Business Hub, Norfolk

A fusion of history and modernity.

Designing a Dynamic Business Hub in the Heart of Norwich

Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, a vital organisation supporting local businesses, sought to create a much-needed Business Hub in the heart of Norwich. This hub would offer hot desking, meeting spaces, collaboration zones and a business café, providing local entrepreneurs and companies with a flexible, professional workspace.

They approached iQ Workspace to help bring this concept to life within the prestigious Hardwick House, a Grade II listed building, while maintaining its historical charm, and this was the result

 

Services Used

Office Space

Workspace Design

Furniture Installation

The brief

  • The Norfolk Chambers of Commerce sought to develop a versatile and modern workspace within the Grade II listed Hardwick House, designed to serve as a central hub for local businesses.
  • The core objective was to create a welcoming and adaptable environment that could accommodate a range of users, from individuals requiring short-term hot desking to businesses needing long-term collaborative spaces.
  • The design needed to strike a balance between functionality and aesthetic appeal, reflecting the Chambers’ high standards while catering to the diverse needs of its user base.
  • The space needed to offer hot desking, meeting spaces, collaboration zones and a business café.

The challenges

  • The building’s architectural characteristics, particularly its high ceilings and hard surfaces, posed a significant acoustic challenge, necessitating careful consideration of noise mitigation strategies.
  • With 36 proposed desk spaces, controlling noise transfer was crucial to ensure a comfortable and productive work environment without compromising the building’s historic integrity.
  • Balancing the need for a flexible workspace that could accommodate various work styles with the desire for a clean and uncluttered aesthetic required innovative design solutions.
  • Integrating modern technology into a listed building, while respecting its historical fabric, required careful planning and execution.

The results

iQ Workspace successfully delivered a Business Hub that seamlessly integrated modern functionality with the historic charm of Hardwick House.

  • Acoustic solutions, such as suspended acoustic rafts and task lighting, effectively mitigated noise, creating a comfortable and productive work environment.
  • Ergonomic furniture with soft edges complemented the building’s classic design, ensuring user comfort and well-being.
  • Freestanding acoustic planters, meeting pods, and lockers enhanced the space’s practicality and user experience, providing flexible and adaptable solutions.
  • The final result is a thoughtfully designed Business Hub that fosters collaboration, productivity, and comfort, meeting the needs of local businesses while preserving the building’s historic character.
  • The business hub provides a professional and inviting space that encourages networking and business development.

Products used in this project

Alto 1 Standing Office Desks

ROUND Office Desks

Veneto Office Task Chair

Bob Acoustic Meeting Pods

Kardo Pole-mounted Monitor Arms

Boost Desktop Power Modules

CHOICE Lockers

ACOUSTIC ARTWORK Partitions

PARTHOS Acoustic Columns

Pontoon Modular Office Sofa System
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Throughout the process we were guided by what felt like a real business partner, not just a supplier. This kind of service is second to none, especially in the current Covid-crisis circumstances.

Our business is all about helping companies to improve their customer experience, to do this we needed to improve our employee experience in the office. iQ Workspace was recommended and Bob went out of his way to be sure his solution was going to work best for us. It was all fitted as planned and has improved the office atmosphere, an essential investment in customer experience. Thank you all.

iQ workspace has been my go-to provider for office furniture and accessories since the beginning. They are professional, industrious, supportive and responsive in ways that no other supplier has been. The team are proactive and efficient, providing an insight into the latest developments and solutions and this ability has proved a boon during the recent pandemic with timely and purposeful recommendations for making the best use of our accommodation. I would not and do not hesitate to recommend them whenever asked and look forward to a great future relationship with total confidence.

I have worked with iQ Workspace since they began, on a number of projects of varying sizes and complexities. Each project has been a complete success and iQ Workspace have worked with us to meet our ever-changing timescales and demands. I thoroughly enjoy working with the team who are all lovely, from the back office right through to the gentleman delivering and constructing the items of furniture on the installation. The team have a wealth of knowledge about their products. There is a wide selection of equipment and furniture to choose from in multiple colours and fabric options which are fantastic quality. I highly recommend them.

Operations Manager, Research Facility
Director, Gift Packaging Supplier
Estates & Facilities Manager, NHS
Transition Programme Manager, NHS

Still haven’t found what you’re looking for?

Our team have access to a large portfolio of office furniture from many partner manufacturers, too much to list everything on our website! If you can’t find what you need please ask and we’ll find a solution.

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