A Look Inside Commerz Real’s New London Office

Michal
Finance
3 years ago

Investment company Commerz Real recently hired workplace design firm Oktra to design their new office in London, England.

“With the fourth floor in Paternoster House becoming vacant and the demands of London office space evolving, global real estate asset and investment managers, Commerz Real, saw an opportunity to give their building a complete new look and differentiate the office spaces from competition in the area. The brief was comprised of three components: a redesign of the reception area, a Cat A fit out of an office floor, and an upgrade to shared amenities in the basement and lower ground floor.

In order to stay competitive in the current landlord market, Commerz Real recognised the need for better common facilities and features to support employee wellbeing. We revised the space available in the basement and lower ground floor to strategically incorporate bike storage, showers, lockers and changing facilities. This process involved reengineering an elevator, cutting new openings and installing a connecting staircase to create an intuitive circulation route for runners and cyclists coming up from the bike storage, to the washrooms, and finally up to reception and the office floors.

Our designers created a brand identity for the building with a unique colour palette, using chalky mint as an identifiable design detail echoing through the reception, lift foyers, amenities and Cat A office floor. We reengineered the fourth floor to gain ceiling height by relocating all the services from ceilings to the corridor walkways, maximising natural light and the views of St Paul’s, with the exposed steelwork painted mint.

The communal areas feature an eclectic mixture of materials, lighting and metal finishes, with a natural feel that is further enhanced by the soft and pale aesthetic. By giving the reception foyer a complete facelift, we have created a tasteful and welcoming space that engages at street level and delivers an impressive workplace experience for businesses in the heart of the financial district.

Through our understanding of emerging real estate trends and tenant expectations, we have delivered a considered refurbishment at Paternoster House and are helping Commerz Real to not only attract new tenants, but encourage their existing tenants to stay in the upgraded premises.”