Bevan Brittan: Bristol

Location: King’s Orchard, Bristol

Sector: Legal

Project Size: 69,703 sq ft over 6 floors (to accommodate 400 staff with expansion for 90 + 140 in the sub-let space)

Project Value: £14.5m

Scope of Works: Design > Contracting > Furniture > Audiovisual

The Brief

Claremont’s concept development for Bevan Brittan included architectural ideas for extending the building footprint. As interior designers and space planners, Claremont approached the architectural challenge from an internal space and people bias, rather than from a building perspective. In considering how the building would function for staff, Claremont identified that the current ‘C’ shaped building would result in teams being isolated from one another at the ends of such large floor plates, potentially resulting in isolated departments, and that the building would benefit from the development of a cohesive ‘sense of purpose’ across the 6 storeys.

The Solution

Claremont’s solution was to add a building extension which would complete the circuit, effectively infilling the ‘C’ plate and creating a ground floor atrium visually linking all storeys. This link would be further enhanced by providing open floor plates throughout the building, with circulation space adjacent to the atrium. We also felt that it was essential to provide a quicker circulation route from one side of the office to the other and between floors, to physically and visually link teams and the firm as a whole. As a result, we proposed moving the lifts from the outskirts of the building to the centre of the atrium with glass lifts and flying ‘gantries’ connecting the floors. This solution also ensures that the atrium and circulation spaces are constantly busy, with individuals visible throughout the building, adding feelings of dynamism and connectivity. The design proposal was well received by the client and the architect, for meeting peoples’ needs and creating a strong building hub. Furthermore, the scheme means that the lifts and adjacent circulation areas are not within the building’s net usable space; advantageous both financially and in terms of liberating prime office space.

Claremont’s scope covered design from the ‘big picture’ concept above, to the specification of every last fixture, fitting and accessory. The ground floor client suite incorporates a concierge reception, client reception and break out area, riverside café and meeting suite with 120-seat conference facility, and catering kitchen. In addition, working space was provided for the 410 strong firm with local break out and refreshment zones.

Audiovisual Works

The audiovisual brief was to provide high specification audiovisual systems for seminar, board, meeting and training rooms, as well as information displays for the reception and restaurant areas. Meeting room specifications were to include automated control of DVD & Video cassette playback, TV, display of PC images from both remote laptop and dedicated PCs to be displayed on large format flat panel displays. Seminar room specifications included the above plus integrated control over lighting levels and voice reinforcement with induction loop systems for 2 No. presenters, displaying media on a large format, automated, front projection screen.

In the meeting rooms, visual display was provided in the form of 55” and 63” wall mounted plasma screens, allowing for the presentation of images from VCR, DVD, PC (controlled with a radio frequency keyboard and mouse), laptop PC (with connection at desktop), and digital TV. Audio was provided via a stereo amplifier and full range loudspeakers. Control and automated switching of equipment is achieved via the integration of a 4” AMX wired touch panel at the desktop. All source and control equipment was housed in equipment racks. In addition, twin wall-mounted bespoke presentation cabinets, providing writing surfaces, were installed in the
boardroom in a Cherry veneer finish in co-ordination with the desking. The training room wasn equipped with a 50” wall-mounted plasma screen wall with SMART interactive overlay, providing electronic flipchart and whiteboard facilities. Dedicated PC and laptop connectivity were provided at the table top.

In the reception area, a 42” LCD screen provides the option of PC display, with connections provided at the reception desk, or via digital TV. Audio was provided via local speakers, as well as being reinforced by flush ceiling-mounted speakers over the soft seating area, with local induction loops installed at the reception desk. The staff restaurant was equipped with a wallmounted55” plasma screen for rolling digital TV display.
The seminar room was equipped with a high specification presentation system, allowing two presenters to access, display and control media from lectern positions. The system was configured to allow display and control via a range of sources; videocassette, DVD, TV (digital free to air and Sky), auxiliary video, dedicated PC and any one of 6 laptop PC inputs provided at lectern and floor box positions around the room. Images were projected via a ceiling-mounted LCD projector onto a 100” diagonal electric screen and repeated at the rear of the room via a 32” LCD panel for those with a restricted view due to an existing pillar. Computer presentations from 2 dedicated PCs housed in the media wall can be controlled by use of a radio frequency keyboard and mouse from anywhere in the room, or from the lectern using a SMART Sympodium interactive touch screen panel, which also gives the presenter the facility of electronic whiteboard, flipchart and document annotation. All equipment and switching is controlled remotely by twin AMX wireless LCD touch screen remote handsets, including control of lighting, audio volume, input source and transport commands for video, CD, DVD and TV. This had the resultant effect of simplifying system operations, as all switching would be automated simultaneously at the touch of a button.
High specification audio systems were also provided for all sources via stereo speakers and a mix of handheld and tie-clip radio mics, reinforced via flush ceiling-mounted reinforcement speakers, allowing for instant control from the AMX touch panel. In addition, a bespoke induction loop system was designed and installed for all programme and microphone audio.

The Result

New space planning principles and workstation standards were adopted for the working floors with legal teams and support staff clustered around collaborative browserie height storage units to assist in communication and mentoring. A balance between local and team storage has been established to ensure quick response to clients, but also file accessibility and traceability for teams.

Bevan Brittan has established a progressive brand and corporate identity and the relocation presented a fantastic opportunity to reinforce this with a striking interior identity that builds on the same platform.

The brand uses dynamic fractals in a variety of colours to represent the ‘adaptive energy’ which is at the heart of Bevan Brittan’s client-centric approach. In terms of adaptive energy colour change lighting has been incorporated into the building ‘light house’ which creates night-time visibility for the building even on the approach in to Bristol, this is synchronised with similarly sequenced colour changes on the reception desk itself. The fractals are interpreted in kiln-fired glass elements throughout the client suite and are used more literally as manifestations to meeting and quiet room elevations. Intuitive navigation throughout the building was re-enforced with a different ‘signature colour’ for each floor taken from the fractal designs.

Claremont provided design, space planning, working drawing package and specification for all elements of the interior fit out at King’s Orchard. The Claremont team worked closely with a multi-disciplinary team including Project Manager, Architect, M&E Consultant and Acoustician. In addition, Claremont was responsible for the total furniture specification, procurement, installation and move management package.

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