Veolia Symphony

Who doesn’t? Why do they? This is abouttask-appropriate work accommodation. Thiswasn’t done ‘at people’ – we spoke with thestaff themselves a great deal. We wanted tohave an arm around them and we wantedtheir input and we wanted to understandtheir individual requirements. This is alldriven from the top. The CEO is a verydynamic man – an extraordinary man.‘When we were discussing meetingspaces and facilities with the staff here, weCaseStudytried not to use words such ‘meeting room’and ‘meeting table’ – because they setpictures in people’s minds and createexpectations. We really wanted to forge thevocabulary before we put new images intominds – we wanted to create newopportunities.’It is approximately 10.30am on aThursday. A quick glance around therestaurant facility proves Alison’s pointsperfectly. There are a number of informal,internal meetings being conducted allaround us. Laptops and iPhones minglewith coffee and pastries. This is really, reallygood. ‘It’s so much easier, when people arerelocating or refurbishing, if you challengethose cultures ahead of moving,’ Alisonexplains. ‘If you don’t, then you just findthat people will bring those old habits alongwith them. This follows through to areassuch as storage and privacy.’Alison tells us that she was alsodetermined that this facility would besympathetic to the Pentonville Road office.Indeed, the palette of colours and finishes isthe same here as it is in London – as is theimpressive assortment of furniture solutionsused throughout.To further illustrate Alison’s earlierpoints, we find, upon moving through andup into the working hub of the building,that there are no individual offices –instead, the team has introduced a flexible,open plan layout, providing a wide range ofmeetings facilities and pods for quiet spaces.The open plan layout encouragescollaboration, wider interaction and brings agenuine sense of community to the businesshere.‘This is a BREEAM Excellent building,’Alison tells us as we move though the openplan working space. ‘Aside from the usualconsiderations, we were instrumental indeveloping the lighting here. We haveenhanced the base build lighting in themeeting spaces and also in the restaurant.We don’t specify anything ‘damaging’, andwe like working with recycled products andwith manufacturers who have that sameattitude. We work with companies we knowand trust. I think it is our job to be mindfulof these things – after all, we’re notdesigning golden palaces for people withmore money than taste! This has to live – ithas to have longevity, it has to be able to bemaintained. This has to look just as good in18 months time.’It’s barely 11am – and we’re already mostof the way towards Manchester. Moreimportantly, we’re also one very good storyup. Now that’s impressive timemanagement. Makes a very welcomechangeessential ingredients | Client • Veolia Environmental Services | Interior Designer • Monteith Scott 0121 236 0909Architect • GMTW Architects | QS • Robinson Lowe Francis & Rider Levitt Bucknall | Contractor • Vinci ConstructionSystems Furniture / Task Seating • Herman Miller 0845 226 5226Office Pods / Meeting Chairs • Orangebox 020 7837 9922Cafe Sofas • Arper +39 0422 7918Carpets • Milliken 01942 612777Storage • KI 020 7404 7441Boardroom Furniture • Boss Design 01384 45557050 l mix l 124