Following a recent re-brand the MHA MacIntrye Hudson team sought a new office to embody their new business direction.
The design and delivery of their new workplace not only activated a cultural transformation but helped to shift behaviours and interactions between staff opening up a more effective and collaborative approach to work.
MHA is an association of business advisors, chartered accountants and tax experts who work in partnership with clients ranging from individuals to large multi-national corporations. Having recently undergone a re-brand, their executive team was looking to find a new workplace design partner that could positively showcase their new brand, but also one that they trusted with influencing positive cultural change, encouraging collaboration and contribute to their staff’s overall wellbeing.
Located in one of the most prestigious commercial destinations in London, the recently redeveloped 2 London Wall place provided AIS with inspiration for the design concept which sought to continue the sympathetic vernacular of the site, where rigid architectural lines are contrasted by curving bridges that thread their way through the development directing paths of traffic.
This can be seen emulated in the client suite area, where a wave like ceiling detail leads visitors from the entrance to the custom designed reception desk and then through to the client meeting rooms. Each of these meeting rooms is connected by folding walls making them flexible enough to accommodate meetings for 4, boardroom style meetings and even big enough to accommodate dining settings ready for entertaining clients.
The office is split between two floors, connected by a feature staircase the dimensions of which were carefully proportioned in order to encourage passing social interactions. The main tea point was placed on the upper floor in an effort to engage people to move across floors and thus creating a vibrant hub. Here the large open plan kitchen, banquet seating and large family sharing style tables further facilitate interaction and bring people together in a comfortable and relaxed setting. The adjacent lounge area creates further informal workspace where staff can work agile on sprawling sofas or café style seating.
Moving into the main staff work area pockets of collaboration space are spread throughout the open plan, allowing staff to enjoy a variety of work settings to suit their individual and team needs. These spaces are defined by sound absorbing feature ceiling panels, which also allow the space to be kept open, allowing the flow of natural light through the space.
Stronger brand presence was created through the use of a refined materials palette featuring warm oak timbers and monochromatic surfaces, mixed with accents of the company brand colours that inject an element of vibrancy. The overall energy of the space is sophisticated and serene which combined with the company’s new branding will help see the MHA business to a stronger future.
Project: MHA MacIntyre Hudson
Location: London, United Kingdom
Design Studio: AIS
Photo Credit: AIS
Website: ais-interiors.com
