The Leading News & Information Service For The Facilities, Workplace & Built Environment Community

Inside Europe Arab Bank’s First Recycled Office Fit-Out  

Inside Europe Arab Bank’s First Recycled Office Fit-Out  
10 January 2023
 

Take a look inside one of the UK's first recycled office fit-out projects, at London’s Europe Arab Bank in Park Lane.

Workplace design, strategy architects and interior designers, WILL+Partners, completed the project, which has resulted in significant reductions in the bank’s waste and energy use. 

Europe Arab Bank is part of the Arab Bank Group. Established 90 years ago, the group has a global network of more than 600 branches across five continents.

 

Watch the Video

 


 

WILL+Partners retained, reused, and repurposed design elements and has created a consistent design scheme throughout the building. No furniture was obtained from second-life dealers but instead 85 per cent of Europe Arab Bank’s furniture was reused. The remaining usable and unwanted furniture was donated to charities and is now being used in offices across the UK. Almost all blinds were reused in their existing locations, and 67 per cent of meeting room carpets were reused. 

 

Image

Picture: a photograph showing a small meeting room where two people are seated. Image Credit: WILL+Partners

 

WILL+Partners also addressed all lighting, ventilation, and water services. LED lighting occupancy sensors were deployed resulting in longer lamp life expectations and a predicted 20 per cent reduction in energy use. Water leak detection methods were installed to reduce wastage, and ventilation was improved to address comfort and reduce energy use. The landlord of the building also intends to replace the existing heating and cooling systems with a new approved refrigerant-based system in 2023. This will eliminate fossil fuel use from the building and reduce carbon impact. 

This ensured that WILL+Partners reduced the embodied and transport carbon impact of using new products within the design scheme enabling the project to be environmentally and economically efficient. 

William Poole-Wilson, WILL+Partners Managing Director, said: “This is a significant project. The circular and recycled nature of it makes it one of the UK’s first, and the sustainability impact it will have on the building and its occupants will be evident for years to come. But not only does this tick all the boxes when it comes to energy management and sustainability, but the design looks and feels fantastic too. The pandemic changed the physical workspace’s needs, focus, and direction. With a high reuse imperative, we saw the project with Europe Arab Bank to delve deep into and understand the dynamics of reuse in office fitouts.”  

Picture: a photograph of a meeting room with a large table where four people are seated looking towards a standing person. Image Credit: WILL+Partners

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 10 January 2023

Share



Related Articles

In Pictures – Skyscanner’s Soho Office Fit-Out

Travel search engine Skyscanner’s London office has been refurbished by BW: Workplace Experts. The company occupies two floors of the Ilona Rose building in Soho...

 Read Full Article
2023 Office Design Trends – Pantone's Colour of the Year

Pantone’s Colour of The Year has been revealed as the crimson red tone "Viva Magenta" and is predicted to dominate interiors, graphic design and packaging...

 Read Full Article
Changing Office Design to Create a Safe Space

According to union safety representatives, some businesses may be asking employees to return to unsafe workplaces as restrictions start to lift across the UK, but...

 Read Full Article
Manchester Studio Completes Iconic Office Refurbishment Projects

Community, creativity and health are three key pillars of four iconic Manchester refurbishment projects, completed by Independent design practice, Sheila Bird...

 Read Full Article
Colouring the Office – Making Workers Comfortable in 2020

Dulux Trade Commercial Colour Consultant, Lisa J Pilley, explores how redecorating the office can help boost the wellbeing of staff as they return to the...

 Read Full Article
Tranquil Dawn To See In The New Decade

The colour of the year all good interior designers will be clamouring for in 2020 is...now wait for it...Tranquil Dawn, as revealed in the Colour Futures 2020...

 Read Full Article
This is IT - Hot House Connected To IT Products

The impact on the environment and global warming has been highlighted in a new video campaign - This is IT. The production shows how a circular approach to IT products...

 Read Full Article
89% Of People Call For More Sustainable Packaging

New research says 89% of people believe packaging should change. The data shows the public want packaging to include recycled material, be more easily recyclable or be...

 Read Full Article
Belgium’s First Circular McDonald’s Restaurant

The design of a McDonald's site in Bourse, Brussels has been praised for its circular approach.   Watch the Video   >   As part...

 Read Full Article
1 Million Tonnes of Plastic Packaging Waste Could be Avoided by 2029

Nearly 1 million tonnes of plastic packaging waste could be avoided by standardising materials within the next five years, according to a new report.   Watch...

 Read Full Article