Six London businesses celebrated success at the BCO Annual Regional Awards yesterday, with Facebook, 2TVC, Deloitte, Boden, Project North and Fora Borough all recognised as the capital’s best workplaces. The prestigious BCO Awards programme recognises the highest quality developments in the UK and sets the standard for excellence in the regional and national office sector.
The winning workplaces:
- Facebook at Rathbone Square (Best Corporate Workplace)
- 2 Television Centre (2TVC) (Best Commercial Workplace)
- Deloitte HQ – 1 New Street Square (Best Fit Out of a Workplace)
- Boden Head Office (Best Refurbished / Recycled Workplace)
- Project North (Best Project up to 1,500m²)
- Fora Borough (Innovation)
Facebook at Rathbone Square was crowned Best Corporate Workplace. The development is a high quality, people-focused space built for a variety of uses, including residential and retail use alongside its function as an office. The development is centred around a lively central public square, which sits at the heart of the space and welcomes in the world outside. The judges praised the ‘experience’ created inside the office, which delivers a unique design that strongly represents the Facebook brand.
2 Television Centre (2TVC) was awarded Best Commercial Workplace. The judges were impressed with the collaboration demonstrated throughout the project that has allowed the creation of a new television centre between two historic studio buildings. The site now serves as both a part of the residential offering and the new BBC offices. The BCO judges felt the architecture of the exterior reflected the site’s history, while the interior delivered a flexible and sustainable space, fit for a modern workforce.
Deloitte HQ – 1 New Street Square won the award for Best Fit Out of Workplace. The refurbishment of Deloitte’s London Headquarters has created a new space for the business that drives efficiency, enables flexibility and improves connectivity between colleagues. The judges noted the office helps Deloitte attract and retain talent, with improved amenities and smart technology integrated throughout. The BCO judging panel were also impressed by the building’s sustainability and wellness accreditation, with the project achieving an outstanding BREEAM score and WELL Gold certification.
Boden Head Office was celebrated as winner of the Refurbished / Recycled Workplace category. The judges were struck by the remarkable transformation of two adjacent industrial buildings into a single, creative and collaborative hub for the online retailer. The judges praised the creation of a single town hall, formed by combining the two buildings, which provides Boden with an area where all staff can gather within minutes.
Project North was celebrated as Best Project up to 1,500m². The project challenged how office environments should work and feel and the result is a workplace that allows the concepts of work and play to sit side-by-side in a relaxed new space. The judges were impressed with the use of a workplace psychologist to manage staff feedback at the beginning of the project. The result of that collaboration is a flexible space that has delivered a tangible impact on employees’ wellness and productivity.
Fora Borough won the afternoon’s Innovation award. In a fast-developing area of the city, Fora differentiates its workplace offer with a focus on thoughtful design and customer service. The project is now being used to benchmark subsequent locations, so every Fora delivers “spaces to be brilliant.” The judges praised the openness of the ground floor, which hosts a café and restaurant and helps to build a community between the office and its neighbourhood.
Phil Breeden, Director at Mace Cost Consultancy and Regional Judging Chair for the BCO London Chapter commented: “The quality of submissions for this year’s awards was outstanding and certainly made our job on the judging panel a challenging one. All of the entrants focused on client needs and delivered above and beyond their briefs to create workplaces genuinely unique to their tenants. This afternoon’s winners all delivered workplaces that not only demonstrated what brilliant offices can deliver for the businesses they house but exhibited how business can benefit the wider community – wherever that may be.”
Richard Kauntze, Chief Executive of the BCO added: “As ever, I am hugely encouraged by the quality of this year’s submissions, each demonstrating the very real impact a positive working environment can have on the occupier. In a time of persistent uncertainty, that London can consistently deliver workplaces of such a high standard is evidence of the city’s status as a hub for global business.”
The ceremony marked the third of the BCO Regional Property Awards dedicated to London, celebrating the best office space in the country. London winners will compete with those from other regions at the BCO National Awards in October this year.
