Settle, Hertfordshire

The brief

After continual expansion within the team, Settle decided it was time to consolidate and centralise their two offices. They had one existing office with warehouse space and an additional office separate from this. The refurbishment was to transform the entire office and warehouse location into a Smarter Workspace for all of the office teams to join together. To implement this effectively, they required a design that would allow all staff to collaborate in one space, whilst having the accompanying facilities for them to succeed in their day-to-day duties. Woodhouse listened to their requirements and designed a unique proposition that would propel the Settle workplace forward.

The solution

Settle needed a strong connection throughout the new 25,800 sq ft space to ensure it didn’t dilute the teams but instead, bring them closer together. To address this, a large central atrium was formed directly in the middle of the office. The ceiling encompassed a large light shaft to bring natural light into the centre of the building. Tiered seating was fitted and this created the hub of the office and a place where all 200+ staff could congregate and collaborate. Surrounding this, a host of meeting suites, boardroom, open-plan desking and breakout areas supported both connectivity and flexible ways of working, particularly with designated hot desk areas and quiet rooms.

Externally the building appearance was significantly upgraded so the outside was just as visually appealing as the inside. All of the external materials were resprayed and the Settle branding added by graphics and signage. Settle now has a cross-functional workplace that supports flexibility and collaboration.