The fit out of international law firm Osborne Clarke’s state-of-the-art Bristol office has won a prestigious national workplace award while a second city centre development has been highly commended.
The Osborne Clarke office in the flagship Halo office building at Finzels Reach – one of the UK’s most sustainable office schemes – headed the Fit Out Workplace category at the British Council for Offices’ (BCO) annual awards, which celebrate excellence across the UK office sector.
The award judges described Osborne Clarke’s office in the landmark Halo development, one of the UK’s most sustainable office schemes, as “a simply fantastic state-of-the-art workplace in an iconic Bristol building”.
They added that the fit out by Bath-based design firm Interaction, pictured right, puts Osborne Clarke’s people and culture at the core of the new workplace, with sustainability, wellbeing, inclusion and staff effectiveness its founding principles.
The recently opened EQ office scheme, pictured below, on Victoria Street was highly commended in the Commercial Workplace category.
At 200,000 sq ft, it is also one of Bristol’s largest commercial developments and the first in the city to commit to net zero carbon in operation in accordance with the UK Green Building Council’s framework.
Occupiers include international sustainable development and engineering consultancy Arup, banking giant HSBC, accountancy and wealth management group Evelyn Partners, payments platform firm Dojo, investment firm Rathbones, Top 50 law firm Birketts and specialist surveying and construction consultancy Rund. 
Osborne Clarke’s office, which spans 74,000 sq ft spread over Halo’s top five floors, includes indoor gardens that provide social and quiet areas for its 780 Bristol employees.
It also features a mix of flexible workspaces, a yoga and spin studio, and restaurant with a rooftop terrace with panoramic views, pictured below.
The award organisers said: “With vibrant breakout areas, flexible workspaces and comfortable places to eat as well as exercise and relax, it can be assumed that Halo will be a very much desired place to work for years to come.”
In keeping with strict sustainability criteria, the Halo fit-out was designed with WELL Building and Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) certifications in mind.
Sustainable materials were used throughout the workspace, including reclaimed clothing materials and recycled plastics.
The judges said the scheme shifted away from the traditional legal workplace model and had “a cradle-to-cradle approach to material selection, alongside using photovoltaic panels and greywater recycling, the building achieves the highest sustainability standards”.
They also praised the sourcing of local art which not only helped support nearby businesses but created a vibrant and lively space for the occupiers.
The project previously topped the Fit Out of the Year category of the BCO’s South of England and South Wales Awards.
Interaction managing director Dieter Wood said winning the national award was a huge honour and testament to the hard work, creativity and dedication of the project team.
“The Osborne Clarke project reflects what we stand for at Interaction – creating spaces that are beautiful, sustainable and that genuinely inspire the people who use them every day,” he added.
“It’s a very proud moment for Interaction.”
The BCO, which was established in 1990, is the UK’s leading forum for the discussion and debate of issues affecting the office sector.
Held at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House hotel, London, its annual awards celebrated designs that demonstrate and drive best practice in office design, fit-out, operation, community engagement and sustainability.
