Circle Property plc

Helping an established property investor adapt and succeed in an uncertain market

Design & Build

Landlord fit out | Regional | Plug & Play | Industrial

Circle Property Plc is a specialist property investment company with almost 20 years’ experience in adding value to regional office properties.

In the wake of the pandemic Circle recognised a need to develop a new strategy that would allow them to attract new tenants in an uncertain, post-COVID property market.

Working closely with their property agent Hollis Hockley, the client chose to augment their offer by appointing TDA to design and deliver a Cat A+ fit out at two of their regional properties.

Cat A+ is still a relatively new concept in the commercial fit out industry. However, it is already proving to be a fast, affordable and straight forward way for landlords and property investors to adapt to tenants’ changing requirements.

Without being as comprehensive as a Cat B fit out, the spaces we delivered at both Concorde Park, Maidenhead and 36 Great Charles Street, Birmingham needed to offer everything a new tenant would need to move in and get to work straight away. Including open plan spaces, breakout areas, tea points, meeting rooms and storage facilities.

Cat A, plus thoughtful workplace design

For both spaces we chose an industrial look and feel that was achieved with the use of mesh screens and banded glazed partitioning. We also opened up the ceiling in the Concorde Park space in order to expose the services and further enhance the raw industrial scheme.

To ensure that the spaces did not feel too harsh, we added warmth, texture and visual interest with herringbone wood flooring and features such as the upright timber slats and bulkhead above the tea point at Concorde Park.

Unlike a standard Cat A fit out, the spaces come complete with areas where staff can meet, collaborate and relax. For both projects we included meeting booths with high back seating that are shielded by timber partitions to offer privacy without interrupting the flow of the open plan space. Agile working practices are further supported at Concorde Park by a touch down bench and retro leather seating sourced by our in-house furniture consultant.

For more formal gatherings, we delivered meeting rooms in which power and data supply have already been carefully considered to enable new tenants to use their AV equipment from day one.

Both locations are equipped with tea points backed with whimsical, Victorian-style tiles that create a homely contrast to the main office space. The Concorde Park tea point also benefits from a cosy snug with banquette seating and pendant lighting where staff can enjoy a coffee break or hold informal meetings.

A variety of rustic light fittings were used throughout the spaces to enhance the industrial look and feel while also demonstrating to clients that considerable thought and attention to detail had gone into designing an attractive workplace.

Staff wellbeing was also taken into consideration. The placement of open plan working areas will ensure that staff benefit from the maximum amount of natural light throughout the day. Meanwhile, the acoustic cushion-backed carpet we used at Concorde Park will help to balance noise levels within the space and reduce the risk of mental fatigue and loss of focus.

A competitive new offer

These ‘plug and play’ Cat A+ spaces are the perfect option for potential tenants who are tempted by the flexibility and cost efficiency of co-working spaces but would also like the privacy of their own workplace.

By enhancing their offer, Circle are now well-positioned to compete with the growing number of co-working spaces that are now available while also giving themselves the ability to: