Office fit out that delivers a destination workplace in Manchester

Global law firm Eversheds Sutherland took its relocation to Manchester's Two New Bailey as an opportunity to consolidate its space in Manchester and create an office to support agile and flexible ways of working for its 350 local employees.

Project partners

  • BDP
  • Faithful & Gould
  • Hoare Lee

Project description

An office design and fit out that focuses on employee wellbeing, collaboration and connection. The diverse and agile working environment now encourages greater physical and visual connection between staff across different floors, boosting engagement and productivity.

This new destination office, coupled with stunning client suites and meeting facilities, will ensure the Eversheds Sutherland continues to attract and retain the best talent in the region, all whilst providing a service to clients that exceeds expectations on every level.

Maximise space and reduce footprint

The principal aim of this office’s design and fit out was to help the business move from a traditional, static legal office environment, to one that is adaptable and collaborative. Taking best practices from multiple sectors, the project team focused on innovative ways to bolster communal working.

Eversheds Sutherland previously occupied 73,000 sq ft, but significant areas of the five office floors were largely underused. It's footprint has been reduced by an impressive 40%, maximising the space and helping employees work and connect more meaningfully in task-appropriate zones.

Agile office fit out

By implementing a new agile-based approach, colleagues now have access to a variety of settings to support different tasks which encourages movement across the entire space. A Spanish staircase was constructed to link all three floors resulting in employees working wherever they feel most comfortable. The staircase not only acts as an architectural link between the levels; it also serves as a destination for serendipitous interactions.

Each wing of the new office provides a refreshment area, service point, meeting rooms and alternative zones to support specific business needs. This neighbourhood approach includes collaborative spaces for colleagues to engage with each other and alternative zones for quiet working in single-person booths at the opposite end of the space.

Inspired design to attract the best talent

Manchester’s distinctive cityscape and industrial heritage can be seen throughout the space, reflected in the high-quality finishes, fixtures and fittings. The modern and urban aesthetic is brought to life with the use of exposed ceilings, metals and neutral tones as a backdrop. This workspace is certainly an office to be proud of.

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