Howden

The details

Location: The Avebury, Milton Keynes
Value: £3,350,000
Size: 28,000 sqft
Duration: 14 weeks

Seamlessly aligned with Howden’s brand and ethos, ODCreate crafted an innovative three-floor scheme at The Avebury, Milton Keynes—bringing the client’s vision for a collaborative workplace to life.

Inspired by Howden’s London HQ, the brief was to create a true ‘destination’ office—blending thoughtful zoning, layered design, and rich materiality. The space not only had to support the company’s hybrid working model but also motivate employees to come together in-person, in the office.

Communication and connection were the backbone of the design concept – for both the brand and the people alike. Timeless, agile, sustainable and quality were all elements that the team leant into to give Howden their sought after ‘home’ all with the importance of true inclusivity in mind.

The team

Client: Howden
Design: ODCreate
Project Manager: Savills
Cost Consultant: Fanshawe
Photographer: ©James French

ODCreate delivered:

Reception area
Tea points
The Servery
Meeting and boardrooms
Collaboration spaces
Workstations
Acoustic solutions
Mechanical, electrical and data infrastructure

This project is an excellent example of collaboration between client and designer, bringing together elements of Howden’s London headquarters with the unique qualities of The Avebury and the opportunities that brings.

The key factors in the brief for this project were to create a “destination” office to welcome and inspire in equal measure, as well as being able to adapt to changing working practices such as hybrid and collaborative working.

Gavin Hawkins, Managing Director of ODCreate

ODGroup Tables Tiling Design and Build Howden Insurance Blinds Office Space Boki Servery Commercial Seating Flooring ODCreate Lighting Break Out Area Communal

The design

‘Less is more’ was the overwhelming principle applied to create design emphasis throughout the Howden office space.

The reception area received a light touch when it came to Howden branding, the decision being not to overwhelm the arrival experience with unnecessary focus on the company’s collateral.

The desk, a simple wooden structure set the tone for the depth of materiality that was to follow throughout the workspace, as did the incorporation of biophilic design. Planters lined the wall to the right of the desk, breaking its continuity and helping to frame the reception area.

Biophilia was a key consideration for the ODCreate team, employed to help with zoning areas throughout the office as well as incorporating that sought-after natural, green, calming atmosphere depicted in most modern workspaces.

Feature ceiling details were woven throughout – designed to coordinate with the built ceiling. Details were added including wooden structures and acoustic panels to enhance the existing architectural envelope, also adding a depth and natural warmth, installed specifically above break out areas, to encourage their use.

Key features

The team created a concept for a spine of collaborative spaces that worked its way through the centre of the building. From floor to floor, in exactly the same place, break out zones designed for people to come together and work in a shared environment were the perfect solution for encompassing both communication and connection that Howden keenly sought.

Another exciting feature to the office was the large servery and on-site café providing an extremely attractive food offering for staff and visitors alike. Taking half of the third floor, the space was to be a selling point to the new offices and the ODCreate team did not disappoint.

Green tiling and neon signage were carefully integrated to create a welcoming, friendly atmosphere—shifting away from the traditional corporate feel and into a space designed around the social needs of its users.

Collaboration

The move to a new location in Milton Keynes presented ODCreate with the opportunity to design a space that truly resonated with Howden’s employees—one that fostered both excitement and a sense of belonging. Beyond just delivering a thoughtfully designed workplace, ODCreate actively involved the team in shaping their new environment.

By inviting employees to take ownership of certain design decisions, the process became more than just a relocation—it became a collective effort. This collaborative approach not only ensured that the new office met the functional and cultural needs of its users but also created a deeper connection between the people and the space itself. With their input woven into the design, employees felt a sense of pride and investment, making the new workplace a destination they were eager to be a part of.