Workwear Uniform Group – Birmingham

Workwear Uniform Group

Full Office Design and Refurbishment | Furniture | M&E | Biophilics

Workwear Uniform Group (formally Direct Corporate Clothing) contacted Proici with the desire to convert their 3-storey commercial property in Oldbury, UK into a 4-storey 18,000ft2 / 1690m2 fully refurbished workspace designed as a multi-functional environment, alongside a 60,000ft2 / 5,600m2 warehouse space. Working closely with WWUG, we created a commercial office design to help separate the warehouse space from the workspace with the use of natural finishes and biophilic elements, bringing contrast between the two environments.

The ground floor reception now hosts a bespoke willow inspired artificial tree seating feature which extends naturally into the newly installed curved timber bulkhead, giving the illusion of a tree sprouting through and reclaiming the space. A wood slat feature wall provides an additional natural element while clothing mannequins sit within three arch recesses, each featuring a faux ivy green wall. Leading to the elevator space, a real living moss wall encompasses the new Workwear Uniform Group LED signage, completing the aesthetic. The remainder of the floor incorporates an activity-based working environment tailored to support fashion-house workwear design and development, including a range of furniture, meeting rooms, social teapoint and WC facilities. In addition, we also incorporated a large canteen and WC facilities servicing the warehouse.

A brand-new open plan office space has been introduced on the first floor, with a hexagon feature carpet design separating key seating spaces within the environment without relying on vertical standing partitions. The open plan office leads directly into a newly installed teapoint, complete with island seating for natural encounters within the workspace.

The second floor incorporates a range of agile adjustable furniture to meet our clients’ flexible requirements, including slide away acoustic partitions and bespoke mobile auditorium seating, enabling WWUG to adapt the space for different uses. The space also includes an impressive meeting room and modern work facilities, continuing the ground floor theme by introducing natural elements such as hanging pendant plants, vines and integrated planters. The meeting space is separated via newly installed glass partitions featuring Proici designed on-brand “thread” manifestation.

A modern take on the traditional office embodies the third floor, where each workspace has been separated with a physical barrier in the form of grid shelving and drawers. The space takes on a more minimalist wood and black aesthetic, contrasting with the natural elements featured on the lower floors. A bespoke joinery seating solution has been installed to cover an exposed elevator shaft, with access retained where required.

Each floor incorporates flexible furniture, collaboration zones, meeting rooms, social teapoints and WC facilities, all designed and installed to a high standard.

A new HVAC system was installed across the building to ensure a comfortable working environment. To further enhance the building’s functionality as part of the wider office fit out, a new passenger lift has been installed to replace an existing unreliable system, ensuring reliable and accessible transportation options for all employees. In addition, a comprehensive list of services including fire, security, lighting, power, data, media and technology were designed and installed to meet the dynamic needs of the business and Building Control.

New external signage was redesigned with a large fascia to the front of the building alongside a ground floor welcome sign, with internal wayfinding signage implemented throughout the property.