Search Results for: commercial

Manchester is now a major draw for office design firms

Manchester is now a major draw for office design firms

Way before the lockdown rewired the whole events scene in cities around the world, I was given a task by an old, now departed, friend. He wanted to explore the possibility of creating something like Clerkenwell Design Week in Manchester. The obvious problem was that, for some of its historic parallels, Manchester isn’t Clerkenwell and it certainly isn’t London. What it particularly lacked for this type of event was a hothouse of office design showrooms sharing space with a youthful community of architects and designers. The ecosystem for such an event didn’t really exist in the same way. More →

People spending more time in offices in search of social interaction

People spending more time in offices in search of social interaction

Office workers now spend more time in the office, with the average creeping up to three and a half days per week compared to three days in 2022, according to a new report from international law firm, Gowling WLG. The report, titled Strategic moves: why the office is now a business-critical decision [registration], surveyed senior representatives responsible for making office lease decisions in companies, and a selection of office workers. It identifies that a more permanent approach to office usage is now emerging, as the shadow of the pandemic recedes, as well as demonstrating the changing metrics being applied by occupiers to decisions relating to premises requirements and the more complex environment for landlord asset management. More →

No one shouted stop, although we all should have seen it coming

No one shouted stop, although we all should have seen it coming

And No One Shouted Stop! seems to me to be an apt phrase to capture these post- pandemic times as we grapple with work and workplace dilemmas. It comes from the little-known but widely acclaimed book of the same name by John Healy. It is set over 50 years ago and it chronicles the decline of an Irish town. The book’s underlying narrative is a train crash happening in slow motion, people see it coming but nobody feels able to stop it. I sincerely hope that this will not prove to be the case for the world of commercial real estate as it grapples with hordes of tenants asking not just ‘where is my office?’ But ‘why do I need an office?’ More →

Bisley launches new showroom in Dubai

Bisley launches new showroom in Dubai

Bisley, the south Wales based office furniture designer and manufacturer, is consolidating its success in the Middle East region with the launch of a new Dubai showroomBisley, the south Wales based office furniture designer and manufacturer, is consolidating its success in the Middle East region with the launch of a new Dubai showroom, the largest showroom in its global portfolio. Located in Dubai’s central business district, the new showroom joins others in Bisley’s global portfolio including New York, Paris, and Dusseldorf, and follows the summer 2023 launch of Bisley’s Manchester showroom, its first in the north of the UK, designed to service significant market growth in the northern and Scottish markets. More →

Green innovator Artus Air secures significant investment to drive next phase of growth

Green innovator Artus Air secures significant investment to drive next phase of growth

BGF, one of the largest and most experienced investors in the UK and Ireland, has completed a multi-million-pound investment in Artus Air Limited (“Artus”)BGF, one of the largest and most experienced investors in the UK and Ireland, has completed a multi-million-pound investment in Artus Air Limited (“Artus”), as part of a wider funding round alongside leading venture capital firm, Par Equity. Artus designs and sells game-changing HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) units for buildings, with its innovative, elegant design significantly reducing carbon emissions both by using fewer materials and being more efficient to operate. More →

Financial uncertainty, wellbeing and supply chain disruption revealed as top risk factors 

Financial uncertainty, wellbeing and supply chain disruption revealed as top risk factors 

Companies across the UK are most concerned about the risk of financial uncertainty (34 percent), employee health and wellbeing (31 percent) and supply chain disruption (23 percent) on their businesses over the next 12 monthsAccording to new research by Marsh, an insurance broker and risk advisor, companies across the UK are most concerned about the impact of financial uncertainty (34 percent), employee health and wellbeing (31 percent) and supply chain disruption (23 percent) on their businesses over the next 12 months. The findings come from Marsh’s UK Business Risk Report 2023 [registration], which features data obtained in May and June 2023 from over 2,100 UK businesses with turnover of between £100,000 and £500 million + per year. Now in its third year, the report explores how circumstances over the last 12 months have impacted the business risk appetite and approach to risk management among UK companies, and identifies their priorities for the year ahead.  More →

The challenge for fit-out firms is to deliver best value despite supply chain challenges

The challenge for fit-out firms is to deliver best value despite supply chain challenges

Whilst industry supply and demand dynamics may have found a level of equilibrium since the pandemic, geopolitical tensions, economic disruptions, and an unstable domestic policy environment continue to have an impact on the office fit-out marketThe past year has been a challenging one for London’s commercial fit-out market. Whilst industry supply and demand dynamics may have found a level of equilibrium since the pandemic, geopolitical tensions, economic disruptions, and an unstable domestic policy environment continue to have an impact. In tandem with this, the commercial fit-out market is adapting to changing needs; from accommodating hybrid working models to growing demands for sustainability and reuse, the workplaces of today are ever changing. More →

Studio Alliance announces new market-leading German member apoprojekt

Studio Alliance announces new market-leading German member apoprojekt

German market leader in workplace design and fit-out, apoprojekt, has been warmly welcomed as the latest member of Studio Alliance, a formal consortium of European workplace expertsGerman market leader in workplace design and fit-out, apoprojekt, has been warmly welcomed as the latest member of Studio Alliance, a formal consortium of European workplace experts. Established in November 2020, Studio Alliance was created in response to the growing pace of globalisation. It offers clients a unique blend of local market insights alongside a wealth of experience, having executed projects in over 5,000 buildings across 34 countries. More →

Norwegian office furniture giant Flokk expands London showroom space

Norwegian office furniture giant Flokk expands London showroom space

As part of their ongoing commitment to doubling their UK revenue, Norwegian office furniture giant Flokk have further strengthened their presence in Clerkenwell, London with the expansion of their showroomAs part of their ongoing commitment to doubling their UK revenue, Norwegian office furniture giant Flokk have further strengthened their presence in Clerkenwell, London with the expansion of their showroom. Previously the sole home of Flokk brand Connection, 31 Great Sutton Street has been expanded with the addition of a new floor to support the integration of all Flokk brands: HÅG, Profim, RH, OFFECCT and Giroflex. The reimagined space, which now spans across three floors, totalling 6,000sqft, has been curated as an experiential design centre for colleagues and guests to provide a unique space to showcase a series of work settings with products across the whole Flokk portfolio ‘House of Brands.’ More →

NeoCon calls for thought leaders to take part in its programme

NeoCon calls for thought leaders to take part in its programme

NeoCon, North America's largest platform and event for the commercial interiors industry, which takes place from June 10-12, 2024 at THE MART in Chicago, is inviting thought-leaders to submit proposals for its onsite and virtual programmingNeoCon, North America’s largest platform and event for the commercial interiors industry, which takes place from June 10-12, 2024 at THE MART in Chicago, is inviting thought-leaders to submit proposals for its onsite and virtual programming, as well as its year-round educational offerings. Now in its 55th edition, NeoCon’s annual conference boasts an impressive attendance of architects, designers, manufacturers, dealers, end-users, design organizations, and media––all eager to learn about the latest trends and innovations shaping the future of design. More →

It’s hard to keep dead tech down

It’s hard to keep dead tech down

People are curiously slow to give up on dead tech, sometimes for sound practical reasons and sometimes not so muchIn 2022, Cormac McCarthy published two novels at the age of 89. An impressive feat, doubly so because he wrote them on the same old dead tech typewriter he’d bought from a pawn shop in 1963. Prior to his death, he no longer had the original, a light blue Olivetti Lettera 32, because that was sold at a charity auction for a quarter of million dollars in 2009. A friend replaced it with an identical model for just $11. But one that lacked the cultural imprint, clearly. More →

Five reasons why (Framery) office pods help to solve the great workplace debate

Five reasons why (Framery) office pods help to solve the great workplace debate

Here are five reasons why the world’s top companies, including the likes of Tesla, Microsoft, LinkedIn and Puma, are using office pods – and why they will be coming to an office near you.  It’s a fact – pods are taking over the office. In 2010, Framery introduced the first pod to the market and now there are over 200 suppliers globally. Framery, the market leader in this space, was a major pioneer of their development and subsequently has supplied 70 percent of Forbes 100 companies with office pods. More →