Central Square, Leeds

The Brief

The Link Group were looking to create a Northern Hub for their operation where they could co-locate various business streams. The key Client objective was to develop a prestigious office space delivered within budget in under 10 months from appointment of the design team.

The project comprised the CAT-B fit out of 4 floors, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 10th, of the recently completed Central Square development in Leeds. The 10th floor provided boardroom and executive space with the remaining floors providing 850 flexible workspaces.

A new feature stair was inserted into the centre of the office floor plates linking the 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors to improve connectivity and open up the space for employees. The design placed an emphasis on wellbeing in the workplace and facilitating a strong team culture, mirroring the Client’s recruitment and growth plans.

Fit out of the 72,000 ft² floorplate had to be complete within a 4 month construction period to ensure the building was operational so that it was ready to accommodate staff from the re-locating business units as leases came to an end on existing premises.

Client

Link Group

Location

Leeds

Architect

Hermantes Studios

Size

72,000 ft²

Sector

  • Office - Fit Out & Interiors
  • Offices - Co-Working

Services

  • Cost Consultancy
  • Contract Administration

The Challenge

The challenge for Jackson Coles was to agree an ambitious but robust budget with the Client that could deliver the desired look and feel for the space. Through a number of design reviews and benchmarking exercises a fit-out cost range of £65-70/ft² was agreed as being appropriate for the Client’s design aspiration. The budget was allocated across the floors to acknowledge the differing function and quality requirement, the largest portion being spent on the 10th floor executive space.

A traditional procurement route and traditional contract was recommended. Notwithstanding the challenging budget and programme the project was delivered to time and budget and to a high quality.

The Outcome

The completed workspace provides a top floor executive space with state-of-the-art reception, boardroom, presentation and meeting spaces. The first floor houses the back of house facilities with a post room, first aid and communications room facilities. This floor also houses training facilities and breakout areas.

Levels 2 and 3 are used as modern open plan office spaces which include breakout, collaboration and meeting spaces. The fit-out works included the alteration of some of the existing CAT A works, addition of a new generator (housed in the basement), new feature lighting, partitioning, floor and ceiling finishes and new joinery.

Relaxed lighting, abundant planting and improved connectivity ensured the relocation to this office was a positive experience for staff.

The project, which was awarded a BREEAM Outstanding rating, was completed within both the budget and the challenging 4 month construction period. It was a 2020 finalist in the Mixology Project of the Year, Workplace Interiors over 70,000 ft² category.

Targeted staff growth
0 %
Delivers workspace for flexible staff
0
Challenging construction programme
0 month

Other Projects We’ve Completed Include

Great Sutton Street

Michael Faraday House

80 Goswell Road