Consarc was appointed in June 2006 to design the fit-out of Knight Frank’s global headquarters within a large existing office development at Baker Street, London. Key to the brief was the consolidation of all 900 staff into one 100,000sqft office facility spread over three floors. “The new Global HQ will be the flagship office of Knight Frank, a place where clients want to meet, staff will have a better opportunity to communicate across divisions and everyone will be proud to work.” Consarc initially examined several buildings for relocation, selecting on the basis of feasibility studies. Following the examination of base build services to be integrated, the team began the brief-writing process. A series of roleplay and spatial exercises was developed by Consarc to explore the brief and investigate adjacencies required between departments. These helped the client understand decision implications and constraints within the design, increased the speed of the process and seamlessly integrated significant client input. In parallel, the concepts for the various components of the design were created and regularly presented to the steering body. These included sketches, precedents, materials and mood boards and were continually refined with the client team. The central helical stair is a defining element, linking the various departments over the three floors. It connects through the formal main reception area, with its bespoke reception desk, stone flooring and leather wall panelling, down to ‘The Core’; an expansive break-out area with large audio-visual displays where clients and staff can interact. The stair complements the adjacent three-storey ‘light’ wall. Next to the main reception are client suites and dining facilities, encompassing bespoke joinery elements and timber-veneered movable walls. These adjoin a timber-lined corridor with feature lighting, ending at a large auditorium suite for client events and presentations. To add vibrancy and focus to largely open-plan office accommodation, nodal break-out spaces were dispersed throughout the floors. Colour concepts for each floor involved a gradation scheme on filing units and key vista walls, aiding orientation and spatial identity. ‘The Terrace’ café features ‘undulating’ routed timber panelling, stainless steel counters and a variety of seating. Adjacent to the roof terrace, it represents a hub of inter-departmental mingling and communication. Environmentally, the new development has achieved a BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating, with the principle of environmental responsibility having been intrinsic throughout the project. The building’s envelope and infrastructure are based on energy-efficient solutions. Materials are selected on the basis of longevity, sourcing and recyclability: European stone; FSC-certified timbers; intelligent lighting and efficient luminaire technology. The completed project serves as a physical representation of increasing internal communication and efficiency within a contemporary, innovative environment.