BW completes fit out of Skyscanner offices in Soho’s Ilona Rose building.
25th October 2023
BW: Workplace Experts has completed the fit out of Skyscanner’s offices across two floors of the Ilona Rose building in Soho in central London. This 30,000 sq. ft workspace, designed by MCM, enables the travel company’s staff to innovate, be more productive and feel happier in a flexible, multi-functional office.
Skyscanner entrusted BW with the fit out for its brand-new office and tech hub in central London, as they saw its new offices at Ilona Rose House as key to continued growth, with the company broadening its global reach to serve millions of travellers a month in over 180 countries worldwide. BW has fitted out the hub to serve as the new base for Skyscanner’s 300+ strong London team with the space designed to create an optimum environment that reflects the company’s hybrid working culture, and to inspire collaboration and digital innovation.
BW fitted out the space from shell and core, creating several different working areas across levels 5 and 6 of the building to bring a sense of community, vibrancy, and functionality to the workspace.
The Focus Lounge is a soundproofed area designed for concentrated work, while the Community Lounge, with its cosy seating and vibrant artwork, is intended to encourage collaboration and more collective work. The Innovation Lounge features a mix of workstations, meeting rooms, and quiet pods. Acoustics were a key consideration, so quieter pockets of space have been nestled away, taking advantage of the light and views across central London. Event space was also essential for Skyscanner’s needs, allowing staff to gather for townhall team meetings on level 5, which is connected to the upper floor via a slab steel staircase.
Employee wellbeing is a top priority for this client as well. To this end, the Wellness Room provides a biophilia-inspired sanctuary with greenery, natural textures, and calming elements. This room offers the same versatility as the rest of the office, serving not only as a space where employees can find a moment of calm but also as somewhere for quiet working. Additionally, it serves as a space for yoga and wellness events, further fostering work-life balance.
Chris Pratt, Managing Director at BW: Workplace Experts, said: “This was a truly enjoyable and inspiring project. Situated in the heart of Soho, we have helped to create an exceptional hybrid working environment for Skyscanner’s employees. Shared workspaces, tranquil desk areas, soundproof pods, a library, indoor garden, and terraces all combine to create a rich, sustainable environment that supports productivity and wellbeing.”
These works follow closely on the back of another completed fit out project for a major law firm in the city of London, spanning eight floors, totalling 18 sectional completions and representing exemplary teamwork and collaboration among the project team, which included architects Gensler and project managers Gardiner & Theobald.
