Peak 2
- Our role
- Consultation
- Concept development
- Interior design
- Space planning
- Build management
Reach for the skies
We are used to working with companies outgrowing their spaces, but the growth of Manchester based A.I pioneers Peak has been quicker than most. 4 years after we completed their last office redesign they approached us to help them to create a much bigger space to house nearly double the amount of staff anticipated with their ambitious growth plans.
Keeping the culture
Designing a space to accommodate a larger workforce is only one side of the challenge, the other is to maintain a strong, authentic internal culture through that rapid growth. To add to the challenge the only way they could practically house the amount of people meant talking another floor at their home in Neo, splitting the company in half.
Following our extensive consultation talking to the people at Peak about their wants and needs we developed the idea of splitting the floors- not by team function- but by purpose. Their existing space would be tailored to become a new flexible social and collaborative zone where everyone can interact, work and play together called The Clubhouse and the new floor would become a more tranquil and intimate workspace for focussed working, The Cloud Forest.
Sky Garden to Club House
Bringing the outdoors in is an idea that has always been close to the hearts of the people at Peak so this time we ramped that idea up to the max. On both floors planted trellis work formed not only a sensual way of moving through the space, they provided a natural sound insulated barrier and access point to small meeting rooms and phone booths. Working with partners ‘I want Plants ‘ we devised an extensive planting strategy for a rich natural environment throughout with plants and trees forming soft barriers and enclosures for working teams.
In The Club House on the upper floor, the kitchen area was fully remodelled and extended to support greater social interaction, events and a DJ booth.
Still growing..
With these ideas being developed at the height of the pandemic, the leaders at Peak stayed true to their belief that investment in space, people and culture is essential to their success despite their speedy and successful transition to a home working model. At the tail end of the lockdown period the new space was opened and staff flocked back to the office because it offered them a place that they wanted to be in. There was still one slight problem ahead….Peak continue to grow. 18 months after completion it became clear that they were ‘going to need a bigger boat’
Onwards to Peak 3.0!
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