Rap Interiors’ Office Interior Design Project For Ward Security
Ward Security is a leading security specialist, providing businesses across the UK with strategies and services. Their solutions include manned guarding, CCTV security systems, intruder detection, guard dog security and more.
Client Brief
Ward Security required Rap’s office interior design services as they looked to undertake an office relocation to new offices at the Historic Dockyard Chatham.
The client required their new open plan office to accommodate fifty desks. They provided our commercial interior designer with a basic schematic of their proposed working layout as a starting point.
Alongside the desking requirement, the new space needed to include five meeting rooms, a boardroom, three teapoints, a reception area and washrooms to include Part M compliant facilities. The fourth-floor mezzanine was to be a large multi-functional breakout space, offering alternative solutions for staff to work in, take breaks, hold informal company meetings and other evening events. With these elements forming the core of the brief, the client was seeking our designer’s assistance to implement an aesthetic and create their space.
Our Office Interior Design Solution
The existing structure included striking historical features such as exposed brickwork, timber beams, metal truss systems and original timber floors. From the initial site survey, the Rap team were keen to retain and celebrate these original features within the design moving forwards. A more muted pallet was incorporated in areas such as those surrounding timber beams and the truss systems to ensure they remained the focal point at high-level.
The building’s setting proved the perfect inspiration for our designer as they opted for a heritage scheme throughout with a modern twist. Classically deep green tones were complimented with natural biophilic textures, creating a calm working environment.
Main Open Plan Office Space
Playful pink pops are seen within the desking leg frames throughout the open plan office space. To ensure the working positions received equal attention, our designer specified a bespoke linen effect worktop for the desks.
The chosen carpet tiles for the space boast a modern but rustic feeling dual pattern. The colours contrasts between two dark tones and embrace a traditional aesthetic.
Bespoke halos were suspended from the impressive roof structure to act as the canvas for which naturally preserved biophilia serves as the paint. The installations not only offer a calming enhancement to the space, but also serve for concealment of the essential but less aesthetically pleasing pipework present.
The preserved foliage installation continues down the main integrated with feature olive green wood slat panels, laid in a herringbone pattern, to surround the highly confidential NOC security room and meeting spaces. The scheme softens the walls which, without such textures, would feel imposing upon the space.
Reception Area
A bespoke reception desk was installed with corporate branding and concealed LED lighting along the base. The rustic metal exterior and soft touch laminate worktop elevate the space to seamlessly lead occupants through to the adjoining spaces.
High end soft angular seating was placed in an adjacent space for visitors to utilise. The area was zoned off with furniture so visitor and employees alike can retain privacy when the space is occupied.
Fourth Floor Mezzanine
The mezzanine floor was designed to be a fully flexible space. A variety of furniture solutions were installed to offer employees opportunity to eat and take a break, or collaborate with colleagues and hold company meetings. The moveable furniture also provides the possibility for the space to be reconfigured according to their needs or to accommodate other social events.
A level platform was strategically incorporated to resolve an issue of the undulating aged floor. By erecting a level platform, our designer was able to arrange bleacher style seating and true to this floors scheme, is modular and can be disassembled for alternative configurations. Three larger multi-person stools with fixed up-stand tables have been situated in the space to offer further flexibility.
Boardroom and Meeting Rooms
A softer aesthetic was chosen for the interior design meeting spaces, not only for a sophisticated finish, but to also enhance acoustic performances of the rooms. Half height acoustic wall panels were fixed to the perimeters with a traditional oak trim to complement the heritage setting.
Longer pile commercial carpet tile and faux leather finishes provide a more luxurious perception alongside the brass armrest and leg finishes in the boardroom meeting chairs. Taking a sustainable approach, Ward Security were able to reuse their existing boardtable which complimented the new meeting chairs and other finishes perfectly.
The boardroom also features a bespoke wine fridge and additional storage options. A bespoke, dark timber wrapped media wall allows the large TV screen to be recessed into a smart furniture item making it integral to the design.
Five bookable meeting rooms located across both floors, offer alternative work spaces with privacy when needed. Furniture in these spaces are finished with luxurious velvet fabrics in complimenting shades of grey, green and pink, while the pink table legs continue through from the main office space.
Bespoke Furniture Solutions
Additional bespoke furniture items feature on the third floor. A large storage wall consisting of six bays, combines a black timber effect laminate with an industrial black metal mesh pelmet and insert.
Bespoke digital coded lockers located in the communal walkway, create a design feature with splashes of wasabi green amongst dark timber laminate surfaces. The inclusion of a seating option, located centrally within the locker wall, and integrated energy saving PIR sensor lighting, offers opportunity for staff to utilise for their convenience.
Washrooms
Located past the lockers, Ward Security have washrooms located in their own demise. The design once again conveys a traditional aesthetic with half height tiling in white metro tiles and a black dado tile boarder. The heritage green painted walls found elsewhere in the offices, appear above the tiles, while further design details were added in the flooring with a distressed vinyl tile and black infill grout strips. The black wrapping on the toilet back panels keep their appearance tailored to the rest of the design and tie in with the black dado border tiles. A Part M accessible toilet is located on the other side of the office space with finishes continued from other areas of the office space.
Teapoints
All three teapoints have accessible worktops with finishes reflecting the heritage setting and complimenting the interior design scheme throughout. The largest teapoint, located on the fourth floor mezzanine, boasts striking dark green units with sleek acrylic composite worktops and antique brass hardware. The large island and breakfast bar stools create the perfect social area for staff to utilise in break times or when hosting evening events.
The Result
Ward Security now have a modern high-end workspace embracing all the historical architectural features of the building. The inspirational, corporate design incorporates the heritage setting which is enhanced by striking biophilic features. The branded reception area welcomes visitors to the offices with a bespoke statement reception desk and high-end soft seating. Smaller meeting rooms provide privacy when needed and alternative workspaces to utilise. The fourth floor mezzanine provides the team with an agile, multi-functional breakout space to utilise for informal meetings, collaboration and much needed downtime. With no doubt, the team at Ward Security have an exceptional and impressive workspace to enjoy each day, whilst also creating a memorable experience for visitors they welcome to their offices.
Click here to read the full case study: Ward Security – Office Interior Design Project
