Search Results for: sustainability

AI firms and flexible office operators drive global demand for prime office space

AI firms and flexible office operators drive global demand for prime office space

by • News, Property

Global demand for prime office space is showing further signs of growth, with almost six in ten of the largest leasing deals in the first half of 2026 involving organisations expanding their footprintsGlobal demand for prime office space is showing further signs of growth, with almost six in ten of the largest leasing deals in the first half of 2026 involving organisations expanding their footprints, according to new research from Savills. The property consultancy says expansionary deals accounted for 58 percent of activity among the largest prime office transactions it analysed. Just 5 percent involved organisations reducing their space, while the proportion of occupiers relocating or renewing with broadly the same footprint fell from 44 percent in the second half of 2025 to 37 percent in the first six months of this year. (more…)

Barbican Centre launches search for furniture designer as part of £231m renewal

Barbican Centre launches search for furniture designer as part of £231m renewal

by • News, Workplace design

The Barbican Centre has launched an international search for a designer or design team to develop a new furniture strategy for its public spacesThe Barbican Centre has launched an international search for a designer or design team to develop a new furniture strategy for its public spaces as part of its £231 million renewal programme. The commission will involve creating a bespoke range of up to 500 pieces for the Grade II-listed arts centre, alongside identifying opportunities to reuse existing furniture and introduce suitable off-the-shelf products. The appointment is expected to run from 2026 to 2029.

The competition is open to designers and teams based anywhere in the world, with proposals due by 28 August. A shortlist is expected to proceed to a full tender process in September, with an appointment planned for November. The new furniture will be used throughout the Barbican’s public spaces and could include armchairs, sofas, coffee tables, bar stools, communal benches with parasols and stackable chairs for larger events. Accessibility, flexibility and sustainability will be central to the brief.

The work will cover areas including the Lakeside, Sculpture Court and Learning Spaces, as well as redesigned foyers being developed by Allies and Morrison and Asif Khan Studio.

The Barbican said recent audience feedback, inclusive design work and co-design with visitors had highlighted a need for furniture that was more welcoming, cohesive, accessible and adaptable to the range of activities taking place across the centre.

Furniture has played a significant role in the Barbican’s identity since it opened in 1982. Designer Robin Day produced bespoke seating, sofas, chairs and tables specifically for the building, although much of the original furniture has since been replaced.

Philippa Simpson, chief operating officer at the Barbican Centre, said furniture had always helped shape how people experienced the building. “We’re looking for a designer or design team to create objects of quality and comfort, that respond to the Barbican’s extraordinary architecture and artistic purpose,” she said. “We want these new designs to accommodate the remarkable range of activities that take place in our spaces, ensuring every single visitor knows they are welcome.”

Alex Watt, architect at Asif Khan Studio, said the commission offered an opportunity to extend the design thinking being applied to the centre’s foyers, while retaining the character of the original architecture.

The furniture project forms part of the wider Barbican Renewal programme, which is intended to conserve and upgrade the building ahead of its 50th anniversary while improving its accessibility, sustainability and suitability for future use. The centre receives more than 30,000 visitors on an average day.

Image: The Barbican Archive

A beacon of hope in an uncertain world. Works magazine 20 digital edition is here for you

A beacon of hope in an uncertain world. Works magazine 20 digital edition is here for you

by • News, Premium Content, Technology, Workplace design, Works Magazine

The digital edition of issue 20 of Works magazine is now available for you to read here.  The new issue explores a workplace sector that is becoming increasingly confident about its future, even as it navigates rapid technological, social and economic change. The latest edition brings together major workplace projects, design debates and industry commentary that point to a common theme: the enduring value of connection, community and shared experience in an age of uncertainty. (more…)

Stirling Prize shortlist shines spotlight on mixed-use regeneration and workplace design

Stirling Prize shortlist shines spotlight on mixed-use regeneration and workplace design

by • Architecture, News, Workplace design

The transformation of one of London's busiest transport hubs and a major mixed-use commercial development has secured a place on the shortlist for the 2026 RIBA Stirling PrizeThe transformation of one of London’s busiest transport hubs and a major mixed-use commercial development has secured a place on the shortlist for the 2026 RIBA Stirling Prize, highlighting the growing prominence of workplace-led regeneration among the UK’s most celebrated new buildings. Renzo Piano Building Workshop’s Paddington Square is one of six projects shortlisted for British architecture’s most prestigious award. The development combines offices, retail, public space and improved connections to Paddington Station, reflecting the continued importance of mixed-use schemes in reshaping city centres. (more…)

Government updates office design standards with new workplace guidance

Government updates office design standards with new workplace guidance

by • News, Workplace design

The Government Property Agency (GPA) has published a revised version of its Government Workplace Design Guide, introducing a new office design framework intended to standardise the layout of government offices while reflecting changes in the way civil servants work.The Government Property Agency (GPA) has published a revised version of its Government Workplace Design Guide, introducing a new office design framework intended to standardise the layout of government offices while reflecting changes in the way civil servants work. Launched on 2 July, the updated guidance introduces a Core Design Requirements (CDR) framework, which the GPA says will provide a consistent approach to creating inclusive, accessible, sustainable and digitally enabled workplaces across the government estate. (more…)

Data centres are the most significant building type in the world right now. And we need to talk about that

Data centres are the most significant building type in the world right now. And we need to talk about that

by • Features, Technology, Workplace design

Data centres have always been a slight anomaly in the Built Environment sector, part property and part critical infrastructure (talking in wattage rather than square footage for example), lacking aesthetic appeal and they are not significant employers, they are often considered a necessary evil to support our hyper-communicative lifestylesThe Data Centre Congress which took place from June 1st to 4th in Cannes is to data centres what mipim is to the more traditional markets in property, a place where the good and the great – from investors and operators, to the engineers and power providers, gather to network and contemplate the challenges and the future of the sector. In Q1 last year there was a slight chill through the sector after Microsoft halted data centre plans across the US and Europe to the tune of 2GW, citing caution around the overexpansion of AI and uncertainty around tariffs. What seemed like bombshell news at the time, felt like a mere blip and a distant memory at the 2026 edition and this juggernaut of activity is showing zero signs of slowing, a market that is currently worth over $300 billion is set to rise to $699.13 billion by 2034. (more…)

Worst new buildings list highlights concerns over quality and value in property development

Worst new buildings list highlights concerns over quality and value in property development

by • News, Property

A satirical architecture award has drawn attention to what its organisers describe as some of the UK's most problematic recent property developments, with judges arguing that concerns about design quality are increasingly linked to broader issues around procurement, construction standards and development priorities.A satirical architecture award has drawn attention to what its organisers describe as some of the UK’s most problematic recent property developments, with judges arguing that concerns about design quality are increasingly linked to broader issues around procurement, construction standards and development priorities. The Carbuncle Cup 2026, organised by cultural magazine The Fence [subscription], named two joint winners from a shortlist of nine projects completed within the past two years. The award, which seeks to identify the country’s worst new building, was based on public nominations and assessed by a panel including former Architectural Review editor Cath Slessor. (more…)

Issue 19 of Works magazine is out now and ready for you to explore

Issue 19 of Works magazine is out now and ready for you to explore

by • News, Premium Content, Workplace, Workplace design

The digital edition of the new issue of Works magazine has landed, bringing you another compelling mix of insight and ideas from across the workplace design and management sector. The print edition is on its way and, we think, better than ever. Whichever format you choose, issue 19 offers a comprehensive look at the trends, projects, ideas, products and people shaping the contemporary workplace and the way we think about it. from global perspectives and expert commentary to case studies, interviews and a closer look at the materials and products shaping modern workplaces. (more…)

Corporate real estate strategy will be defined by resilience now, report suggests

Corporate real estate strategy will be defined by resilience now, report suggests

by • News, Property

Resilience, not scale or speed, will define the next phase of corporate real estate strategy across EMEAResilience, not scale or speed, will define the next phase of corporate real estate strategy across EMEA, as occupiers face a convergence of pressures reshaping how and where they operate. A new report from Colliers, Building Resilience: 5 Megatrends Redefining Corporate Real Estate, identifies five long-term megatrends – AI-enabled workforces, demographic shifts, energy scarcity, climate risk and a shifting global order – that are fundamentally changing how organisations choose locations, design workplaces and manage risk. While the full impact will play out over time, many companies remain underprepared for the scale of disruption. (more…)

Aquablu launches the new REFILL+ Series 2 in the UK with AURA system

Aquablu launches the new REFILL+ Series 2 in the UK with AURA system

by • Company news, Wellbeing

Aquablu, the Dutch cleantech company transforming how employees access and enjoy drinking water, has unveiled the REFILL+ Series 2.Aquablu, the Dutch cleantech company transforming how employees access and enjoy drinking water, has unveiled the REFILL+ Series 2. Powered by the new AURA operating system, the Series 2 sets a new benchmark for sustainable, intelligent hydration in the workplace. Founded in 2018 in the Netherlands by Marnix Stokvis and Marc van Zuylen, Aquablu was created with a clear mission: to make healthy, sustainable hydration accessible to a billion people worldwide. Since then, the company has grown rapidly, partnering with major clients including Heineken, Adyen and Microsoft, and now operates in more than sixteen countries, serving over 100,000 workers. (more…)

London BCO Awards winners highlight shift towards reuse and long term workplace design

London BCO Awards winners highlight shift towards reuse and long term workplace design

by • Environment, News, Property, Workplace design

The winners of the British Council for Offices London Awards 2026 have been announced, recognising a series of workplace projects that reflect changing priorities in design, sustainability and social value across the capital. Six schemes were selected as regional winners. Deutsche Bank’s headquarters at 21 Moorfields (main image) was named best corporate workplace, while Stonecutter at 1 Stonecutter Street took the award for best commercial workplace. The best refurbished or recycled workplace award went to 76 Southbank, and Rabobank at 60 London Wall was recognised for best fit out of a workplace. The award for projects up to 2,500 square metres was given to 170 Piccadilly, while TBC.London at 224 to 226 Tower Bridge Road received the ESG award. (more…)

RIBA CEO to deliver opening address at the Sustainable Design Forum 2026

RIBA CEO to deliver opening address at the Sustainable Design Forum 2026

by • Environment, News, Workplace design

The Sustainable Design Collective (SDC) has announced that Dr Valerie Vaughan-Dick MBE, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), will deliver the opening address at the Sustainable Design Forum 2026The Sustainable Design Collective (SDC) has announced that Dr Valerie Vaughan-Dick MBE, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), will deliver the opening address at the Sustainable Design Forum 2026. Dr Vaughan-Dick, appointed CEO in January 2023, brings extensive experience in leadership, regeneration and organisational transformation. She is the first woman to hold the role, and among the first from a more diverse leadership background, reflecting a broader shift towards greater inclusivity within the profession. (more…)

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