GPA Office North East, UK
Corstorphine & Wright Architects have forged a unique relationship with the Government Property Agency (GPA).
Delivering projects across multiple roles and perspectives, our interiors team has directly collaborated with the agency, worked alongside their teams as embedded Workplace Designers and Workplace Design Managers, and supported contractors on related projects.
This diverse experience highlights our capacity to meet different project needs, while consistently ensuring design quality, functionality, and compliance with the Workplace Design Guide.
We were commissioned to design the CAT B office fit-out of a GPA department in the Northeast of England.
The brief centred on creating a workspace that employees would enjoy and feel motivated to return to following the shift to remote working during COVID-19. The design aimed to balance functionality with a sense of fun and vibrancy, ensuring the office became a desirable environment for post-pandemic working.
We worked closely with the department to understand their specific needs, holding regular meetings to refine the brief and prioritise key elements.
The resulting design incorporated diverse working zones, including fixed desks, collaboration tables, focus rooms, sound-insulated meeting rooms, and soft seating areas.
Bright, primary colours were integrated into bespoke joinery, furniture, and meeting room walls to inject energy and positivity into the space.
High-quality facilities, including phone booths, flexible ad-hoc tables, and welcoming tea points, were carefully planned to meet staff expectations.
Security was a critical consideration, both in terms of physical measures and acoustic privacy in meeting rooms.
The design process was highly cost-conscious, with options presented to stakeholders at each stage to ensure budget efficiency without compromising quality.
Collaboration with the contractor was essential to select furniture and security elements that aligned with the GPA’s requirements. Our work ensured the final design offered a practical, engaging workspace tailored to the evolving needs of government staff.
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