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Based in more than 400 locations worldwide, Robert Half International is a global staffing firm that provides skilled professionals in fields such as accounting and finance, technology, legal, creative, marketing and administration.
The company have appeared on Fortune Magazine’s ‘World’s Most Admired Companies’ list every single year since 1998 (most recently published in March 2017) and appears on Ethisphere’s 2013’s list of the ‘World’s Most Ethical Companies’.
Due to their upcoming lease expiry at their existing Reading office, Robert Half had an active requirement to seek 3200 sq ft of alternative office space in the local area. After exploring their options, they approached our Business Development Team and invited us to meet at their preferred destination, on the 6th floor of For bury Works in Reading, to carry out a site survey. The Operations Manager at Robert Half wanted to create an environment that met the updated interpretation of the brand, whilst also ensuring that there wasn’t a complete departure from their other UK offices.
The brief required us to create a commercial area that would enhance the customer journey for their clients and unite staff together through a central social hub. Robert Half wanted us to incorporate hot desking for their agile workers, and wanted to ensure there was room for growth in the office space. It was important that the office design represented the brand, and was youthful, friendly, modern, and energetic to help to attract and retain talent.
Having taken a detailed brief, Oaktree Interiors produced a layout and design that made excellent use of the limited floor plate, adding elements that were sympathetic to the newly refurbished and much sought after building, such as a curved wall offset from the building core, exposed services, and a concrete effect floor.
We provided two distinct elements:
1. A client facing area with interview rooms and high-level meeting/presentation spaces with slab-to-slab partitioning to eliminate noise travelling.
2. An open-plan office for 26 staff, that was homely for local and international employees, using touchdown benches and soft meeting spaces to flex with the demands of the business.
Beautiful items of joinery such as a curved seating area and walnut edged ceiling rafts emphasise the quality and integrity that is inherent in the brand. The breakout area and open-plan space was more fun and informal and even included a darts board! The client told the Oaktree team that we ‘nailed it’.
