Bracknell: Area Sq and MESH refurbish Vodafone's offices

Area Sq and MESH have completed the refurbishment of Vodafone's offices on the ground and first floor of Waterside House in Bracknell.  This is the latest in a series of projects that support Vodafone's 'Better Ways of Working' initiative, which pioneers a flexible working ethos.

Area Sq, the commercial interior design and fit-out expert, has worked closely with MESH, the specialist in cost management, Aecom, the project-management consultant, and Platform, the design consultancy, to upgrade and refurbish the 70,000 sq ft building. The work took place over the course of a year in a phased manner while occupation continued and without interrupting day-to-day operations.

This entailed successively clearing each area out, stripping back to shell and refurbishing before moving on. Major building works included installing a link bridge, new reception area and external landscaping works.

The building has been brought up to date with the installation of all new data cabling, communications rooms, new ceilings, lighting schemes, air conditioning and floor finishes. These changes were also all carried out without disrupting the complicated data infrastructure within the building.  Fire alarms, security systems and power to the rest of the building, were all kept running while the works were being completed. 

New furniture supplied by Sketch has been installed, including soft seating for break out spaces, and benches, chairs and tables for the canteen. The desking and workstation chairs were supplied by Sedus and most of the soft seating was supplied by Orangebox. All furniture installations and phasing were managed by Sketch.

The redesigned offices at Waterside House are part of the ongoing “Better Ways of Working” programme carried out by Area Sq and MESH for Vodafone offices around the country, including Thames House and Brook House in Bracknell and Smale House, London.

By breaking down hierarchal barriers and removing fixed desks and personal offices, the programme fundamentally challenges how people interact and collaborate. No one has his or her own office, but all staff, including the leadership team and chief executive, can take their laptops to work in any one of a number of workspaces.

To support this innovative approach, the new open-plan workspaces encourage communication, collaboration and planned serendipity, and comprise a range of collaboration zones, breakout spaces and wellbeing areas, including a state-of-the-art gym and a roof terrace which was installed to be used as both a working area and a communal space. Waterside House successfully sustains Vodafone's pioneering vision of creating a hive, which encourages innovative and productive work.