The three-storey 21,000 ft2 office, designed for 380 staff comprises large open-plan spaces with bench style seating and “touch-down” points to facilitate hot-desk working; with the exception of seven meeting rooms grouped at ground floor level there are no cellular offices, not even the senior partners have their own permanent desks.

Although “standard” seating is available, testament to the success of the project can be judged by the number of staff who choose to work from the trendy break-out spaces with comfortable seating and soft furniture creating an informal / relaxed atmosphere. The office also boosts a 100-seat café, again with informal seating arrangement which provides an ideal location in which to hold small / ad-hoc meetings.

Julie Archer, Bidwell’s Director of People and Change said: “Agile working’ is the term we use, but it boils down to thinking creatively about the task in hand and how you get the best result. It’s all about having choices about the way you work and share ideas. Our objective is to reaffirm Bidwells as a great place to work; one in which colleagues are empowered to be their best.”

Extent of Mechanical Services:

• Incoming utilities – gas and water
• LPHW heating – gas fired condensing boilers serving a combination of underfloor heating and conventional radiators in utility and WC areas.
• DX reverse cycle air source heat pumps providing simultaneous heating and cooling facilities.
• A combination of natural and mechanical ventilation systems designed to comply with Part F of the Building Regulations
• Domestic H&C water services – including HWS solar panels
• Automatic control systems – associated BEMS

Extent of Electrical Services:

• Incoming utilities - electrical power / site transformer
• High efficiency lighting and emergency lighting
• Electrical small power
• Fire alarm installation
• Door entry, CCTV and security systems
• Photo-voltaic solar panels mounted at roof level
• Landscape lighting