Northern Design Awards – proud to be nominated

Over the last year our ongoing partnership with BizSpace, the UK’s largest provider of flexible workspace, has gone from strength to strength with us completing successful refurbishments at a number of their business centres up and down the UK. As a result of our work with the office space giant on the Hollinwood Business Centre, we are proud to have been shortlisted for the Northern Design Awards 2018 in the Commercial Interior Design category.

The project brief was to look at all of the communal areas for the business centre including full refurbishment of the large reception area, ground floor breakout space, WCs, stairwells, corridors and meeting rooms.

The Hollinwood Business Centre was in need of a new lease of life to bring it in line with the BizSpace brand, which is all about fun and creativity. The challenge was to strike a balance between maintaining the heritage of the building whilst reflecting a new way of working and creating a crisp, modern and fresh feel.

Bright accents and northern roots

The judges for the Commercial Interior Design Award are looking for a project that embodies Northern style, innovation and design. At Hollinwood, we wanted to reflect the northern roots of the building and ensure most of it’s industrial materials – wooden beams, exposed brickwork and metalwork – were maintained. The contrast between industrial feel and the cutting edge contemporary furniture with bright colour accent makes for a visually interesting space and a more enjoyable place to work.

Making better use of a sizeable space

While keeping an open plan reception area, we created a space that is multi-functional and flexible to suit the individual needs of the respective tenants. A welcoming reception seating area is now combined with different high and low level seating zones perfect for informal meetings, collaborative working and breakout space. Defining the seating areas with bold colour which is carried through from walls to floors helps to visually zone the space, whilst giving a lively, fun feel.

Walt Urquhart of BizSpace Limited, said: “Thursday 11th October saw the launch of the newly refurbished Hollinwood Business Centre. The refurbishment has brought a modern touch that does not fight against the Centre’s characteristics, bringing a warm and homely feel to the business community.”

Emma Long, Commercial Director for BizSpace, added: “The amazing designers have captured the very essence of the area our Business Centre sits in, whilst ensuring the values of our business and our customers is at the heart of it all. The new and improved Hollinwood Business Centre offers a home-from-home environment, which makes people feel relaxed and at ease in the workplace.”

Commenting on the customer’s reaction to the newly refurbished offices, Walt said, “We have received glowing praise from our customers at the Centre and the refurbishment has really enhanced its popularity. The Centre has hit an all time high of 93% occupancy and the enquiries and sales are coming in thick and fast. The future looks so promising.”

Read more about BizSpace in a recent article published in the October Issue of Mix Interiors, featuring photos from some of our renovations for BizSpace.

The results of the Northern Design Awards will be announced during a glamourous Gala Dinner on Friday 16th November at The Principal Hotel in Manchester.

Does your office space require a transformation? Contact us today for a no-obligation conversation about your design needs.