Phaidon International

Key features

The design intent was to celebrate the building’s raw architectural character, retaining monolithic concrete columns and exposed services as an honest, industrial backbone. This is balanced by a warm, natural material palette, including terrazzo, timber-effect flooring and tonal finishes, introducing depth and tactility.

Phaidon’s bold pink and purple brand accents are applied with focus, creating moments of energy without overwhelming the space. Geometry-led planning responds to the building’s curved façade, shaping circulation and enhancing visibility across the floorplate.

Movement and connection are central to the experience. From a sculptural concrete letter installation at reception to an immersive brand tunnel linking both sides of the workplace, the design creates a space that feels cohesive, confident and unmistakably Phaidon.

Adaptability is embedded throughout the design, ensuring the workplace can evolve alongside Phaidon’s growth.

The floorplate has been strategically planned for “Day 2” expansion, allowing increased headcount without compromising spatial quality. Flexible neighbourhoods and a variety of agile settings — including breakout areas, huddle hubs and laptop benches — support hybrid and evolving work patterns.

A large, open townhall adjacent to the main tea point acts as a multifunctional hub. With modular furniture, it can quickly transform from an event space to an informal workspace.

Brand-led innovation is integrated into the architecture. A large reception installation doubles as seating, while the brand tunnel incorporates writable surfaces, turning circulation into an opportunity for collaboration and idea-sharing.

Challenges

Bringing 500 employees together onto a single floorplate presented a complex challenge: balancing density with performance, while maintaining a workplace that supports wellbeing and avoids a traditional call-centre feel.

The scale of the space, combined with the building’s curved geometry, required a carefully considered layout to ensure strong sightlines, intuitive navigation and a sense of connection across teams. At the same time, the environment needed to support high-energy recruitment activity without becoming overwhelming or acoustically disruptive.

Creating clear, effective zoning was critical. The workplace had to seamlessly integrate focused work areas, collaboration spaces and social settings, ensuring each supported its function without compromising the overall flow.

Maintaining team identity within a large, open environment, while also providing spaces for confidential conversations, added another layer of complexity. In parallel, the design needed to accommodate large-scale engagement, training and onboarding through a central, flexible townhall space—without impacting day-to-day operations.

The result demanded a careful balance of spatial planning, acoustic control and workplace strategy to deliver a high-performing, cohesive environment.

A key technical challenge within the project was the installation of extensive acoustic treatments across the open-plan environment, including over 6,000 bespoke hanger fixings to support suspended acoustic panels.

These panels were deployed throughout the workspace to manage noise levels within a high-density, high-energy recruitment environment. Due to the volume and positioning of sprinkler baffles and acoustic panels, close collaboration between acoustic and sprinkler specialists was required to ensure compliance.

To achieve this, the ceiling design was fully coordinated and mapped out on site. Grid layouts were set out on the floor and mirrored precisely to align acoustic panels, lighting and sprinkler positions. This level of accuracy was critical to avoid clashes and ensure both acoustic performance and fire safety requirements were met.

Delivered through close collaboration between specialist contractors, the solution demonstrates a highly coordinated approach to integrating technical systems within a complex ceiling environmen, ensuring performance, compliance and design intent were all achieved without compromise.

Sustainability

Sustainability was embedded from the outset, with ESG principles guiding decisions across design, procurement and construction.

A zero-to-landfill commitment was achieved:

• 100% of construction waste diverted from landfill
• 98% recycled, with the remaining 2% used for energy recovery

Waste intensity was carefully managed, limited to no more than 2.5 tonnes per 100m² through accurate forecasting, efficient material use and proactive site management.

Environmental performance was continuously monitored, including energy consumption and delivery mileage. This data-driven approach enabled more efficient logistics, reduced transport emissions and strengthened accountability across the supply chain.

Material selection prioritised durability and longevity, while the retention of base-build elements reduced embodied carbon and preserved the building’s architectural integrity.

Social sustainability was equally prioritised, with inclusive welfare facilities and PPE supporting a diverse workforce and fostering a respectful, people-first site culture.

The result

The completed workplace delivers a high-performing, future-ready environment that balances energy with control and collaboration with focus.

By unifying teams into a single, cohesive setting, the design strengthens company culture and collective momentum. It reflects Phaidon’s ambition and identity while supporting the operational demands of a fast-paced, global recruitment business.