the city centre with close links to Wuhan Plaza business district, the Financial Business Centre and Wangjiadun CBD.

Old Admiralty Building

Ar C&S ID Pl

Location London, UK

Client Department for Education

Cost £50m

Completion 2019

The refurbishment and creative adaptation of the Grade II listed Old Admiralty required extensive engagement with Historic England, due to its significant history including offices once occupied by Winston Churchill and Ian Fleming. Now home to over 1,600 staff, work included reordering the building and repairing its external fabric. The interiors have been opened up to create 24,000 sqm of flexible workspace. Cellular spaces are linked within the historic building to increase connectivity.

The Royal London House

Location

Ar

Manchester, UK

Client

Royal London Cost

£22m

Completion

The Royal London House project at Alderley Park was created from Astra Zeneca’s former Parklands office building and involved both refurbishment and extension. The building was reoriented to provide a new main entrance to the south, within the new glazed extension. BDP delivered the Cat B and FF&E from the initial concept scheme.

Merrion House

Location Leeds, UK

Client Town Centre Securities

Cost £42m

Completion 2018

The refurbished 1970s office building occupied by Leeds City Council provides affordable, modern office accommodation for 1,900 staff. It supports smart working that maximises occupational efficiency and creates a revitalised workplace for tenants. It is located in close proximity to several conservation areas and landmark buildings, and therefore has been remodelled to embody a high quality building with a strong civic presence.

Cambridge Assessment Headquarters

Location Cambridge, UK

Client Cambridge Assessment

Cost £100m

Completion 2018

Cambridge Assessment headquarters provides office accommodation for 3,000 staff and has the adaptability to facilitate the business’ expected growth of 25%. It has 80 assessment meeting rooms, restaurants, coffee bars, a library and resource centre, conference rooms, flexible auditorium facilities, a wellbeing centre and consultation rooms. The project involved a Cat A and B fit-out, full furniture, furnishings, and equipment design as well as shell and core coordination.

PwC Belfast – Merchant Square

Location

GD ID

Belfast, UK

Client

PwC

Completion 2021

Design for fit-out of the new 200,000 sqft nine floor workplace building for PwC Belfast. Relocating them from their existing premises to the new building at Merchant Square.

The building is an amalgamation of three existing structures with a dramatic feature staircase linking floors 4, 5 & 6 connecting the 5th floor restaurant, Wellness Area & Co-Working to practice space.

This adaption of a shell and core building over three floors provides new offices, a lighting showroom and Cat A offices for subletting. The Atrium showroom accommodates 40 staff and has associated facilities such as client meeting spaces and a kitchen. The showroom can also be used for events, having a bar area and a 50 seat seminar space.

64 Victoria

Ar Ac

Location

London, UK

Completion 2019

64 Victoria is a 22 storey 1960s office tower that has been comprehensively refurbished with a new aesthetic and modern environment. Work included stripping the building’s concrete frame, cleaning stonework, installing new windows, maximising the ground floor glazing and opening up the entrance. The central core was remodelled and double-decker lifts were introduced, enabling densification of the workplace which is a first for a refurbishment project.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Location

London, UK

Client

Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Cost £5.4m

Completion 2015

A tired 1980s office building has been transformed into the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s headquarters to encourage collaboration and public engagement. The society’s museum of pharmacy collection is on display on the ground floor and leads to a 120 seat lecture theatre, feature staircase and new atrium which was created from an existing lightwell. Externally the reclad façade visually enhances the building and improves its environmental and acoustic performance.

Google HQ

Ar

Location

London, UK

Client Google Cost

£650m

The first wholly owned and designed Google building outside of the United States, provides 1 million sqft of purpose-built space and combined with its current building at 6 Pancras Square, and an additional third building, will create a Google campus. We are lead consultant, design delivery architect, lighting and interior designer, and workplace planner, working with concept architects Heatherwick Studio and Bjarke Ingels Group to deliver the scheme.

Canolfan S4C Yr Egin

Ac

Location Carmarthen, UK

Client

University of Wales

Trinity Saint David

Cost £10m

Completion 2018

Yr Egin connects creative and digital content industries to generate ideas and share resources under one roof. Its design is inspired by the close relationship between the university, S4C and the creative industries and this trinity is reflected its triangular form. The building is focused around a public foyer and atrium that overarches the three floors. It has a cafe, performance space, auditorium, community facilities and offices for S4C and the other partners.

PwC Manchester

Location

GD ID

Manchester, UK

Client

PwC

Cost Confidential

Completion

2019

PwC’s Manchester office spreads across four floors of the One Spinningfields building and provides collaborative workspace, flexible meeting pods, a feature staircase with ‘Spanish steps’ style seating, a café and three roof terraces. A strong Manchester identity is conveyed throughout, with its topography, industrial heritage and bee symbolism inspiring the aesthetic.

Judges BCO Awards

“

A magnificent experience for visitors and staff, and a blueprint for the future.”

PwC Frontier, More London

Location

ID Li

London, UK

Client PwC

Completion 2018

PwC Frontier is a client facing hybrid of laboratory, office, and collaboration space, offering an experience centre that brings together business strategy, digital technology, customer experience and design. A series of interconnected spaces incorporates a virtual reality lab in which users can engage and test strategies through technology alongside a high spec studio office, and an adaptable open plan space. Its flexible environment is inspired by home, work and play.

Exchange Station

Location

Ar GD ID

Liverpool, UK

Client

Aviva Investments

Cost £5m

Completion 2013

This office refurbishment project refocused the central atrium to become a new destination at the heart of the workplace, with a new concierge reception and improved connectivity. A prominent entrance is created underneath the arches of the original station facade. The project provides 22,000 sq ft of Category A office space, along with the redesign and refurbishment of common facility areas. A comprehensive rebranding exercise including wayfinding signage was also delivered in the scheme.

Bright Building, Manchester Science Park

Location

Manchester, UK

Client Manchester Science Partnerships

Cost £12m

Completion 2017

The Bright Building, at the centre of Manchester Science Park, is the first element of our masterplan and sets the standard for new development within the Manchester Science Partnerships’ portfolio. The BREEAM Excellent building provides a flexible office and low level laboratory accommodation over four floors set around a central collaborative hub, as well as café and restaurant facilities, a gym, meeting spaces, conferencing and networking spaces.

Eversheds Sutherland

C&S ID

Location Manchester, UK

Client Eversheds Sutherland Cost Confidential

Completion 2021

A fit-out project across the top three floors and ground floor reception of a new office building for more than 300 Eversheds Sutherland staff. The offices will meet the high demands of today’s workforce for health, wellbeing and workplace quality, as major factors in job satisfaction and retention. Our design will allow the law firm to work in a more agile way while also factoring in future growth.

Shanghai City Land Tower

Located near Suzhou Creek, we have designed a 21 storey office tower to enhance the region’s image and provide facilities for the local community. It includes a pedestrianised landscape ramp that connects the waterfront and public park to the top of a mixed use podium. The building also includes a subway entrance, community centre, café, co-working and events areas and an outdoor terrace.

80 Atlantic Avenue

Ar ID

Location Toronto, Canada

Client Hullmark Developments Ltd

Completion 2019

Using heavy timber and stone, this five-storey office building features unique glazing that showcases its building materials, affording particularly impressive views to its adjacent communal space and sister building, 60 Atlantic. 80 Atlantic is a return to mass timber construction for an office setting, exploring a building typology that is sustainable, aesthetically striking and cost-effective.

Maison Radio Canada

Location

Ar ID

Montreal, Canada

Client

Broccolini

Construction Inc

Completion

2020

In the new CBC/Radio-Canada media centre, creators and programmers work within modern and versatile spaces which support the collaborative workplace strategy of the digital, multiplatform public broadcaster. The building features clear and simple wayfinding that connects its programmes around a central, sky-lit atrium, providing natural light on all floors.

Selected Awards

BDP has won over 1,000 awards for design quality –a selection of our awards is listed below.

British Council for Offices Awards

National Awards

• Enterprise Centre, University of East Anglia

• PwC Offices, Edinburgh

• 7 More London, PwC, London

• Graham Headquarters, Northern Ireland

• West Lothian Civic Centre, Livingston

• PwC Glasgow

British Council for Offices Awards

Regional Awards

• Cambridge Assessment Headquarters, Cambridge

• PwC Manchester, Manchester

• Technology and Innovation Centre, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow

• PwC Offices, Bristol

• Inovo, Industry Engagement Building, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow

• PwC Offices, 3 St James Court, Norwich

• Exchange Station, Liverpool

• Manchester Town Hall Extension, Manchester

• Navigation Warehouse, Wakefield

• Tanfield, Edinburgh

• BDP Manchester Studio, Manchester

• Bright Building, Manchester (Highly Commended)

RIBA Award

• Merrion House, Leeds (Sustainability Award)

• One Angel Square, Northampton

• No. 1 North Bank, Sheffield

• BDP Manchester Studio, Manchester

RICS National Award

• Graham Headquarters, Northern Ireland

RICS Regional Award

• Canolfan S4C Yr Egin, Carmarthen, Wales

• One Angel Square, Northampton

• No 1 Cathedral Square, Blackburn

• Atria and EICC Extension, Edinburgh

• Bathgate Partnership Centre, West Lothian

• B&Q Store Support Office, Eastleigh, Hampshire

• West Lothian Civic Centre, Livingston

• BDP Manchester Studio, Manchester

CIBSE Building Performance Award

• One Angel Square, Northampton

Lighting Design Award

• 7 More London, PwC, London

Architect of the Year Award

• BDP – Finalist 2019/2018/2009

Manchester Architects Award

• Bright Building, Manchester

• Exchange Station, Liverpool

• BDP Manchester Studio, Manchester

ACE Engineering Excellence Award

• B&Q Store Support Office, Hampshire (Commended)

• BDP Manchester Studio, Manchester

Mixology Award

• BDP Design Practice of the Year 2019

• Mark Simpson – Henry Pugh Outstanding Contribution Award

• Royal Pharmaceutical Society, London

UKSPA Award

• Technology and Innovation Centre, University of Strathclyde

• Enterprise Centre, University of East Anglia

Estates Gazette Tech Award

• Manchester Science Park, Manchester

Edinburgh Architectural Association Award

• Bathgate Partnership Centre, West Lothian (Building of the Year)

Institution of Structural Engineers North West Award

• Merrion House, Leeds

• BDP Manchester Studio, Manchester

Simpson Principal, Chair of Design, Head of Workplace

mark.simpson@bdp.com

Cover: LDN:W

Photography: Nick Caville, Craig Auckland, John Beswick, Sanna Fisher-Payne, Bob Gundu, Roland Halbe, Hufton + Crow, Paul Karalius, David Millington, Raphaël Thibodeau, Philip Vile, Terrence Zhang

Key to professions:

Ar Architecture

Ac Acoustics

BSE Building Services Engineering

C&S Civil and Structural Engineering

DM Design Management

GD Graphic Design

InD Inclusive Design

ID Interior Design

La Landscape Architecture

Li Lighting

Ma Masterplanning

Pl Planning

Su Sustainability

UD Urban Design

Mark

“ Buildings are a product. Good buildings like good products should be easily understood, using them should be intuitive.”

Mark Simpson Principal, Chair of Design, Head of Workplace

We are architects, engineers, designers and urbanists.