COLLABORATE DESIGN

6 Pancras Square had been developed by BNP Paribas Real Estate and lots of work had been undertaken to ensure that the look and feel of the common parts of the building were relevant to BNP Paribas' image and brand. MCM Architects were asked to develop the CAT B for the project - ensuring that the planning was as efficient as possible yet retaining the key elements of the design concept.  We began by retaking the brief to ensure that all the right spaces and users were located in the building. We undertook user group meetings with various departments and teams as well as specialists such as the catering team. We also needed to understand how the building had been designed as this was developed directly for BNP Paribas. This allowed the client to ratify the previous design but also to make changes, for example, in the administration functions to ensure that the business would run smoothly.

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To develop the design, we needed to understand which of the key areas of the concept remained relevant. We began to tie these back to the building. It was clear that a clear, crisp palette was required with contrasting materials and colours. However, to soften this, a contrasting palette was developed in terms of graphics and materials such as oak on the office floors. On the meeting floors sumptuous materials and textures and lighting softened the palette.

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The project wasn't constructed. As the team went to tender, BNP Paribas decided that another tenant would take the whole building over.

 

As Project Leader, I took the project through the brief taking stage to tender.  This involved leading both the client (who were also the project managers) and the architectural and consultant teams through each of the RIBA stages; from brief development, development of the design to producing the information in line with a Design and Build Contract.