Welcome to Workplace

Today, we're launching our first newsletter (woo-hoo!) and we've got LOTS to discuss as we tell you all about our journey. Through projects, partnerships, and growth, this is our story directly from the people who are living the experience. But before we dive into that, let's properly introduce ourselves.

Back in 2002, we were just a twinkle in our founders' eyes. Fast forward 22 years and we're an award-winning design and build practice, with over 60 brilliant people in our team, changing workplace lives, one build at a time!

Now, without sounding like a speech from the Oscars, we've had some amazing clients over the course of our journey who we need to thank. But we're going to start with a client who took us on a brand new journey altogether — Northeastern University London .

From The Top: Learning About Learning

Having built a massive reputation as the world leaders in experiential learning, Northeastern were ready to begin their own journey here in the UK. The task at hand was to deliver a world-class education centre (a first for us), but with our years of experience in delivering exceptional workplace interiors, we were more than up for the challenge. So, with our thinking caps on, we took our first steps into the education sector.

Enter Richard Munro ...

Richard Munro, Project Director

It all began back in July 2019 when Northeastern University asked us to assess a 24,000 sq ft townhouse in Fitzrovia for their first UK campus. We advised them that the building they'd identified was actually too small, and they should look for a more suitable property. Our honest assessment, while perhaps unexpected, helped build trust from the outset.

When the time came to pitch for the project we had to step back due to existing commitments, but suggested they reach out if the initial process didn’t work. When the other firms missed the mark, we came back on board and swiftly developed a flexible design solution that prioritised the needs of the students.

Having helped Northeastern select the 39,000 sq ft Devon House in St. Katharine Docks, we were moving at speed until the global pandemic hit in March 2020. With the client team 3,500 miles away and travel restricted, we managed the project remotely through Teams and worked closely with their local project manager, HennessyGodden . Despite the challenges, we delivered the first of many successful phases together, on budget and ready for the start of term.

Collaboration and understanding has been central to helping Northeastern realise their vision ever since the beginning. At the heart of that process is design lead, Maisie Cox ...

Maise Cox, Interior Designer

Northeastern University holds a special place in my heart. It was the first project I tackled with Workplace Creations, right after graduating in Interior Architecture from 英国诺丁汉特伦特大学 . Working on it felt like a nostalgic dive back into the student mindset, designing spaces for students who are on a journey similar to the one I had just experienced. Although this was a new sector for Workplace, I was up for the challenge to create an amazing space in the world of education.

Our design journey with Northeastern has been deeply collaborative. It all began with the Devon House project in 2021, where we set out to create a space that was truly unique. As we've moved through various phases, we've continuously adapted the design to meet the ever-changing needs of the students. It's been a real pleasure not only to design, but also grow in my career alongside the university. As they've expanded their spaces, our relationship has blossomed into a genuine, trusted partnership, despite the 3,500 miles between us.

As Maisie said, we designed the campus to make sure it could grow and change, and as student applications soared, bespoke furniture specification was essential to ensuring maximum flexibility. We chose pieces that are versatile and can be adapted for different uses. To get that right, you need real expertise - enter Hilary Maxwell .

Hilary Maxwell, Furniture Consultant

I joined the project team midway through the Phase 2 of Devon House. Jumping in at this stage presented both challenges and rewards. Tight timelines, a vast project scope, and the rapid ongoing expansion of the student population meant I had hit the ground running.

Fortunately, we spent a lot of time with the Northeastern team during furniture showroom tours. These tours allowed us to grow closer, share some laughs, and gave the team the opportunity to get hands-on with the products. This hands-on experience allows us to delve deeper into the specifics of the design and confidently select the perfect choices for each phase. An example of this is Herman Miller , one of our strongest dealer partnerships. They've been a consistent choice due to their exceptional ergonomic design, durability, and flexibility - perfect for university life!

Logistics have been just as important. Managing large-scale deliveries and coordinating installations requires meticulous planning, especially when working with numerous suppliers across multiple sites. While it may not seem glamorous, it is essential to the project, and it's such a good feeling when everything's finally in its right place.

Seeing the Northeastern team's satisfaction and excitement when we hand over makes all the challenges worthwhile. It’s really fulfilling to play a key role in transforming the spaces into functional and beautiful environments for students to grow in. Ultimately, watching the empty spaces come to life from concept to reality is always incredibly rewarding.

Wow, what a journey! But it's far from over. Our partnership with Northeastern University continues to thrive, and our relationship continues to strengthen. While LinkedIn might not have enough characters to detail every project, we're immensely grateful to everyone who has contributed significantly over the past five and a half years. This is just the beginning!

Okay, enough of the Oscars speech! But since you mentioned awards, the icing on the cake for us was winning the Mixology 2023 Project of the Year: Public Sector & Cultural.

From entering the education sector as newcomers to taking home one of the most prestigious awards in the industry, it was a dream come true for the entire team.

Awards are great, they're a seal of approval on what we knew was a fantastic project. But for us at Workplace Creations, the real excitement comes from hearing directly from our clients.

Following completion of Phase 1, and when the Northeastern team could finally come to the UK, we celebrated over dinner and discussed why they chose Workplace Creations. The answer was simple: we were appointed based on a feeling – trust. From that moment on, they have considered us their trusted advisor.

It wasn't just about money or meeting deadlines. Design was important, but it wasn't the only factor. Finding the right team was what really mattered. And because of that, we've now successfully completed 7 major projects together, totalling over 80,000 sq ft (and counting), while we continue to support them on a day-to-day basis.

And that's a wrap. Our first of many newsletters to come. We hope you've enjoyed reading as much as we've enjoyed chatting, and got to learn a little bit more about Workplace and what makes us tick. You've probably heard us say it before (and you'll most definitely hear it again): No Passion, No Point. It's been our driving force since day one.

See you next time!