Having collaborated with SJS Property Services for many years, we were delighted when they asked us to rethink their office spaces and reception for them, as part of a 2 phase refurbishment plan. We first looked at a redesign of their first floor office spaces, looking at a more open plan layout. The plan allows the grouping of different departments while retaining interconnectivity, but still accommodates levels of privacy where required. New touchdown and breakout areas, plus staff tea prep facilities enhance the ability for intermingling. We also relocated formal meeting facilities to the ground floor, so that external visitors do not disturb office function. However, Phase 2 - the redesign of the reception area - was the first phase to be carried out. With an unmanned reception, this was a large area of wasted space, so our brief was to give it some purpose and maximise its use. The space now houses 3 informal meeting/collaborative working zones, a media wall, and an enclosed meeting room which can be used by staff for private work. The beautiful light grey and teal carpets were supplied by Milliken and the teal and purple upholstery fabrics by Kvadrat. All of the bespoke joinery - Oak slats, touchdown booth, upholstered bench seating, Corian and oak tables and wall panelling - was built by SJS in their own workshops and is a fantastic showcase of their impeccable work, as one of the country’s leading shopfitters.