Staircases are so often just seen as a functional necessity in a building; a way to get people from A to B. But just because they serve a purpose, doesn’t mean they have to be mundane.

It's time to rise up

Staircases can be complex, curved, straight, suspended, open or closed and can be constructed from countless materials to make an architectural statement. There are an impressive number of combinations — so much so staircases are more and more becoming a design feature rather than a necessity. In an age where we’re tracking our every physical move with smartwatches and wearables, taking the stairs even helps you reach your daily step target and enhances the wellbeing of your teams.

So, in a bid to demonstrate the versatility of the humble staircase, we’ve stepped up to the challenge of finding staircases that have elevated their office fit out to the next level.

Deloitte, 1 New Street Square

This stunning staircase runs throughout the building, linking different teams whilst promoting everyday movement around the office. This style of open and fully accessible staircase encourages staff to be more active and take the stairs on a regular basis rather than the lift. What's more, is the staircase has been designed with close proximity to integrated working pods and meeting booths on different floors. Couple this with the petrified moss feature on the central wall, and you've got an enviable focal point.

AON, London

The high ceilings in this fit out for AON required two intermediate landings to break up the considerable ascent of this staircase. To keep the staircase inviting (despite the steep climb), the open stairs were illuminated with AON’s brand red. By using an open stair design, natural light is allowed to flow through, which is then maximised by the mirrored wall panels that reflect the light, all while highlighting the design of these eye-catching stairs.

Deloitte staircase with biophilic moss wall
Aon staircase lit in red

Commonwealth Bank, London

This staircase installation at Commonwealth Bank helped to maintain the light and spacious flow of the foyer through open levitating treads and a glass balustrade. The half landing stairs with 180-degree turn sits without additional support, helping to create the look of a ‘floating staircase’. The minimalist appearance of these complex stairs means that visitors can focus on the other striking design elements of this office fit out, including a living wall, feature lighting and a bespoke ceiling design. Even the wall and ceiling panelling features a striking angular design, which complements the floating staircase.

Finastra, Nottingham

The staircase will definitely brighten up any reception space. The original shell and core didn't have a staircase in the double-height mezzanine/reception area, so we took this as an opportunity to create a new statement feature. We connected two suspended curved stairwell lengths together — one projection flowing into the next at a gentle turn. The dramatic stairs lead to the balcony in a sweeping helical arc and connect to nature through a replica birch tree, wrapped in real bark.

Office staircase with living wall