CLIENT
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
DESIGN
Perkins&Will
LOCATION
London, UK
COMPLETED
2022
SUSTAINABILITY
WELL Platinum, BREEAM Outstanding, Net Zero Carbon
The vision for the EBRD’s new HQ was to create a best-in-class workspace that reflects the Bank’s commitment to sustainability and inclusion, supporting a culture of choice, collaboration and innovation.
As the appointed furniture consultant, we brought this vision to life across every stage of the furniture journey. Through close engagement with the design and consultancy teams, and direct input from EBRD employees, we delivered furniture solutions that will support the Bank and its people long into the future.
“We really wanted to achieve a building and a fit-out that resonated with the DNA of the bank, and so the thread of sustainability, diversity and inclusion and well-being pervaded all elements of the design.”
Gail Meakin — Director, Project & Facilities Management Division, EBRD
A collaborative process with EBRD teams captured real user needs through workshops and interactive tools, guiding clear, inclusive furniture decisions for the Bank’s new headquarters.
The move from the City of London to Canary Wharf marked a major transition for the EBRD. After 30 years in its previous home and with working styles shifting post-pandemic, ensuring a smooth move was essential. Partnering with Perkins&Will, the Bank adopted a co-creation approach, involving employees in workshops to help shape the design.
Working closely with Perkins&Will and AECOM, we led furniture workshops with user groups to understand current and future needs, with inclusivity at the core of the process. Using virtual engagement tools and 3D visualisations, we captured live feedback and created an interactive experience that guided the furniture specification with clarity.
Flexibility guided the furniture selection, ensuring adaptable, multifunctional spaces that promote mobility across the building.
Spanning 13 floors, 5 Bank Street reflects the EBRD’s commitment to mobility, collaboration and inclusivity. The activity-based design offers a choice of settings, from open-plan workspaces and meeting rooms to a staff restaurant, café, international work hub and double-height auditorium with an international-format boardroom.
Flexibility guided the furniture selection, ensuring adaptable, multifunctional spaces that promote mobility within the spaces. Working closely with the design team, we developed diverse furniture solutions to support all employees and visitors.
Biophilic design features are woven throughout the building, with natural materials, nature-inspired patterns, expansive views and more than 3,000 trees and plants. We carried these principles into the furniture, designing storage with integrated planting and selecting organic forms and finishes that reflect the nature-led concept. Sit-stand desks are used across the working floors to further support wellbeing.
Sustainability is central to the EBRD’s mission, and relocating to one of the UK’s most advanced sustainable office buildings marks a major step in the Bank’s journey.
By engaging early with Hoare Lee and the design team, we integrated the Bank’s ambitious sustainability goals into every stage of the furniture specification, ensuring alignment with WELL Platinum, BREEAM Outstanding and Carbon Net Zero targets. A dedicated sustainability matrix enabled continuous assessment of all furniture against project criteria, supported by the full substantiation required for certification.
A transparent, governance-led procurement process and close on-site coordination enabled the successful delivery and installation of more than 20,000 furniture pieces within a tightly managed 26-week programme.
We developed a bespoke procurement strategy for the HQ project that aligned with the Bank’s governance requirements. This included taking the furniture package to the open market through a transparent, competitive online tender to ensure best value. A technical evaluation panel, comprising our team, the wider consultant group and the EBRD, assessed submissions using clear scoring criteria to create a fair and robust process for all manufacturers.
Despite the scale of the project and the complexities of working in Canary Wharf, more than 20,000 furniture pieces were delivered and installed within the 26-week programme, expertly managed by our on-site team. Working closely with the contractor, we aligned the furniture programme with the main construction schedule to ensure timely, seamless project delivery.
