Architects TP Bennett, have helped O2, the communications company,
develop a stylish new building connected by a glass link to its
Slough headquarters. With careful attention to detail and to ensure
a productive working environment, TP Bennett specified a range of
partitions from Optima Products to create offices and the main
boardroom.
The campus was designed to reflect the values of O2. Sustainability
is important to the company and the building reduces carbon
emissions with energy-saving technology. Design philosophy was also
crucial, with the company‘s staff suggesting what would make their
ideal working environment. With this taken into consideration, an
exciting and dynamic design was created, featuring flexible desk
layouts, great facilities and stylish aesthetics throughout. Key to
the good looks were the glazed partitioning systems provided by
Optima.
Optima’s high grade glass partitions were used on key elements of
the office fit out. Optima’s 117 single glazed partitions were
chosen for use in the offices, providing a sense of openness and
space for the staff inside. The entrances to office space were
finished with Kinetic Sliding Doors, whilst the boardroom was
created using the company’s Revolution 97 Double Glazing, ensuring
high aesthetics and privacy. For an additional touch of
individuality, a manifestation featuring a wildlife motif of birds
and trees ran across the glazed partitioning in both the offices and
the boardroom.
Main contractor Overbury (Southern) Plc, with whom O2 have worked
extensively in the past, worked alongside Optima’s Contracting
Partner WOW Contracting, who installed the partitioning within this
prestigious building. In addition to installing the partitions, WOW
Contracting also completed all joinery, dry wall work and the
construction of suspended ceilings – including a particularly
stylish curved raft ceiling.
Running straight across O2’s new offices, Optima 117 is a
perennially popular choice with prestige schemes, having been
extensively featured on top projects, including the famous Gherkin
in London. The system features low profile head and base connections
to ensure that the open feeling created by the glass panelling is
uninterrupted.
The panels were jointed glass to glass so that the patterning of the
manifestation was seamless. To connect the panels, aluminium joints
were used. This dry fixing system allows for the partition to be
easily relocated if required. The system also featured a deflected
head. This innovative extruded aluminium deflection head can
tolerate shifts of +/- 25mm, ensuring that no undue stress is placed
on the glass partitions should there be any building movement.
The company’s Kinetic Sliding Doors are specially designed for use
with the Optima 117 partitioning system. Also featuring the
distinctive wildlife manifestation of the panels and continuing the
motif seamlessly across the partitioning, they were adorned with
unusual yet highly stylish, 1,800mm tall guardsman handles.
Supplied with all framework as part of a package including vertical
track, running rails and seals, the Kinetic Sliding Doors are
designed for simple onsite installation. The doors are highly robust
and have been tested to withstand 100,000 opening and closing
cycles, to ensure they withstand even the most demanding working
environments.
For the boardroom, located on the first floor of the building,
beneath the office, privacy was of the essence. This led specifiers
to select Optima’s Revolution 97 double glazed system. Its superb
acoustic performance and client specified opaque manifestation
ensured that meetings could take place in total seclusion.
Martin Robinson, Managing Director of WOW Contracting, commented:
“We are really pleased with the job at O2’s headquarters. Optima’s
partitioning makes the offices and boardroom stand out, especially
with the black ironmongery and detailed manifestation. Best of all,
it was simple to install onsite, ensuring a top aesthetic with
efficient installation.”
The new offices of O2 unify design and corporate philosophy to a new
standard – the building even features an O2 retail store.
Internally, the fit out of the building delivers an outstanding
working environment. Key to this is a sense of openness and
aesthetics – made possible by Optima’s high performance partitioning
systems.
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