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VERCO CASE STUDIESBarn-storming office design 'Bright', 'colourful', 'dynamic' - not conventionally terms associated with barn conversions But new premises for fast-growing IT provider quantumBEAM prove an exciting and unusual exception. Optrys has specified Verco seating in different fabric colours to provide a vivid and changing colour contrast to the ancient oak beams of the workplace. quantumBEAM develops free space optical communications technology enabling ultra-high bandwidth to be delivered at variable cost points, particularly when compared to installing fibre in the ground. Spinning out last year from Cambridge-based parent and incubator Generics, the company began the hunt for premises that would attract and retain the calibre of personnel required to sustain its expansion rate. It settled on a 13th century barn on the city's outskirts and set about conversion that went a step beyond the conventional.
Says quantumBEAM operations director, Gerry Kennedy: "This was achievable as we sought an environment that reflected our dynamism and innovation and our architect and landlord wanted more than a period renovation." A nautical design concept was adopted with two open mezzanine floors built at opposing ends of the ground floor with a well area between. Two hand-built circular staircases were installed at each end and painted purple. "That may sound radical but in fact it provided an excellent point of reference for the rest of the building," says Gerry Kennedy, who sought the assistance of Cambridge interiors fit-out specialist, Optrys - a supplier to Generics - to space plan and supply furniture to the new 6,000 sq ft workspace. Says Optrys director Mark Periton: "Our aim was to deliver an interior that complemented the conversion theme, that was accessible, adaptable and that flowed, using contemporary products to make a dynamic, invigorating workplace for staff and visitors." Optrys used the mezzanine floors to house meeting and conference areas. These overlook the ground floor well which houses company's office and administration needs and - at its core - a visitor reception area. Seating, screens, desking and storage accommodated practical user needs, at the same time carrying bold splashes of blues, golds and reds throughout the office, its kaleidoscopic quality enhanced by users moving their chairs about the area during the day. The client seating brief sought a modern design aesthetic with full user adjustability. Optrys recommended the Point chair made by Verco, a leading UK furniture brand based upon long-standing expertise in seating design. Says Mark Periton: "quantumBEAM wanted a contemporary looking chair for people using VDUs for much of the day. The Point chair met the brief at all levels, especially as it has a mechanism that allows for full adjustability. "This was important to the client as the company, which is non-hierarchical, wanted one chair design for all users - and of course, we all come in different shapes and sizes." Verco's Point swivel chair design allows for the simple, simultaneous adjustment of back height and armrest height and seat depth by the use of a trigger located at the rear of the armrest. Synchronised movement of the back rake and seat angle is achievable and can be set in constant contact mode or locked into one of five positions. Swivel models come in high-back and medium-back options with complementary cantilever frame visitor chairs; all chairs are available with or without arms. A wide range of fabrics and colours including hide is available to choose from. Optrys and quantumBEAM chose three different fabric colours from Interface's Aquarius range for Point swivel chairs supplied to thirty desk users. The chairs' mobility means that the use of colour in the barn interior is not only random but ever changing. Point visitor chairs were also specified to the mezzanine conference areas. Gerry Kennedy is very pleased with the new Verco seating. "We spent some time looking at seats and were amazed by the range of cost of seating. Being a start-up we had a tight budget and were concerned we may compromise on quality. We saw the Verco seat at Optrys's offices and what attracted us were both the aesthetics and functions of the product. The chairs look good, are very comfortable and the adjustment mechanism is good. We have employees ranging in height from 5ft 2in to 6ft 4in and they are equally happy with this seating solution." Summing up his company's first independent headquarters, Gerry says: "We wanted surroundings that reinforced our status as exciting and ground-breaking as well as being fun to work in," he says. "I think this building adds significantly to our ability to get out of bed in the morning." |
