No objections to this fit out

Our latest Bristol fit out for leading law firm Simmons & Simmons has transformed 27,000 sq ft of Grade A space into a colourful and light-filled office.

With a tasteful touch of industrial aesthetics, modern furniture and high-quality workmanship, this stunning office befits its international brand.

In a bid to attract the finest Bristol talent, Simmons & Simmons chose one of the most popular neighbourhoods in Bristol, within walking distance of Temple Meads station. The Aurora building is located in Finzels Reach, a mixed-use development spread across 4.7 acres in the city’s historic heart.

The landmark building provides a new benchmark for sustainable development in Bristol through placing a high importance on the environment and ongoing sustainability. The building has achieved top-class BREEAM and LEED ratings for its construction, while our fit out has also achieved a BREEAM rating.

Starting with a blank canvas, our team built a reception area, open-plan workstations, breakout spaces, a comms room and café for the law firm’s 190 employees. Additionally, special attention was given to maintaining client confidentiality in its meeting suite by using materials with high acoustic ratings.

We made the most of the building’s striking façade and glass perimeter by building a stunning café in the sunniest corner of the office. The kitchen’s ceramic tiles, simple wood and metal furniture, colourful flooring and hanging light pendants add a ‘coffee shop’ ambience to the space.

Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with natural light and staff can enjoy far-reaching views of Bristol from the floor vantage point. The café even has direct access to an open terrace, perfect for alfresco lunches and impromptu meetings in the summer. A suspended timber feature above the kitchenette adds a touch of nature, mirroring the kitchen’s wooden flooring and furniture.

A series of acoustic mesh panels were installed above the seating area to absorb unwanted noise and keep it from travelling to other parts of the office. These panels are slightly transparent, showcasing the exposed services above for an on-trend industrial flair.

Great neighbours

Fit out projects often coincide in popular new buildings like Aurora. This requires close communication between various contractors and building management teams. Our project was no different. While transforming the new Simmons & Simmons office, our team had to accommodate existing tenants as well as ongoing construction work by the main contractor.

All this additional activity on-site presented some challenges, one of which was the lack of external space for deliveries and storage. We worked with our subcontractors and suppliers to coordinate deliveries, and ensured we only ordered materials as they were required.

We set up small, dedicated storage zones on our site so we didn’t put any strain on the building’s operations, and everything was stored as soon as possible after delivery.

Moving materials to the Simmons & Simmons project was another hurdle, as the building doesn’t have a goods lift. We had to share the staircase and a small passenger lift with other contractors and tenants, all without impacting on the day-to-day operations of those in the building.

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