The Barclays Office Landscape

We are pleased to present this 'Expanded Edition' of our revised concepts for the Barclays Furniture Mockup initiative. In anticipation of the upcoming workshop, we've added several new concept images that we feel can make our time together even more productive.

We've taken a holistic approach to the solutions that illustrates our commitment to helping you create a forward thinking banking environment that is purposeful, flexible, and supportive.

Our concept strives to provide harmony throughout each of the neighborhoods. The workstations, huddle rooms, private offices, and various solo and group settings all speak the same vocabulary in terms of finishes, thoughtful details, and a hyper-consistent planning module.

All of the walls in our offering are demountable product, and we have taken great care to ensure a minimal number of wall frame widths in order to keep inventory manageable while still providing substantial flexibility for reconfiguration.

This Workplace Story contains the primary furniture selections found in our revised submission. We've also introduced some variations and new pieces that are shown in the spirit of the conceptual nature of the story. Priced Versions of the settings are now to be found throughout each section.
Lastly, in the spirit of providing a holistic experience we are showing various interior architectural elements that may not reflect the final design.

360 tour of the Office Landscape

Workplace Workstation

Open Group + Solo Settings

Private Office

Huddle Room

Looking to the Future

Expanded Edition

Trading Neighborhood

The combination of the Huddle Rooms and higher Enc Cap units creates an interesting topography in this corridor view. Balanced nicely with the thin metal frames of the glass office fronts.

Typical Trading Neighborhood

This birdseye view reflects the latest planned layout for the Traders.

This view of the neighborhood highlights the relationship between each of the solo and group settings, the rigor of the planning module, and the use of the Huddle Room, End Caps, and bookcase units to help define the space and create buffer elements.

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Workplace Workstation

Overview

We’ve taken a fresh look at the workstations; one that builds upon the previous submissions while exploring new ideas that further promote an amazing user experience and robust flexibility.

Traders

The combination of a modular spine and freestanding height adjustable tables sets the stage for a dynamic approach to the trading environment; one that allows for unprecedented flexibility that allows your teams to quickly adapt to new processes and workflows. The scalability of the solution extends across the entire building and all divisions within the organization.

We’ve made sure to match your specifications for the monitor array (using Option 1 from the revised mockup document) and, as you’ll experience during the workshop, the table is highly stable.

Traders

We’ve removed all the accessories in order to provide a look at the basic components.

Front Office

The inherent flexibility in our solution - driven by a rigorous modular planning approach and streamlined Kit of Parts - allows for a seamless and rapid transition from the Interim Trading clusters to any number of Front Office configurations. Here we have two team members at the left who spent most of their time in heads-down mode, while the ‘pair and share’ arrangement on the right supports two algorithmic developers who need to frequently screen share. Two new table styles have been introduced to support their requirements.

Front Office: Priced Version

This image represents the priced version; with a change in the Director table, sofa, and guest seating. Task chairs at this cluster also represent the priced version.

Front Office

We’ve removed all the accessories in order to provide a clear look at the basic components.

Front Office: Reconfiguration

The chart of work for this team has changed; requiring a new configuration that can be quickly accomplished with our flexible solution.

Director: Front Office

The refined elegance of the sofa, in combination with the disc base table and wood panel accents, provides each director with a multifunctional workstation for both focus and group engagements.

Director: Front Office (Priced Version)

This image represents the priced version; with a change in the Director table, sofa, and guest seating. Task chairs at this cluster also represent the priced version.

Director: Front Office

Detailed view of the sofa and table. In this revised package we’ve purposefully selected pieces that reduce the leg clutter.

Director: Front Office (Priced Version)

This image represents the priced version; with a change in the Director table and sofa

Traders

Compact and efficient, our trading desk solution offers a focused experience for each user. Each table is freestanding and height adjustable.

Workstation Kit of Parts

Maximizing flexibility with a streamlined Kit of Parts has been a primary driver for all of our proposed solutions.

Item or Request
“Provide solution examples for transitioning from Interim Trader state to front office desk with minimal modifications needed.
Response
Please see the previous ‘Front Office’ workstation solution slide, and this Kit of Parts slide
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Item or Request
“Consider removable housing for trading required infrastructure..”

Response
The only significant changes in the transition process of a Trading workstation to the Front Office workstation would be the swapping of the wood facia tile at a Director Workstation (if included in the interim plan), and the covering of monitor stanchion holes with grommet covers. The screens along the top of the spine can either remain or be easily changed/removed.

Details + Considerations

There are a number of details and considerations that we developed around the workstation design.

To prepare for the upcoming workshop, we’ve expanded this section with additional images that speak to the broader scope of how we approach the solutions.

Power Accomodation @ Spine

Per your latest requirements we have included 8 duplex receptacles (four circuits) at the facia tile of the spine element. While this configuration is feasible, it warrants more conversation during the Workshop.

Power Accommodation @ Spine

Here’s a view without the color coding.

Director Screens @ Spine

This screening element for the Directors consists of an add-on open frame with sliding screens.

Director Screens @ Spine

View without a screening element.

Director Screens @ Desk

This desk-attached screen for the Director workstation offers a ‘nested’ appearance.

Director Screens @ Desk

In this version, a screen is attached to the top of the wood laminate gallery panel.

End Caps

This 64 x 24 end cap closely resembles the design from the revised mockup package.

End Caps

Here we explore adding a shelving unit that acts as a screening element and introduces a nice change in topography as you travel down the main corridor.

New Consideration

Wood shroud boxes can be incorporated around the height adjustable table legs that offer a more millwork aesthetic.

New Detail

We recommend a thin profile hanging storage unit in order to maximize available leg room.

New Detail

A detailed view of the surface mounted power / data units - tucked thoughtfully between the monitor stanchions.

New Detail

A top-down view of a back-to-back monitor arm assembly. The concept renderings show 4 stanchions but, after testing, we felt that 3 would be sufficient.

Private Office

Overview

The private office solution is both multifunctional and highly flexible. Built upon the same Kit of Parts methodology as the workstations, a large variety of configurations are possible. Offering the occupants the ability select their own layouts can be a rewarding and inclusive process that honors diverse work styles, and serve as a great attraction & retention tool.

Both the furniture components and demising modular walls both follow a primary module of 30” for maximum flexibility and coordination, and every office features a height adjustable desk.

Elegant and Functional

Each office in this view speaks to the individual character of their occupants, while still sharing the same aesthetic and functional language.

Workwall + Lounge

This occupant opted for a workwall that incorporates a cantilevered desk and media credenza; with a sofa and floor lamp arrangement on the ‘lounge’ side of the office.

Workwall + Lounge (Priced Version)

This image represents the priced version; with a change in the sofa, one end table, and elimination of the floor lamp.

Workwall + Lounge View 2

This occupant opted for a workwall that incorporates a cantilevered desk and media credenza; with a sofa and floor lamp arrangement on the ‘lounge’ side of the office.

Workwall + Lounge View 2 (Priced Version)

This image represents the priced version; with a change in the sofa, one end table, and elimination of the floor lamp.

Classic Peninsula

This peninsula desk with a curved corner at the user side was the perfect solution for this individual who valued a more classic layout. The large display monitor is mounted on the opposite wall. The storage units each follow the 30” module and can be ‘mixed and matched’ as needed.

Workwall + Meeting Table

In this variation of the workwall, a small round table and guest seating has been incorporated. For the storage, the user wanted two 30” lateral units with a common top. Each office also features a large whiteboard.

Flex Office

Growing in popularity, these ‘Flex Offices’ can double as a reservable huddle room (shown here) or unassigned office. The teardrop shaped table is height adjustable.

Flex Office

In this configuration the room has been reserved as an office.

Details + Considerations

There are a number of details and considerations that we developed around the private office, huddle room, and demountable partitions. Here’s a small sampling of the many ideas we hope to explore during the upcoming workshop on October 27th.

Coordination of the Demountable Partitions + Furniture Components

This detail image reveals how the 12” wide wardrobe unit - a standard component for each office - can be coordinated with an accent wood facia panel at the demountable (demising) partition.

The Rhythm of the Walls

It was important for us to ensure a consistent and elegant architectural rhythm for the expanse of private offices. The demising walls each incorporate a small width of framed glass at the fronts to further promote the transmission of light and transparency.

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Private Office and
Demountable Partition Kit of Parts

A significant number of private office layouts can be possible by using a relatively small collection of components.

For the demountable partitions, these pieces represent the vast majority of the components involved in our solution. There are other widths for the frames and facias that need to be used in certain conditions, but these have been kept to a minimum.

Item or Request
“All Four Walls May Be Demountable”
Response
All of the partitions shown throughout the landscape are demountable product.”
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Item or Request
“Manufacturer to note how desk / credenza/ screen integrated casework solution will be installed on a demountable demising wall.”
Response
The cantilevered-style desks will be secured to the demountable partition frames (or the floor; depending on the spec) as required per Teknion specifications. The storage units are freestanding. The wardrobe unit may be secured to the adjacent freestanding units or the demountable frames - depending on the final specifications. Shelving is secured to the demountable frames.
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Item or Request
“Manufacturer to provide recommendation(s) on "covering up" screen back-box if we decide to build in the infrastructure day 1 and install the screen day 2.”

Response
A facia tile can be installed on Day 1 in any of the acceptable finishes (fabric, wood, laminate, marker, etc) and replaced with a different tile on Day 2 to accommodate the wall-hung monitor.

Huddle Room

Overview

Built upon the same demountable wall system as the private offices, the Huddle Rooms offer a dynamic setting in which teams can gather to review weekly goals, discuss new algorithmic speed-to-insight initiatives, or explore emerging market opportunities.

Dynamic Engagement

Comprised entirely of demountable product, the Huddle Room offers analog and digital toolsets in the form of a wall-mounted monitor & camera combo, and writable / tackable fascia tiles. The corners of the room feature 30” diameter framed glass. A mobile cart has been provided for supplies and reference material.

Huddle Table: Seated Height

This wedge-shaped table allows for optimal viewing of the wall-mounted screen by all participants. The radiused corners at the end of each base leaf echoes the curved glass corners of the room itself.

Huddle Table: Seated Height (Priced Version)

The top remains the same, but a different base has been used in this priced version of the Huddle Table

Huddle Table: Stool Height

The Huddle room at the opposite end of the neighborhood offers a stool height version of the table to promote posture change and choice.

Open Group and Solo Settings

Overview

While not formally a part of the submission request, we wanted to share some concepts around the various open group and solo settings that populate the trading office landscape.

Open Lounge A

We’ve introduced a bookshelf unit at the end of the trading desk cluster that mirrors the design seen at our End Cap proposed solution. The bookshelf is intended to not only add a vibe of hospitality to the neighborhood, but acts as an important buffer element between the group setting and adjacent traders.

Open Lounge A

Additional view of the same setting.

Solo Niche

This solo setting, located at the end of the Private Office cluster, is a perfect spot for staff to get some quick heads-down work done and enjoy a change of scenery.

Open Lounge B

Here’s a variation, mid-way into the neighbourhood.

Phone Room

In keeping with the multifunctional nature of our offerings, this Phone room can easily double as a true workpoint or recharge room.

Looking to the Future

The flexible planning approach that’s already been established, combined with the right mix of products, allows for unprecedented flexibility within the banking environment.

In addition to a seamless transition from interim trading to front office floor, we wanted to illustrate how our solution can anticipate - and even welcome - change within the trading neighborhoods..

Current Plan: Trading

With its high density trading desk layout - augmented by evenly distributed group settings, the current plan and furnishings perfectly supports the needs of the organization.

Future Plan: Trading

Evolving work processes, shifting market demands, and the continued integration of A.I. drives a substantial shift in the office landscape. Here we see a future state in which increased automation has resulted in the need for more group settings to support creative strategy and review sessions.

Team A

In our conceptual trading landscape of the future, high performing teams explore a blended staff of traders, quants, and developers to develop and refine new AI-driven processes to improve their ‘speed to insight’ initiatives.

Team B

This team is structured in a similar manner, but desired a different layout that better matched their specific workflows.

Open Group Setting

As new, more innovative processes are continuously tested and adopted the teams have more open group settings in which to gather for spontaneous work sessions within the trading neighborhoods.

Open Group Settings

Teams are able to gather for extensive screen sharing and co-creation sessions at any number of settings. Each component in many of these open group arrangements are mobile for quick reconfiguring based on changing requirements.

Pair + Share

Two developer sit amongst the traders in order to better refine new algorithmic processes in the drive towards faster ‘speed to insight’. A mobile table and two side tables have been introduced to better facilitate their workflow.

Before: Private Offices

These private offices were vital at move-in to support specific staff and workflow requirements.

After: Project Room

The modular wall system, coordinated with the lighting and HVAC infrastructure, allows for a rapid conversion of the offices into a Project Room that supports new synergies between traders and the quantitative analysts. Nearly all of the frames, fascia tiles, and front assembly remains in-place from the previous configuration.

Before: Huddle Room (Table Arrangement)

One of two Huddle Rooms in this part of the trading floor is seen with a table arrangement.

After: Huddle Room (Lounge Arrangement)

After careful review the teams decided that a lounge arrangement would better suit their current requirements. In addition to change in furniture, only a handful of facia tiles needed to be replaced.