Office S&M has completed the new headquarters for The Academy, a leading PR agency known for its creative energy and culturally impactful work. Housed in a former 1930s Art Deco factory in the heart of Farringdon, the project reimagines a once cold and inflexible interior as a healthy, adaptable workshop for ideas rooted in sustainability and collaboration. The existing building, with its triple-height spaces and industrial bones, offered strong architectural character but lacked the conditions needed for a modern creative workplace. Previous fit outs left the space acoustically harsh and visually uninviting. Office S&M’s design reclaims the volume and light of the original building while introducing a set of strategic, low-impact interventions to transform the environment into a warm, productive and supportive space for a growing team. The design was developed in response to a previous fit out that left the space cold, noisy and inflexible. The new environment corrects this, placing emphasis on air quality, lighting and sound. All meeting rooms are acoustically sealed, while shared areas use cork, felt and timber to improve comfort and reduce echo. A chalkboard wall and cork-clad pinboards are integrated into timber partitions to support workshops and idea sharing. Sustainability was a guiding principle throughout. Interventions were kept minimal to preserve the existing structure and reduce embodied carbon. Where new materials were introduced, they were either natural, recycled or easily recyclable. Modular timber partitions in Douglas fir, recycled aluminium, and acoustic insulation made from fishing nets and recycled plastic bottles are used throughout. Low-VOC paints and linseed oil finishes contribute to better indoor air quality.