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Softcat

Softcat challenged us to reimagine their new Bristol office in the Grade A-rated Halo Building, creating a vibrant, future-ready space that reflects their brand and empowers their 160-person team to thrive.
Sector Technology
Size 9,500
Location Bristol

The big idea

Having successfully completed work on their Birmingham and London offices Softcat tasked us with transforming their new Bristol office, housed inside the city’s Grade A rated Halo Building. As with the previous office transformations Softcat wanted a future-ready space that reflects their brand and culture and allows their 160-person-strong team to thrive.

Nailing the brief

The design draws its inspiration from the city of Bristol, creating a space that grounds the office in the city and creates that personal feel that is so important to Softcat. Meeting rooms pay subtle homage to various Bristol landmarks, notably ‘The Phoenix’ – named after the team’s favourite local pub! The circulation corridor brings Bristol’s Birdcage Walk to life with a Softcat twist, using cane-like structures to frame the open space between working and social areas.

Softcat’s branding and vibrant colours are a prominent presence that brings the space to life, from the eye-catching reception and digital wallcoverings to the striking signage out front. This is also reflected in the tiered seating area, where rich purple tones cover the space alongside plywood tiers and a standout AV and bookcase display.

The space has been thoughtfully designed to support a variety of workstyles and needs. The open-plan area features 130 desks and a dedicated Scrum space whilst a tiered townhall space, known as ‘The Bearpit’, is perfect for town halls and larger meetings. The design offers a variety of meeting spaces to support both formal and informal collaboration, including boardroom-style, small group, and pod settings, all designed to accommodate different team sizes and working styles. Wellbeing is also prioritised, with a quiet desk zone, a multi-faith and wellbeing room, and a changing room, as well as a games area where the team can take a break from their desks.

Diversity and inclusion were considered at every stage of the design to create a space that truly caters to everyone. From clear circulation routes to thoughtful acoustic control and adjustable lighting, every detail was designed with accessibility in mind. Features such as wheelchair recesses in the tiered seating, intuitive wayfinding and signage, and the use of icons throughout the space all work together to ensure ease of use for all.

Sustainability goals were a key consideration in Softcat’s vision with the aim of achieving a SKA Silver rating. The new space made use of repurposed furniture and equipment, as well as smart office solutions meaning it’s both future-ready and future-smart.

The final result

The end result is a Destination Office that place sustainability, collaboration and innovation at the forefront whilst still maintaining that signature Softcat feel.

The space represents a big step forward for Softcat’s South West operations, putting their team at forefront of everything and breathing new life into how they work.

Check out all of our work with Softcat!

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Destination Office

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