Initially, Plan A had two properties on their radar; one just around the corner on the 2^nd floor at Harella House, Goswell Road, Clerkenwell; and the other was a new build at 10 White Lion Court in Angel Islington.

Plan A were struggling to decide between the two properties, as they both had great potential, so they enlisted our help.

We viewed both properties with the client and carried out a full site survey, where we discussed what they wanted from the new office space. Following this initial discovery process, we were able to provide suggestions for the layout, design and costs for fitting out both properties.

This helped with the decision-making tremendously, as they were able to have a clear picture of what each property could offer.

In comparison, the open plan layout at the Clerkenwell property presented opportunity for a collaborative workplace, while the existing space at White Lion Court was less connected, with distinct areas already in place. It was obvious that the Clerkenwell property offered more potential to create a layout that met Plan A’s exact requirements, which included meeting rooms, a large kitchen, open plan office and various breakout spaces.

The costs to fit out both properties were similar by comparison. Therefore, with all factors considered the decision was made to remain in the Clerkenwell district and design a workplace that ticked all the boxes for Plan A now and in the future.

Once the lease agreement was in place, work quickly commenced to transform their new office into a sumptuous workspace that met their design needs and workplace culture.

We handed over the office fit out in just 10 weeks, ensuring the move went smoothly and according to plan.

As you can see in the picture below of Harella House, we were working in a completely empty space.

The new property had recently had a Category A fit out and presented a blank canvas for a professionally designed Category B fit out.

This would give Plan A the opportunity to put their mark on the interior design and allow for their future growth.

Our role was to create an interior design, layout, and turnkey office fit out that would provide Plan A with:

• A beautifully designed reception and waiting area
• Large open plan kitchen with breakout spaces, complete with media walls
• Multiple meeting rooms, including a boardroom and smaller meeting spaces
• Storage walls
• Furniture
• Static workstations
• Hot desking facilities
• Breakout areas
• Collaborative spaces
• M&E design and installation
• Plumbing works

Like all our clients, Plan A was assigned a project manager to oversee the project and ensure every stage of the development went according to plan. Based on site, the JBH project manager oversaw the design and build, including first and second fix HVAC, plumbing and electrical installation.

For the Plan A office design and layout, we worked closely with the client. Together, we took design cues from the building’s illustrious industrial past. The property had been built in the 1930s as a factory for Harella Clothing. As a result, it boasts a vast open plan space that had once been necessary for the large machinery. Furthermore, the full height crittall glazed windows - that are typical of the period’s industrial buildings - let in an abundance of natural light.

With such an iconic building to work with, we seized the opportunity to deliver a light and spacious interior that uses a range of textures, colours, and furnishings from past and present to create an informal yet sophisticated workspace that satisfies Plan A’s business culture.

Throughout the design we combined elements of the building’s industrial heritage with modern design features. The crittall glazed partitions with black steel frames mimic the building’s 1930s windows, while the exposed brick and steels deliver those important industrial accents throughout the design.

Upon our recommendation, the Plan A meeting rooms were fitted with Fyotto slim frame double glazed doors of acoustic grade. These are not the standard offering for crittall glazed partitions, and we recommended them as they offer high performance sound proofing.

To soften the industrial interior and introduce a minimalist contemporary twist, throughout the office fit out, we introduced:

• Light wood wall panelling
• A moss wall and planting
• Linear lighting and a range of pendant lighting
• Task and collaborative seating
• A soft colour palette with pops of blues, greens and contrasting terracotta
• Minimalist storage walls

The addition of a moss wall in reception, combined with wooden panelling and a neon ‘Plan A’ sign provide texture and depth to the entrance and delivers that all-important focal point for visitors.

Many of the design features had been deliberated over by the wider Plan A team. With so many ideas and opinions, the design could have lost its synergy. However, by creating  3D renders, we were able to showcase the design features and aid their decision making. You will note, that not all the design features in the renders below made the final fit out and that’s because it was decided at senior management level to keep or lose certain features, either due to costs or for practical reasons.

In their old space, Plan A’s kitchen was located at one end of the office and consisted of just a few units. But their new office now features a fully functioning kitchen, complete with stylish units, a central island, pendant lighting and multiple seating, including a large banqueting table that can double up as a hot desk or collaborative space.

Furnishing the large open plan office space, meeting rooms, kitchen and breakout spaces required an expert furniture consultation.

The consultation allowed the client to see first-hand a range of products that we had recommended to suit the office design and their budget.

We also used the opportunity to play with the configuration and ensure their practical and comfort needs were met.

Reuse

Where possible we always aim to reuse and up-cycle items from the outgoing property. On this occasion we took the pendants from the old meeting room and fitted them over the island in the kitchen. We reinstalled the Plan A neon sign in the reception. The wine fridge was reused and the meeting table and chairs from the old breakout area are now repurposed in the kitchen.

The latest Plan A office fit out in London was completed in just 10 weeks, which was carefully timed to meet the end of the lease on Plan A’s exiting property.

The project went smoothly, and the client is delighted with the results. The images speak for themselves.

The new REA office space was located at York House, Kingsway in central London, a stone’s throw from their exiting office at Lancaster House.

Although it ticked all the boxes for location and floor space, the layout needed to be reconfigured to provide more agreeable meeting spaces.

After a site visit and competitive quotation, JBH Refurbishments was contracted to carry out the works, which involved creating a flexible meeting space that could be easily adapted to meet varying needs – from small intimate meetings to the company’s AGM.

While the office fit out project presented a straightforward partitioning installation, we had to consider the requirement for flexible use, as well as the flow of natural light to the adjoining communal space.

Working closely with the client it was agreed that we would create two meeting rooms that could be converted into one large space via a folding wall partition.  When the partition was closed, it would create two individual spaces – one larger conferencing room and one smaller meeting area.

The folding office partitioning worked on an easy-to-use bifold mechanism and featured acoustic panels to ensure both rooms were sound proof when occupied.

The newly partitioned meeting rooms were situated along the window side of the building; therefore, the dividing walls could potentially block out the natural light to the adjoining communal area. To ensure the communal space could still benefit from the natural light, we decided to use full height glazed partition walls and doors on the adjoining side.

Changing the layout of the meeting rooms meant we need to dismantle the suspended ceiling to make the neccessary modifications. For the floor, we avoided having to re-carpet the entire area by colour matching the new carpet tiles with the existing.

Finally, we installed the screens in both rooms to present two fully usable, finished and flexible meeting spaces ready for REA to move in.

"Having worked with JBH on previous projects, we went back to them because of their professional project management, collaborative approach and high quality work. Despite this project having very tight timescales, JBH worked with us to ensure the fit-out was completed safely, on time and on budget. I would have no hesitation in using JBH again," Stuart Pocock, Chief Operating Officer for REA.

As a commercial fit out contractor, we work with occupants and landlords to develop interiors that are ready to move in to. The REA office project was a great example of how JBH Refurbishments supports the growth of businesses in London and the South East through simple and manageable design and layout alterations.

If you are on the move and need some support getting your new office ready, please speak to our team today via our contact form.

This was a London office refurbishment delivered on a tight budget that included salvaged high-quality products. Throughout the project we not only offered some impressive saving, but also implemented parts of our sustainable office refurbishment action plan.

The JBH team were awarded the contract for the Street Child office refurbishment in London. This growing charitable organisation was preparing to move to a larger workspace, centrally located in the city, near to the Gherkin building. Ahead of the move, the Street Child planned to make some alterations to office design and layout.

Street Child is an international charity, dedicated to ensuring all children have access to a safe and secure learning environment to facilitate their long-term education. This is a charity that prioritises education in deprived areas of the world, giving children the tools they need to succeed as adults and enhance their local communities.

At JBH Refurbishments it is our ethos to provide quality and value to all our clients, therefore we were well-placed to meet the budget and desired outcome to support Street Child in their London office refurbishment.

As a charity, the budget for Street Child’s Office Refurbishment was tight. To ensure we were able to offer value and high-quality results, we worked closely with the client to deliver cost savings where possible, which included retrofit salvaged high-quality finishes, and even parking during off peak times. We really did try to find cost saving at every stage.

When the charity contacted JBH Refurbishments, they were in the early stages of relocating to the lower ground floor of a shared office block. Like anyone moving to a new property, they wanted to make some alterations and improvements ahead of their move.

The new space needed to support their growing team and they stipulated five core areas that required a full office fit out. These five areas included:

• Open plan office
• Kitchen
• 3 x meeting rooms

Having spoken at length with the team at Street Child, we agreed to strip out the existing layout to make way for these core areas. Here’s how we did it…

The new large open plan office is at the centre of the property and accommodates 25 workstations.

To transform the ground floor office into the large bright workspace, we stripped out the original meeting rooms, partitions, kitchen, ceiling, carpets and doors.

Once the strip out was complete, we modified the HVAC system and electrics to suit the new layout, ensuring the air conditioning units and lighting could be installed in the appropriate areas.

With the first fix complete, we installed a new suspended ceiling. We then repaired the walls and redecorated throughout.

The entire ground floor space was fitted with new carpet, while leaving space within the small kitchen tea point for a non-slip vinyl floor.

Within the main open plan office, we installed a brand-new fitted kitchen with a range of floor standing and wall-hung units. This modern office kitchen was finished with pebble grey handless doors, a contemporary matt black mixer tap, charcoal grey splash backs and a high quality 13mm compact solid worktop, also in pebble grey.

Within the kitchen footprint, we allowed sufficient space for a table to sit and have lunch or a coffee break.

On opposite ends of the large open plan office space, we created three meeting rooms using a combination of glazed office partitions and soundproof plasterboard between the two adjoining meeting spaces. This meant two meetings could happen simultaneously without any disruptions.

Before we began this office refurbishment, we had previously salvaged three high-quality solid walnut doors, complete with matching frames from a dilapidation project. Doors and frames of this quality would normally cost upwards of £2000 each, and we had three sets. We were determined to use them on a project that would genuinely benefit from their high-end finish.

Early in the costing process of this London office refurbishment, we offered the walnut doors and frames to Street Child. Needless to say, they took us up on our offer. Therefore, we retrofit the doors and frames to complete the stylish glazed meeting and managerial rooms. The result is phenomenal, they bring such style to this London office refurbishment.

Both Street Child and the JBH team were thrilled to deliver a sustainable solution, while providing a high-end finish that would not have been an option for the budget had we not salvaged the doors in the first place.

Implementing salvaged high-quality items is part of our promise to reduce waste where possible. You can read more about how we strive to deliver eco office refurbishments in our a sustainable action plan.

Street Child came to us to transform this space into a usable workspace for their growing workforce. The end result delivers not just a large open plan workspace, but also multiple meeting rooms and an area for staff breaks.

The interior is light, bright and spacious; somewhere the Street Child team can be proud to work and entertain visitors.

JBH Refurbishments completed the Kent office refurbishment in Broadstairs for an international brand, renowned for its innovation in the world of photography and print.

With operations around the globe, the JBH Refurbishments team were pleasantly surprised to learn the company has offices on our doorstep in coastal town of Broadstairs.

Having occupied the Kent commercial property for several years, the offices were becoming dated. It was time for a refit and to inject a new lease of life to the interior, at the same time, giving the team a workspace, they could enjoy.

The focus area for this office refurbishment in Braodstairs was the HR administration department. The HR team occupied a large block of space within an extensive office development. However, the layout and interior design no longer met the needs of their expanding team. The entire area needed to be refurbished to create a light and bright workspace.

Made up of various individual rooms, the existing space required a full strip out. All the partition walls, fittings, fixtures, doors, washrooms, flooring and ceiling had to be removed.

The empty space would make way for a new interior layout, featuring an open plan office, meeting spaces, kitchen, tea point, unisex washroom and breakout area.

The design brief was to optimise the space and flood the area with natural light using floor to ceiling glass office partitions. The client wanted a blank canvas on which to develop their own design language. No doubt, using photographs and images that portray the brand’s photographic pastime.

A crucial area in the office refurbishment in Broadstairs, was the conference room and breakout area. Here was a space that the HR administration department use to hold interviews and welcome visitors. It therefore needed to project a professional image.

Following the strip out, we divided the area using full height glass partitions with acoustic properties. The door too, was glazed to optimise the light and provide a seamless finish. We used black aluminium framework to add contemporary styling that would later flatter the interior design.

What conference room is complete without a media wall?

To compliment the seamless styling, we built a recessed stud wall around a central wall-mounted monitor. The wall helped to disguise the cables and sockets, giving the conference room a sophisticated look.

Another contemporary feature in the conference room is the large LED linear light, which is suspended over the conference table. The black casing purposely complements the aluminium partition frames.

The neighbouring breakout area is a fantastic space for staff to meet for lunchbreaks, or for informal meetings. It is ideally situated next to the boardroom and main kitchen. This new space is bright and airy, thanks to the addition of full-height windows and double doors.

In the summer months, occupants can open the doors and wander out to a decked area to enjoy the fresh sea air.

Both the conference room and breakout area benefit from new carpets, fresh décor and a new suspended ceiling with integrated LED lighting.

Every large office requires a fully functioning kitchen, and this Kent office refurbishment was no exception. Here, the JBH Refurbishments team installed a fitted kitchen, complete with:

• High gloss white kitchen units
• Grey worktop
• Grey splashback
• Stainless steel sink and chrome tap
• Integrated dishwasher and fridge
• New ceiling and LED lighting
• Vinyl non-slip flooring

Moving on to the open plan office space, you will see in the photographs that the full height windows continue, allowing the natural light to flood the space.

Within the main floor area, we altered the layout to make space for seven desks and storage units, as well as fitted tea point, which mirrors the same units and finishing touches as the main kitchen.

Our team replaced the suspended ceiling, decorated, and fitted new carpet throughout.

Leading on from the open plan space is a director’s office and a small meeting room. These two areas are divided by a double-glazed full height office partition finished with oak veneer doors. For total privacy, the partitions benefit from integrated blinds and acoustic glass.

The crisp white décor continues into the office and meeting area, as it does throughout the Kent office refurbishment.

As part of this extensive office refurbishment in Broadstairs, we fit out the all-new unisex washroom with two full height cubicles and a matching dual sink vanity unit with chrome senor taps. The grey finish of the washroom furniture compliments the grey tones of the vinyl floor. On the walls we fitted large white tiles and a mirror over the vanity unit.

It took just 16 weeks to complete this Kent office refurbishment in Broadstairs, bringing it in on budget and on schedule. The overall finish is flawless, and we are thrilled to have delivered another high-quality project.

If you are reading this and would like to discuss your office refurbishment plans, please contact our team on 0333 207 0339 or email us at info@jbhrefurbishments.co.uk.

This trendy London office refurbishment spanned two storeys and combined two buildings into one. Based in South East London, the property had been occupied by our client for some time prior to our engagement. However, with an expanding workforce and changing work habits, they needed to optimise their available space and improve their appearance. A brand-new look was on the cards.

As a result, we were awarded the contract to complete the office refurbishment and layout alterations. Our team transformed the space into a light and open plan office with multiple meeting rooms, kitchens, unisex washrooms and made way for disabled access.

Starting with a full strip out, our team removed the existing carpets, partitions, toilets, kitchens and ceilings in both the properties. This is standard procedure for any office refurbishment. But that wasn’t all.

This office refurbishment was far more involved. We were combining two properties into one, with the vision of creating a smart and open plan workspace with multiple meeting areas. Therefore, we needed to carry out major structural changes.

We removed approximately 75 per cent of the existing walls during the strip out phase. The ceilings were propped up with (rolled steel joist) RSJs while we made way for the extensive steelwork and brick pillars to support the upper levels.

With the steels and pillars in place, the client’s open plan vision was fast becoming a reality.

Following the strip out and the first fix Mechanical and Electrical installation, the new layout could be formed. We partitioned the lower and upper levels with a variety of stud walls and glass office partitions.

The partitions made way for:

• Five meeting rooms and breakout areas
• Reception
• Open plan office
• Flexible meeting and office space
• Washrooms
• Disabled access lift
• Three kitchens
• Stairwell

To compliment the new dark window frames and create a uniform look, we implemented  glass partitions with black frames for a lot of the internal spaces. The glass partitions were used to separate the open plan offices and meeting areas, while forming light and airy corridors.

The glass partitions not only work as a stylish and contemporary finish, but flood the building with natural light.

Throughout the interior, we decorated the walls and ceilings. For the walls we implemented a two-tone effect, using a darker hue on the lower half and white for the remaining walls and ceilings. The public areas and flexible meeting space sport a fresh grey colour, while the meeting rooms and large open plan office are easily distinguished with a rich royal blue.

The staff at this trendy London office refurbishment can now enjoy three kitchen areas.

The main kitchen is the hub of this contemporary London office refurbishment. Not only does it sport sleek gloss kitchen units with handless doors, it also benefits from:

• A hot water tap for a quick brew
• Stainless steel accessories
• Black sink and tap
• Living plant wall
• Grey wooden wall panelling
• Flat screen tv
• Acoustic panel ceiling (ideal for reducing reverberations)
• A range of contemporary cafeteria-style seating
• Private dining area away from the hustle and bustle
• Trending pendent lighting

Away from the main dining area we fitted a further two kitchens, which are finished with the same dove grey units and similar auxiliary items. These serve as practical areas for food and beverage preparation for staff and visitors.

The new improved layout enabled our client to create a large open plan space that could be used for a range of training and meeting purposes. To ensure the area was truly flexible, we installed a folding partition wall. When closed, it spans the entire width of the room to fully separate the open space when required.

The folding partition wall is solid with acoustic properties, meaning the area is ideal for a whole range of scenarios.

As a progressive company, our client requested a range of male, female, gender neutral and disabled access washrooms.

We styled the washroom walls using a combination of tiles with a horizontal stripe pattern, and charcoal grey panelling to hide the toilet cistern and pipework. Grey toilet seats were fitted to match the scheme, along with chrome taps and porcelain sinks and toilets.

The final result is a range of washrooms that suit all staff and visitors.

Our client was not shy of a splash of colour. So, in keeping with the dual tone walls throughout the fit out, we painted the stairwell walls midway in a sensational lime green. Combined with the predominantly white décor, the green illuminated the stairs with vigour.

To keep the effect simple and vibrant, we installed a glass balustrade with stainless steel handrails.

Accompanying the new stairs is a brand new state-of-the-art disabled access stairlift.

We were honoured to deliver this trendy London office refurbishment for our client. It is now a workspace that all the staff and visitors can enjoy.  We look forward to hearing how they have used the space in time to come.

If you have a similar project that you would like us to look at, please speak to our team. Contact us today!

Showcasing our ability to carry out simultaneous end-of lease dilapidations and an office fit out, JBH Refurbishments had the pleasure of supporting Plan A Design Management Consultancy with their recent office move and office fit out in Clerkenwell London.

Having found a suitable new premises in the heart of London’s interior design district, Clerkenwell, Plan A contacted JBH Refurbishments. They needed a reputable office fit out company that could perform the end-of-lease dilapidations on the office they were vacating, as well as the office fit out of their new office space in Clerkenwell, London.

The two properties are situated a mere 10-minute-walk apart. Plan A were vacating their premises in The Record Hall, while preparing to move to their new office space at Clerkenwell Workshops.

Both premises are owned and managed by Workspace, which has a portfolio of 58 commercial London properties. Combined they equate to 4 million square feet of office space, housing over 3,000 London companies.

As a growing business, Plan A were ready for their next move and fortunately Workspace were able to accommodate the company in their nearby Clerkenwell serviced offices.

The Record Hall in Hatton Garden is a contemporary shared office space that offers varying size units to businesses in London. As part of their lease agreement, tenants are responsible for returning the property to its original condition when they vacate the premises. This is called ‘dilapidation works’, which is standard procedure for the majority of leased commercial properties.

When it comes to moving office space, JBH Refurbishments are the experts in preparing the new space for your arrival and retuning the outgoing office to its original state.

Depending on the location, time frame and the company’s own practical needs, both properties can be worked on simultaneously. That way, we reduce your workforce’s time out of the office and remove some of the stresses of moving.

Our clients prefer working with one supplier, who understands their needs for both projects. For Plan A, our dilapidation and fit out services proved instrumental in their big move.

Here are the steps we took for The Record Hall dilapidation works:

• Remove and dispose of meeting room walls.
• Return flooring to the original condition.
• Remove doors and ironmongery for reuse in the new premises.
• Redecorate walls and pipework with two coats of white emulsion.
• Redecorate skirtings, window frames, entrance door and surrounding woodwork.
• Remove decorative features, such as the neon wall light and pendent lighting.
• Relocate ceiling lights and electrical fittings to original positions.
• Replace light switches with original fitting.
• Make good walls and ceilings after removing lighting, wall art and partitions.
• Remove TVs from wall and associated sockets and fit cable trunking to mirror the original fitting.
• Provide ECIR report.
• Cleaning of trunking and cableways to prevent dust build up.
• Cleaning and inspection of windows to ensure they work appropriately.
• Check all light fittings work correctly and replace any bulbs/LED tubes as required.
• Remove all materials, equipment and rubbish from the site.

At the Hatton Garden property our team identified several items that could be reused in the new property. These included doors, lighting fittings, ironmongery, and switches.

Where possible, we try to salvage good quality items from the strip out phase to ensure we deliver a sustainable office fit out service. As well as reducing waste and our own carbon footprint, it can also save the client financially in the long term.

By way of an example, a good quality fire door and surround can cost in the region of £1,000 per set. If you have quality fitted doors in your new property, you could make significant savings by removing and reusing them for your new office fit out.

Plan A’s new office in Clerkenwell Workshops is comparable to a New York style loft space. The bare brick walls, rustic floorboards, large windows and exposed utilities overhead, give this space that industrial charm. We can see why Plan A fell in love with their new office.

While the fundamental characteristics for the interior design were already in place, the layout was not quite right. Therefore, Plan A contracted our team to adapt the layout. They needed an open plan office to accommodate desks, a meeting table with media station, as well as a kitchen and dinette. They also needed a conference room to host private meetings.

To divide the two areas, we installed stud wall partitions with acoustic properties and a black single leaf fire door, complete with chrome ironmongery. The partitions formed the two walls that separated the meeting space from the open plan office.

The outward wall, facing the open plan office, presented itself as the ideal place for a media area. Featuring a large screen, storage unit, wine/beer fridges and a wrap-over worktop, this is the perfect space for entertaining and brainstorming.

To neatly accommodate the media furniture and fridges, we created a recess within the partition wall. Continuing the seamless effect, we concealed all of the associated media cabling within the stud wall. While the sockets for the TV, speaker and fridge were fitted behind each of the relevant units.

The media wall was finished with a deep blue emulsion paint, which complimented the dark wood worktop beautifully.

Inside the meeting room, we performed a similar electrical installation for the wall-mounted TV and speaker. All of the associated cabling was concealed within the stud wall and the sockets fitted in the opportune position.

We completed the meeting room interior by decorating the partition walls with white emulsion paint. Above the meeting table, we fitted an array of pendent lighting.

Completing the dilapidations works and office fit out for Plan A was a fantastic example of how JBH Refurbishments can support businesses on the move.

Often our clients return to us having expanded and ready for a new chapter. This is where we thrive. We love to create workspaces that meet the needs of individual businesses. Whether that’s adapting their current workspace with a new layout or supporting their next step on the commercial property ladder.

If you would like to speak to one of our office fit out experts, please contact us on 0333 207 0339 or email info@jbhrefurbishments.co.uk.