Aurora Building

The key drivers for this project were clear - to create an exciting, innovative workspace that strengthened Pinsent Masons’ ability to attract and retain the best talent, while providing an office where people wanted to be; their people coming together to work, collaborate and socialise. 

Building on the tremendous success of Pinsent Masons’ Edinburgh office relocation, a BCO finalist 2023 and WELL Certified™ Gold, Form were re-appointed to provide Workplace Design Consultancy for the Glasgow relocation project.

To understand the Glasgow office’s operational and cultural requirements, Form worked with Pinsent Masons to create the Strategic Design Brief. 

The brief was gathered through a series of interviews, online surveys and workshops with Workplace Ambassadors from each department.

This company-wide approach enabled people and teams to think about the future of work and to recognise the opportunity for positive change.

The new office has been designed to provide a balanced environment, with dedicated zones for both collaboration and quiet focused work, ensuring all employees have choice and can perform at their peak.

Key adjacencies between teams needed to be considered to maximise the benefits of cross collaboration and acoustics.

With acoustics being one of the biggest issues at the previous office, the adoption of more mobile technologies in the new space required a mix of more acoustically private spaces for AV calls and group collaboration.

Through our stakeholder engagement sessions, we were able to shape and refine the aesthetic that the teams wanted for their new office.

The preferred aesthetic had a relaxed feel, light and spacious with natural materials, pops of fresh colour and lots of planting.

It was important that the new office reflected the culture of Pinsent Masons and also created a sense of place and connection to city of Glasgow.

Form engaged with two local artists - Emer Tumilty and Alex Coyle (aka Alko) - to build a meaningful link with the local community and give the office, like the city, a bold sense of identity.

The initial interior design concepts were inspired by the Aurora, drawing inspiration from the building’s name and the phenomena of the Northern Lights.

The organic forms and flowing movements of the Aurora are reflected in the interior and the application of sculptural elements.

Form developed the layouts to make the most of the natural light and created an intuitive, easy to navigate, flow through the various workspaces.

The aspiration for the arrival space was to create a sophisticated and welcoming environment for employees and visitors.

The concierge desk and coffee bar offers a friendly welcome with quality drinks and the adjacent lounge lends gathering space for pre and post informal meetings.

The meeting suite wraps around the perimeter, making the most of the full-height fenestration, and the curving organic forms of the space create an effortless flow between the meeting rooms and lounge areas.

Within the community space, the central lounge area features bespoke artwork by Glasgow-based artist, Emer Tumilty, incorporating the words, 'Onwards & Upwards', as a tribute to a Pinsent Masons’ Partner who was an inspiring and important character in the Glasgow office.

The space strikes a balance - it can be lively and social and support large events, but also offers quieter nooks for people who may prefer a less collaborative space for a break, or just want a moment to themselves.

Diversity, choice and the people-focused design is further incorporated with dedicated wellbeing rooms and individual focus spaces, allowing everyone space and time to thrive.

These spaces are the result of deliberate design choices which promote and support people’s health and wellbeing.

Form’s considered approach has created the next iteration of Pinsent Masons’ workplace, which continues to push sustainability credentials to align with Science Based Targets Initiatives (SBTi) and WELL AP principles.

Throughout the design development stages, Form ensured that every material and product was carefully chosen and rigorously assessed to uphold the project’s design vision and quality expectations, all while meeting Form’s own sustainability goals.

Form delivered a workspace that not only embodies the Pinsent Masons’ brand, but also showcases real care for their people and the planet.

The Design Team produced a high quality, thoughtfully crafted environment, on time and within budget, with sustainability guiding every decision.

Watch our video below to look around the space

[photos & video CherryMan Media]