The British Council has moved into a creative new office facility in S9, an ‘outstanding’ BREEAM rated building in the International Quarter London (IQL). Prioritising the adaptability of available space, partitioning expert Style was bought in early to work with 5plus Architects and main contractor, BW Interiors.
As a result, the expansive ground floor concourse benefits from 7 bespoke, 5m high Dorma Hüppe moveable wall elements. Operating on a complex tracking layout, they can be used to form an innovative display screen, to create individual exhibition boards, or to screen the café from the conference suites. One side of the panels is finished with magnetic, writable laminate, encouraging casual meetings where teams can collaborate and share ideas, whilst the other side includes an Autex board, providing essential acoustic sound absorption in this high-ceilinged space.
Elsewhere, Style installed a further eight Dorma Hüppe 60db semi-automatic moveable wall systems, creating various sized meeting spaces. Ensuring an excellent acoustic environment for users, all of the elements also feature Autex cube absorption panels.
An international organisation for cultural relations and education, The British Council builds connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries. The interior of the prestigious new offices aims to reflect and accommodate these diverse roles.
Style’s sales director for the South, Michael Porter, said, “By being brought into the development at an early stage we were really able to maximise space flexibility in multiple areas, while offering the highest possible sound reduction levels from sustainable products.
“This was a multifaceted project which was further complicated by the fact that the primary structure could not take any large point loads. This had implications for the stacking locations of the various moveable wall systems and Style’s technicians and designers consulted closely with the architects and structural engineers to ensure the most appropriate solution.
“The end result is a truly breath-taking building that offers adaptability and panache and meets every aspect of the client brief.”