Innovative use of wood for reception desk and screen helps signal construction company’s business approach

The reception area is the perfect opportunity to create a physical or graphic reflection of a firm’s ethos – one that greets clients, colleagues and friends alike on their arrival.  This was certainly the case for family construction company ADCO, when Woods Bagot fitted out the company’s new office.

Woods Bagot designer Brittany Pearce says the  ADCO reception is at the heart of the space and is the first thing you see when stepping out of the lift.

“The individualistic reception desk and privacy screen behind are both finished in the same unusual treatment,” says Pearce.

“Referencing ADCO’s agile, innovative approach to construction, the design makes a feature of a classic building material – wood  – being considered afresh through its use in a build format usually associated with another building material – brick.”

Besides evoking the company’s woodworking dexterity, the feature wall also performs other functions, both in terms of providing a statement of company intent and regarding space allocation.

“Essentially, the meandering wall divides and organises the office floor – helping to define a series of open and collaborative workspaces,” says Pearce. “At the same time, its porous nature allows sightlines through to the office’s various desking and meeting spaces – an arrival experience that comments on the importance ADCO places on openness and transparency in business.”

And it’s this sense of transparency that informs much of the light, contemporary fit-out.

To the left and right of the wall are two built zones with meeting rooms, a large boardroom, a projector room and a quiet room. The workspaces are beyond these, by the windows at the outer edges of the office. The cafe – used by visitors and staff – is directly behind the wall. This is designed in similar finishes to the reception, again calling to mind the nature of ADCO’s business.

“This office is a consolidation for ADCO, the company having moved from a two-floor location with enclosed cubicles to this open, light-filled space,” says Pearce. “The nature of the business means the project managers are frequently on site and then, when they’re in the office, there’s often need to work together over large plans. To this end, single desks are largely replaced with benches and hot desking.”

In aesthetic terms, the construction company’s office space is light and airy, with polished concrete floors, rugs to denote spaces like the reception waiting area, plenty of plants, and most surfaces painted white. The services were exposed and also painted white in another nod to transparency. Another feature is the introduction of a curved drop ceilings to delineate areas of use in the fit-out.

Even the choice of casual furniture adds the light, almost domestic feel of the space, Pearce says.

“We chose outdoor furniture for the cafe space to further the sense that clients and visitors are dealing with an adaptable, flexible team. Everything about the fit-out says transparency and versatility.

“In addition, there’s also consideration for future growth, with provision made for additional desking.”

Story by: Charles Moxham

Photography by: Shannon McGrath