Coffey Geotechnics: Manchester

Location: Atlas Business Park, Wythenshawe, Manchester

Sector: Industrial/ Manufacturing/ Engineering

Project Size: 8,000 sq ft (Manchester); 4,000 sq ft (Reading)

Project Value: £250k (Manchester & Reading combined)

Scope of Works: Design > Contracting > Furniture > Audiovisual

The Brief

Coffey Geotechnics Limited (formerly Edge Consultants Ltd) is a consultancy providing geotechnical and environmental engineering services, helping clients to manage the earth. Coffey approached Claremont Group Interiors when considering relocation to Atlantic House Business Park. Manchester. Claremont had previously provided fit-out and furniture services to an existing tenant, Servisair, who then subsequently recommended Claremont to the client.
As a result of the purchase of Edge Consultants Ltd by Coffey Geotechnics Ltd part way through the design process, initial discussions with Claremont were subsequently expanded to encompass the development of a corporate standard to be rolled out across other Coffey sites. The project was won by Claremont following a tender process tender against local competitors, with Claremont finally elected as principal contractor due to its competitive cost, design and resource package.
Central to the brief, Coffey wanted to create a unified corporate image under the parent company umbrella of Coffey International, a group of companies incorporating specialist experts in the geotechnical field. The challenge was to create a standard solution integrating the company branding that could be adapted to any of the existing or proposed sites regardless of the building style / architecture involved and be carried out under the constraints of time and budget.

The Solution

The inspiration for the interior started with the idea of strata and earth forms central to the company’s core business, marketing themselves as ’specialists in managing the earth’. This concept was incorporated into the tones and colours selected for the floor coverings, wall finishes and furniture items.
The wall finishes further reflected and enhanced the natural theme whilst projecting a professional and contemporary aesthetic. The scheme developed and delivered by Claremont also incorporated break-out spaces, equipment stores, libraries, boardrooms, meeting rooms, post and comms rooms, and cellular and open plan
office areas. The desk sizes were specifically
designed to accommodate A1-size drawings as well as to provide local storage at workstation level. A central bank of mid and full height storage accommodates the many project files.
The earth theme continues as you travel through the space with graphics digitally printed onto wall coverings providing visual interest to the scheme and tying the overall strata theme together.

The Result

As well as the company’s Manchester site, Claremont has also completed the Reading office and is in the process of designing two further office spaces for the client in Harrogate and Burton on Trent.
It is safe to say the client is delighted with the completed sites and that the success of the rebranding, incorporation and move is in no small way due to the partnering and collaborative approach between Claremont and the Coffey Geotechnics team.