Steelcase builds new London 'Worklife'

Steelcase UK will shortly be opening a new centre in London dedicated to the future of offices environments.

The ‘Worklife’ centre will open in November of this year. An extensive interior design and development programme commenced this month with award-winning London-based design firm, PearsonLloyd, being appointed to collaborate on the project. 

One of the few buildings to survive the wartime bombings in the area, 77-79 Farringdon Road will provide a UK headquarters for Steelcase. The centre will allow those involved in the development of offices to experience the latest in office innovations and technologies, together with new Steelcase products and developments in the use of the workspace based on Steelcase’s research into changing work styles and working practices. 

Mark Spragg, managing director of Steelcase UK, says: “Workers in the UK spend longer in the office than anywhere else in Europe. In a highly competitive world where staff attraction and retention is becoming increasingly important, office environments need to be much more than just a place to work.

“Worklife balance is vital to today’s working world and organisations need to ensure that they provide flexible and comfortable working environments. Our Worklife centre will be a hub for activity in this field ensuring that the UK stays at the forefront of changing work styles and the needs of workers.”  

PearsonLloyd will be working with the Steelcase team to create an office fit for office specialists. They have an impressive international portfolio and have amassed numerous design awards over the last 5 years including Red Dot, FX, IF, D&AD, IDEA and Wallpaper awards for their Upper Class seat for Virgin Atlantic. 

Tom Lloyd, Director at PearsonLloyd said: “We are delighted to be collaborating in Steelcase’s plans for a new London WorkLife Centre. The quality of Steelcase’s recent product and their ambitions for the future make it a really exciting time to be involved with the company”.