Relocating the office for enhanced innovation, sustainability and inclusivity

The background

Our client, one of the world’s foremost business strategy consulting firms, operates with a team of over 30,000 professionals across more than 50 offices worldwide, supporting the largest 500 corporations across North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Australia. Following an unexpected building change to its previous headquarters, it needed to relocate and in doing so, create an entirely new space for 600 members of staff.

The client wanted to capitalise on the opportunity presented by the relocation by deploying cutting-edge AI technology to secure advantages in enhanced efficiency and accuracy. The primary focus of the project was to make a significant impact on client satisfaction, sustainability and employee engagement. Additionally, it aimed to create a state-of-the-art office that unites two distinct teams from two separate locations into a cohesive space and culture, all whilst adhering to strict time and budgetary constraints. If successful, our client wanted to use this design to set a new global standard and act as the blueprint for its first ever enterprise service hub. Kinly was appointed as the trusted technology advisor to consult, design, deliver and support the AV and collaboration solutions across three floors while delivering seamless connectivity and high functionality.

The solution

We listened to the needs, constraints and ambitions of our client’s team and delivered a comprehensive and innovative office space, designed to support a variety of work scenarios. This included focus work, collaboration, remote teamwork, and events.

The project comprises one multipurpose room, 28 meeting rooms seating up to 12 people, ten collaboration booths, 21 focus booths and 18 office rooms. In addition, the space included a work lounge complete with a Sharp NEC LED wall, a test kitchen, eight digital signage displays, café, social terrace, receptions, tea rooms and a prayer or wellness room.

As the client needed this project to act as a pilot, early collaboration was vital. This allowed for the seamless integration of cutting-edge technologies that support flexible work and enhance communication. The inclusion of advanced AI solutions has provided an engaging solution that enhances inclusivity by supporting the needs of the client’s neurodiverse community.

Both the global consulting firm and Kinly share a joint commitment to sustainability. To fulfil its environmental responsibilities, we deployed our sustainability by design approach, putting the wellbeing of the planet front and centre of our decision-making. A substantial effort was made to integrate recycled materials, repurposed furniture and existing technology from the client’s original office, reducing waste and minimising the need for new resources. Legacy equipment and materials no longer needed were donated to charities and schools, promoting community support and reducing waste to landfill. We also designed a Test Kitchen where the client can try and validate new innovations in sustainability.

All this culminates in a design that is adaptable, scalable and futureproof, ensuring it can evolve with changing needs and new technologies. Every project moving forwards can now benefit from the same level of quality, innovation and sustainability. Notably, the high profile MPR space is the powerhouse of the new location. This divisible room offers a unique way to deliver presentations using voice lift technology and the power of AI. Automated video tracking and camera selection gives this space a polished and more natural style, making presentations easier and more accessible. The flexible workspace design now lends itself naturally to a spectrum of working styles. This promotes higher job satisfaction and increased productivity with employees working in spaces specifically designed for their needs.

The result

This project has successfully realised our client’s ambitions of setting a new technology standard for all future global projects. The standard is based on a simple but powerful user experience provided by Poly UC devices, Crestron switching and room booking, a combination of Lightware USB-C and Barco Clickshare for BYOD, and a native Zoom platform.

The project was driven by a unified team approach that resulted in completion with zero snags, an accomplishment virtually unheard of in the AV industry. This was achieved through meticulous planning, rigorous testing and proactive risk management.

The project was led by a diverse team, including individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, women, and various ethnic backgrounds. Diversity brought with it a wealth of perspectives and ideas, driving innovation and creativity. The commitment to diversity extended from senior leaders through team to the project team, ensuring an inclusive approach to problem-solving and decision-making.

Everything installed for this project has worked from day one and the client has been thrilled. Feedback from users has been extremely positive and the client has noted it is winning more business due to advantages gained in connectivity and aesthetics.