Management consulting firm Oliver Wyman is famous for delivering breakthrough impact for its clients. To reflect its entrepreneurial company culture, we reimagined its traditional office set-up and delivered a collaborative environment that encourages innovation and creativity. This impressive London HQ now serves as a blueprint for Oliver Wyman’s workplaces, with similar concepts being implemented across its portfolio.

We talk to Anca Niculescu, Lead Designer at TSK, about the inspiration behind the design and how the choices have impacted on Oliver Wyman’s workplace experience.

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Anca, if an organisation knows it’s time to modernise its workplace, what needs to happen before you can develop a design concept?  

The first step is to understand the organisation’s vision, principles and objectives so that every design choice is intentional. While the aesthetics are important, we also want to make sure the space is designed with purpose and functionality in mind – it’s about how the space impacts on behaviour.  

Interpreting Oliver Wyman’s long-term vision gave us a North Star to work towards. We then ran engagement sessions with employees, architectural assessments, daylight studies and space utilisation studies to understand staff preferences, as well as the challenges and opportunities within the existing building.

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In what way did these learnings inspire the design?

I could give you so many examples here, but I’ll start with two.

One of the primary motivators for change was to bring teams together to create, innovate and share ideas. However, the original floorplate was separated across two floors, preventing movement and collaboration. This inspired us to insert a staircase through the two floors, to connect people across the building. 

We also took inspiration from the building itself, drawing on the mid-century architectural design and fusing this with the energy of modern workplace dynamics. We used earthy tones to counter the stark essence inherent in the base build and incorporated rich timbers and deep terracotta hues to bring warmth to the space.

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Did you continue to seek input from Oliver Wyman’s people throughout the project?

Yes – we collaborated closely with Oliver Wyman throughout the project and appointed a team of Change Champions. This group of people represented different departments across the organisation.

The Change Champions took part in focus groups, walkthroughs and workshops so they could see the transformation in real time and provide some really valuable insights. Some of the ideas that came out of these sessions influenced key design choices. For example, we discovered that staff preferred having areas tailored to specific activities, rather than ‘neighbourhoods’ grouping teams by job function. With this in mind, we created activity-specific zones including spaces for focused work, collaboration, relaxation, socialisation and meetings.

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How do you use design to differentiate these activity-specific zones? 

Drawing on inspiration from five-star boutique hotels, we aimed to create a comfortable, immersive and memorable experience where everything works seamlessly. This meant carefully considering the layout of the office, ensuring effortless transition between spaces, and designing each area to fulfil its intended purpose.  

For quiet and productive work, employees and guests can retreat to the library, which features  sound buffers and acoustic panels to absorb noise. It also has a cosy fireplace, concealed booths, greenery, comfortable seating and handy access to the adjoining coffee bar. 

Collaborative areas, such as the studios, are fitted with moveable furniture and acoustic curtains so the space can flexibly accommodate the needs of different teams. Workstations are positioned to maximise natural light, which enhances staff well-being, productivity and creativity.

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You mentioned earlier that the collaborative studios are designed to adapt – how important was it to incorporate flexibility into the design?

To create an environment that can evolve alongside the changing nature of work, it’s really important to ensure spaces serve multiple purposes. For instance, Oliver Wyman’s welcome area acts as a check-in point for guests but also transforms into a hospitality lounge for both clients and staff. Similarly, the social area is versatile enough to host different activities – again, using flexible furniture that can be easily rearranged.

Like many organisations today, Oliver Wyman is embracing hybrid work arrangements. This HQ is now prepared for the transition and can facilitate widespread communications, with all meeting spaces equipped with cutting-edge technology.

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With this new sense of urgency surrounding sustainability, how did you acknowledge Oliver Wyman’s environmental responsibility throughout the design journey?

Prioritising sustainability was a key objective for Oliver Wyman and its people, so we had to ensure every design decision aligned with their ESG objectives. 

We used the guiding ethos – Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle – throughout the project. Every element, and every detail, was considered with environmental responsibility in mind. We reused over a third of the furniture and repurposed wherever possible – for example, the flooring is made from repurposed fishing nets, the bar stools are made from 100% recycled cork, and the phone booth walls are made from recycled plastic bottles. 

If you had to choose one standout design feature, what would you choose and why?

Ooh, that’s a difficult one. I would say the bespoke elements integrated into the space, such as the commissioned art piece in the reception area, really do add that wow factor and capture the brand ethos.

These elements also represent the collective dedication to bringing the vision to life and feel like a testament to the collaborative efforts between TSK and the Oliver Wyman team.

Want to learn more about this project? View the full Oliver Wyman project.

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