Our Portfolio
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CORUS STEEL:
We’ve completed two projects for Corus Steel, who over recent times have undergone huge cultural changes. The first was the refurbishment of their office accommodation, and the second was the design and fit out of both the main visitors Reception and executive Reception areas. Although the two projects were very different, we were given the same brief for each one: ‘’We're a unique company. Our corporate identity is important, and our Reception areas have to reflect the company we are: professional, but ultimately customer focused, innovative and value-driven, which manufactures, processes and distributes steel products and services to customers worldwide’’.
We wanted to make their new Receptions exciting and modern environments housed in traditional buildings that their staff would look forward to walking into – even on Monday mornings! Unsurprisingly, a few employees were concerned about the major changes, so we conducted surveys and held open meetings to find out exactly what they wanted from their new environments. We were able to take valuable steers from them and suggest innovative ideas they hadn't thought of.
We took advantage of an imposing glass frontage and contrasted its airy neutrality with modern features such as hard floorings. We combined this with brushed steel contemporary lighting and signage and created bright, open spaces. We used a warm but invigorating red with black keynotes to give drama to the areas and reflect the corporate image.
Many companies worry that their business will be disrupted when a major refurbishment takes place. Corus was no different. We had six weeks to design and fit out their Reception areas in Scunthorpe, and it was absolutely crucial that their business was not affected. We are happy to say it wasn’t!
EVERARDS:
Everards brewery in Leicester contacted us, as their reception area was in desperate need of some love and attention. When chief executive Richard Everard commissioned a revamp, he wanted the space to be light and inviting, contemporary but still in fitting with the traditional values of the company.
The new reception design created just this, furniture was selected in contemporary designs but with more traditional coloured wood, curves were introduced to the space to soften the entrance and appear more welcoming. Brick walls were replaced with light wallpapers and dark ceilings replaced with suspended ceilings and contemporary lighting.
“Comparing our old and new spaces is like comparing chalk and cheese. I love the new reception, the staff love it, and most importantly, the visitors love it!”
Melissa Stillman - Promotions Manager
HIGHPOINT CONFERENCE CENTRE:
Leicester Housing Association had a vision of a brand new concept for training, accommodation and entertainment for their clients. They wanted to put all these facilities under one roof where clients could interact, learn and socialize. The’roof’ they chose was that of St Catherine’s, a Roman Catholic Convent near to Leicester city centre. Stirling Interiors were selected to deliver this for them. Our unique environmental credentials were a major selling point, as was our Local Authority approval for design, not to mention our experience of designing offices and public buildings to comply with both health and safety, and disability discrimination laws. Our brief was to design all the interiors, bedrooms, training and boardrooms, restaurant, bar, circulation space and offices. It was important to make the design fit in with the original architecture and heritage of the building, but without the religious overtones. For us, this combination meant a design which would be at once stylish, imaginative and innovative. We did this, keeping the light, airy atmosphere of the original interior. To give the spaces a modern and creative feel we introduced pale walls and colourful furniture, with glass paneling and reflective surfaces to create a light, open environment. In the breakout areas, we conceived a deliberately random layout to promote movement and interaction between visitors. This very 'physical' arrangement gives no definitive route so people are encouraged to walk around, talk to each other and bounce ideas around. We designed these to feel very different from the rest of the workspace so that visitors gain a true sense of ‘time out’.
We had to make sure everything ran smoothly and on time as training room, restaurant and bedroom bookings were being taken at the start of the 8 month project! We set a project completion date one month before they planned to ‘go live’ and our team worked night and day (even at weekends) to make sure we met it.
