Located within the curtilage of the Grade-II Listed Reigate Town Hall, the Reigate and Banstead Council Headquarters required a significant post-COVID update and redesign. A key objective was to move the office culture away from an assigned ‘desk for life’ environment to one that reflected the reality of the modern-day workspace. Where possible, there was also a desire to break down the rigidity between each department and have more mixed-use and collaborative spaces. The concept for the design was to combine all primary circulation along a wide, central axis or ‘street’ on each floor. Inspired by classical Roman Forum design, priority was placed on this communal zone that encouraged interaction between disparate departments and individuals. The ‘street’ is lined by columns, formed by the existing structure and clad in contemporary dark-coloured plywood and acoustic felt, leading through to more intimate flexi-desk zones and private meeting rooms. The suspended ceiling level within the street zone was also removed to provide a greater sense of scale and expose the upgraded services above.