Global architectural firm HOK, moved from Oxford Street to The Qube, 90 Whitfield Street off Tottenham Court Road and took the opportunity to reduce storage requirements and save space.
The 150 personnel are now all on one floor where the interior was designed by Sam Bradley of HOK with only a 16 week programme to design and build the project. HOK worked with filing consultants, Fileworks, who carried out an analysis and audit on HOK’s storage practice and managed to reduce their storage requirement by 40%.
KI provided an integrated storage solution which included their 700 Series lateral storage, bespoke plan chests for the architects’ large drawings, special coat cupboards and bookcase units. KI Smartspace mechanically assist high density mobile storage units were used in the library areas and KI Eclipse powered high density mobile storage units with high security touchpad controls were used in the Finance department.
Sam Bradley, Associate HOK, said:
“Continuity of the storage systems was essential in order to create a unified aesthetic. We selected KI because their range of product could meet our variety of storage requirements, including lateral filing, planchests, coat cupboards, high density storage and bespoke units all sprayed in the same RAL colour enabling a clean uniform look.”
The overall design consists of a very crisp and clean monochrome colour scheme with refreshing splashes of colour used throughout to highlight shared resource and meeting space. A punch of lime green emphasizes the central atrium breakout space which acts as a hub servicing the floor plate in every direction.
Sam Bradley, continues:
“One challenge we face as an organisation is the storage of large scale drawings. We relied on KI’s ability to manufacture specials producing combined lateral filling and planchest islands. The addition of a single Ciranol work surface allows these islands to function as effective layout, informal meeting and model display, using every surface available to improve the efficiency of the floor plate.”
KI adapted standard planchest units to meet the height of their 700 Series lateral filling allowing the cabinets to sit back to back making them an ideal height for layout spaces and informal discussion. The location of these units defines the circulation routes encouraging impromptu meetings and conversations in otherwise dead spaces which can’t be permanently occupied.
Sam Bradley, continues:
“The move challenged the thought process behind our existing storage and file structure, enabling us to rethink and re-plan each individual department’s storage requirements to suit. KI’s High Density systems condensed our technical library and stationary store by at least 50%, ensuring efficiency of the floor plate. The electrically powered KI Eclipse system provides the perfect solution for the Finance team with its key code activated access and ‘lock down’ function for security out of hours.
KI even re-geared our existing High Density Storage to avoid wastage, cladding them with new fronts to enable conformity throughout.”
As stated by project manager Mike O’Con, Vice President at HOK:
“We were delighted with the service offered by KI. They were on time and on budget with all products installed and delivered with no damage at all. In addition sustainability was important so we were pleased that the KI products are GREENGUARD certified for LEED accreditation.”
