Back in October 2018, when the World was flat, when Burtt-Jones & Brewer turned 10 years old. To celebrate reaching a decade of BJ&B, we gave one lucky charity the opportunity to work with us and receive £10K worth of our time, for free.
Shelter went on to secure this opportunity and we began to work with each other in writing a brief to enhance their workplace at 88 Old Street. The brief was mainly around maintaining all the existing workstations and looking to increase the number of meeting rooms. Interesting ideas to repurpose the basement as an informal breakout area, to also increase the traditional meeting rooms throughout, with some effective conceptual ideas for sheds, yurts and even community based beehives on the roof!
The World then changed shape somewhat, and as a result, so did the brief. With a pause for thought in between. This called for a complete rethink on approach, objectives and outcomes for the project. Forearmed with our understanding of how Shelter liked to work, we embraced Shelters ‘New Ways of Working’ framework, AKA: The world of Hybrid working.
With the likelihood of traditional workstations being less in demand, an increase in people working from home (or elsewhere) the demand for more smaller semi-private, enclosed, bookable, non-bookable rooms and areas where video calls could be made came to the forefront. As well as supporting in-person team meetings while at 88 Old Street.
With a big nod to the sustainable branch, around 50% of the existing workstations were reused. Distributing these over the multiple floors, as well as reusing chairs and lockers. Blending these with new alternative work settings that enabled Shelter to fully operate in a new way of working.
The result: a stylish hybrid version of old and new, analogue and digital, private and open workplace for Shelter to do what they do best - Fight for Home, because Home is everything.
Burtt-Jones & Brewer worked in partnership with Shelter on the refurbishment of our central London office, transforming the building into a true enabler of collaborative and cross organisational working. Working jointly with our internal team BJ&B designed an adaptable and flexible space, with working and meeting spaces that has made the building a place for our teams to work together and with partners on ending the housing emergency.
The results really have been transformative, staff have commented about the greatly improved workspace, and how it’s given the Victorian building a new lease of life. Staff have specifically commented on how layouts and spaces don’t just look great, but actively enable them to work how they want and need to. These results were only achieved because of the close working relationship built between Shelter and BJ&B. Particularly how BJ&B understood Shelter’s requirements beyond just a number of desks and meeting spaces.
Dan Burraway
Assistant Director – Strategy Enablement
SERVICES
Staff workshops sessions
Focus on supporting a new way of working
Co-designing of space
Brand consultant
Up-cycle and recycling of existing products
Completed March 2022
Photography credit to Nick Miners