Costain, HQ

Costain, a leader in consultancy, digital technology, and programme delivery services, decided to relocate its head office from Maidenhead to Central London. The move is part of a broader strategy to align more closely with key clients and stakeholders while capitalising on the vibrant London market. The new office comes with a significant reduction in space and a shift to a more agile way of working, requiring a design that is both highly functional and reflective of Costain's innovative and forward-thinking ethos.

The primary objective of this project was to transform Costain's head office into an inclusive, progressive space that promotes collaboration, connection, and productivity. With a strong commitment to diversity and inclusivity, Costain recognised the diverse needs of their workforce, including a significant portion with neurodiverse and accessibility requirements. Additionally, the pandemic-driven shift to remote work posed challenges in encouraging employees to return to the office. Our design sought to address these challenges by creating a welcoming and adaptable environment that employees would be eager to come back to. As Costain's main client-facing location, the design also needed to embody and reflect the company’s corporate identity and values.

The design intent for this project focuses on creating a welcoming client arrival lounge that maximises views of the city skyline through thoughtfully arranged seating and artwork. The space prioritises accessibility, ensuring that all the ranges of space, from tea point designs, and private pods are fully inclusive and easy to navigate. To cater to neurodiverse individuals, the environment incorporates soft finishes, natural textures, acoustic materials and adjustable lighting that creates a calming and supportive atmosphere. Employee engagement is enhanced through the development of a café and collaboration area designed to promote a sociable and energised start to the workday. Biophilic design principles are integrated throughout the space, with abundant planting to promote well-being. Additionally, the inclusion of agile workspaces provides flexible settings for group tasks away from traditional desks, encouraging creativity and collaboration.

The interior design project for the client-facing welcome lounge and office spaces focused on creating a sophisticated, calming, and functional environment that reflected the company’s brand values. The welcome lounge was designed with a natural, tactile materials palette, combining stone, wood, and soft textiles to create a warm and inviting space. Meeting rooms featured bespoke joinery, acoustic treatments, and advanced technology to support seamless in-person and virtual meetings. Welfare rooms, including a quiet room, first aid room, and multi-faith room, were designed with varied textures and dimmable lighting to foster tranquillity. The open office incorporated a splash of vibrant colours, biophilic elements, and quiet zones with enhanced acoustic treatments to support employee well-being and productivity. The design exceeded client expectations, enhancing both the aesthetic appeal and functionality of the workspace, leading to increased employee satisfaction and productivity.

Sustainability and the conscious specification of materials form the foundations of this scheme. From recycled materials to the reuse and refurbishment of existing furniture this project will achieve SKA gold rating upon completion, the highest SKA rating. AWW and Costain's alignment from the inception of this scheme prioritising product sourcing, material life cycle and durability as well as the aspiration for a timeless aesthetic were all key drivers.

We worked closely with Costain's internal DaWN inclusion group to build and fine tune the brief for the space. We arranged for specific team members to oversee the construction phase to ensure that all elements met a variety of needs effectively. The welcoming and adaptable environment might also lead to higher in-office attendance, reversing the remote work trend. Clients have praised the office for reflecting Costain's values of inclusivity and innovation, while the variety of workspaces has enhanced team collaboration by allowing employees to choose the best-suited environments for their tasks.

Costain HQ demonstrates the impact of thoughtful interior design on employee wellbeing. By addressing the diverse needs of employees through dedicated quiet spaces, retreat rooms, and the incorporation of natural elements, the design successfully created a workplace that supports both physical and mental health. The project highlights the importance of considering wellbeing in office design, showing how small design choices can make a significant difference in creating a supportive and nurturing work environment.

We have allowed for flexibility of cellular spaces to change from private offices to meeting rooms with lighting controls and booking systems, future provision for additional TVs in certain locations have also been accommodated for.