Office Refurbishments

Freshford & WCA House

Freshford House is a 1980s development adjoining WCA House, a historic conversion. Located in the heart of Bristol, just 5 minutes from Bristol Temple Meads, the buildings offer 30,000 square feet of office space over three floors.

DKA were appointed to help deliver a CAT A fit-out, which included: a complete internal strip out; upgrading of the mechanical and electrical systems throughout; new ceilings; new floor finishes; and fully-refurbished WCs and common areas.

The main entrance was also overhauled, with a dropped ceiling and feature lighting over a new elliptical reception area, which includes a custom desk and slatted screen wall. Externally, the existing glazed lobby was removed to create a more welcoming approach and improve flow into the space. The exterior was also freshened up and new signage provided.

To the rear, a new car park and extensive secure cycle parking facilities were provided, along with a suite of cyclist’s showers, lockers and a drying area – essential in the UK’s first ‘Cycling City’!

Freshford House was fully let within 12 months of the refurbishment and now houses five tenants, including two multi-nationals.

Martin Booth, Partner at Knight Frank said: ‘The fact that a multinational company of the calibre of Fujitsu has been drawn to Freshford House is testament to the quality of the building and its location.’

It was sold by AEW UK in a £10m deal providing them with an excellent return on their investment in just three years.

730 Aztec West

730 Aztec West is located in a leafy business park to the north of Bristol, minutes from the M5. DKA were appointed to transform this tired 1990s development and refurbish its 40,000 square feet of office space.

The accommodation is spread over three floors, in wings arranged either side of a central core. The CAT A fit-out included: the complete internal strip out and replacement of the mechanical and electrical systems, new ceilings, new carpets, refurbishment of WCs and common areas in addition to the provision of a secure cycle shelter, cyclist’s shower facilities, lockers and drying area. Accessibility was also improved throughout the building and the existing lifts were refurbished.

One of the most dramatic changes externally was the refurbishment of the existing bright blue windows, which dated the building. These were resprayed in a subtle shade of grey, creating a far more contemporary look. The approach was also made more welcoming, with an impressive new landscaped entrance, illuminated feature signage, new entrance canopy and automatic doors leading to a spacious reception area.

The branding of the site was drawn from the wavy sculptured wall of the reception area and carries through into the tiles in the WCs, the site signage and marketing literature.