Spacious modern office breakout area with a curved white ceiling, circular air vents and feature lighting. A central wooden counter sits beside a kitchenette with green cabinetry and integrated appliances. To the left, a collaborative workspace includes a white table with chairs and soft seating in green and mustard tones, set on a carpeted zone. Large windows along the wall bring in natural light and overlook greenery outside. Decorative elements include vertical green wall panels, indoor plants and a suspended ceiling feature with hanging foliage, creating a biophilic design throughout. Modern office interior featuring a small meeting room in the foreground with a rectangular black table and four wheeled chairs upholstered in warm beige fabric. A tablet sits on the table, suggesting a collaborative or hybrid meeting setup. The room is enclosed by glass panels with a decorative topographic line pattern and framed in dark metal, with light wood wall finishes adding warmth. Beyond the glass partition, an open area extends into a larger presentation or training space with rows of black chairs arranged facing a large screen. The ceiling throughout features curved, recessed lighting and integrated ventilation, while the flooring transitions between patterned carpet tiles in grey tones. A door panel with signage is visible on the partition, and natural light filters in through windows on the left, creating a bright and contemporary workspace. Spacious modern boardroom featuring a long, rectangular black conference table surrounded by wheeled chairs upholstered in warm beige fabric. The room is finished in neutral tones with carpeted flooring in a subtle grey pattern and light-coloured walls with dark trim. At the far end, a large wall-mounted display screen is set against a textured backdrop, flanked by acoustic panelling and a tall indoor plant. To the right, a full-height glass partition with a decorative topographic pattern provides visibility into an adjacent space, framed in dark metal. The ceiling incorporates a striking geometric lighting design with recessed linear LED strips forming angular shapes, alongside integrated ventilation and ceiling-mounted devices. Large windows along the left wall bring in natural light, complementing the clean, contemporary aesthetic of the meeting space. Modern meeting room featuring a rectangular black table surrounded by eight wheeled chairs upholstered in soft blue fabric. The room is finished with neutral tones and textured carpet flooring in grey, with light wood panelling and acoustic wall coverings adding warmth. At the far end, a large wall-mounted display screen sits above a slim media unit, accompanied by a soundbar, with a tall indoor plant positioned in the corner. To the left, a row of windows fitted with decorative topographic pattern film allows filtered natural light into the space, with a low storage unit beneath. The ceiling design features curved edges with recessed linear LED lighting forming clean geometric lines, alongside integrated ventilation and sensors. A freestanding acoustic screen is positioned in the foreground, contributing to privacy and sound control within the room. Large, open presentation space within a modern office, arranged with multiple rows of black audience chairs facing a wall-mounted screen displaying presentation content. A lectern with the word “ARUP” printed on the front is positioned to the right, indicating a formal speaking area. The room features a neutral colour palette with grey patterned carpet and white walls, complemented by light wood finishes on doors and wall panels. Along the right-hand wall, large windows fitted with a subtle topographic pattern film allow natural light into the space while maintaining privacy. Above, the ceiling combines a grid layout with suspended acoustic panels in soft, organic shapes, alongside cylindrical pendant lights and integrated services. To the left, potted plants and circulation space lead towards adjoining rooms, reinforcing the flexible, multi-use nature of the environment. Modern open meeting area within a contemporary office, centred around a long white rectangular table with integrated power points and surrounded by blue upholstered swivel chairs. Above the table, large, soft grey pendant lights with a textured finish hang in a row, providing focused illumination. Behind the table, a built-in light wood storage unit runs along the wall, topped with a wall-mounted display screen and open shelving with orange framing that holds potted plants. To the left, a glazed partition features a decorative topographic pattern, with a large potted plant positioned nearby, adding a biophilic element. In the background, the space opens into a breakout and kitchen area with light wood cabinetry, green accents and hanging greenery. The ceiling combines a suspended grid with recessed lighting, while the flooring consists of grey carpet tiles throughout, creating a cohesive and modern workspace environment.
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Home Case studies Arup Southampton

A Southampton home designed for flexibility and flow

Arup's new Southampton home transforms a blank canvas into a vibrant, flexible workspace designed for collaboration, growth and evolving ways of working.

Project partners

  • Arup
  • AWW
  • Currie & Brown

Key features

  • Complete design and build delivery
  • Townhall space and collaborative areas
  • Reuse of existing materials
  • Employee wellness focused facilities

Arup's Winchester team had outgrown their previous office and needed a fresh space that was better aligned with their modern ways of working, encouraging flexibility and collaboration. In the centre of Southampton, the new Twenty3 building's second floor provided the perfect location.

With the building occupied, careful logistical planning was required from the start to manage shared access routes, limited parking and other contractors working in the building. To minimise disruption to neighbouring tenants, noisy works were scheduled for early mornings and deliveries were coordinated ahead of time.

We collaborated closely with Arup and AWW throughout the design phase, involving numerous stakeholders and exploring multiple variations of the floorplan to make swift decisions and meet the fixed deadline for completion.

The final design uses a modern, curved aesthetic, with specialist joinery and bespoke timber panelling bringing the space to life. A flexible townhall area, collaboration booths and meeting rooms featuring acoustic panels and writeable surfaces enable a wide range of working styles for Arup's team.

Everyday comfort for staff is aided by large windows that maximise natural light in the space, plus facilities including a calming wellness room.

Sustainability drove key decisions, with two thirds of the Cat A ceiling tiles and half of the existing carpet reused in the new space, reducing waste while supporting Arup's environmental commitments.

The completed office gives Arup a flexible, welcoming environment that improves day to day comfort, encourages collaboration and provides a resilient base for its team in Southampton.

  • Southampton
  • 13,000 sq ft
  • 15 weeks

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