International travel management company, Key Travel, facilitates some of the most prestigious organisations in the world, such as Oxfam and Save the Children, to carry out their work globally. Having outgrown its current office, which was split across a number of floors, Key Travel was looking to create a collaborative working space which brought the entire team together on one floor including a contact centre with space for 250+ desks, as well as areas for collaborative working, private meetings, training, relaxation and socialising. Following a competitive tender process, ADT Workplace was selected as Key Travel’s partner to help the team bring its vision to life.
Covering the entire top floor of the prestigious St James’ Buildings on Manchester’s Oxford Street, the 19,178 ft office needed to reflect Key Travel’s specialist work in the humanitarian, faith and education sectors. Also imperative to the design were the company’s core values of impact, compassion and simplicity. The ADT Workplace team spent six months working alongside Key Travel to immerse themselves in the business and get a true understanding of its DNA, in order to further align the initial design with the brand, vision and culture.
The new design has been inspired by nature, creating a workplace haven away from the busy streets of Manchester, in order to provide a sense of calm and improve staff wellbeing. With biophilic design prominent, natural tones but bright colour palettes and unusual textures have been used to create a clean, fresh and inspiring space which also complements the unique cultures within which the company operates.
Key Travel was looking for an office space which gives staff more choice about where and how they work, and also one which helps foster a greater sense of teamwork. With that in mind, ADT Workplace created four open plan zones – Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania – the four continents where Key Travel carries out the majority of its business, each with its own feature entry point to instil a sense of belonging. There is also strong visual representation of the company’s brand and values throughout.
ADT Workplace has cleverly incorporated multifunctional spaces for training and meetings within the original structure of the listed building, maximising the potential of all available space. The office also features numerous break out areas known as ‘Kalas’, a term which originates from Afghan culture where all members of a family live together as one. Adding to the wow factor, staff will also benefit from a stunning rooftop Oasis, an outdoor terrace designed for collaborative working or simply relaxation, as well as a Zen area offering total tranquility.
