Illingworth New Headquarters

Mix of vibrant and functional HQ.

Illingworth Research, a leading provider of patient-focused clinical services.

The company embarked on a significant expansion, relocating their headquarters to Hazelwood House, a spacious 14,800 sqft facility at Tytherington Business Village in Macclesfield.

This move was not merely a change of address but a strategic initiative to consolidate their operations and foster a dynamic environment conducive to their ambitious global growth plans.

The project aimed to transform a blank canvas into a vibrant, functional workspace that reflected Illingworth’s corporate identity and met the diverse needs of its growing workforce.
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Services Used

Office Space Planning

Workspace Design

Furniture Installation

The brief

Illingworth’s primary objective was to create a unified and modern workspace that could accommodate their existing staff while providing the infrastructure for future expansion.

As John Illingworth, Chairman, stated, they wanted to stay rooted in their Macclesfield origins but required a workspace that better suited their evolving needs.

The brief encompassed several key requirements:

  • A bright and vibrant first-floor office space to foster collaboration and innovation.
  • Dedicated meeting and video conferencing areas.
  • Individual cellular offices for management and collaborative team spaces.
  • Breakout and quiet concentration zones.
  • Integration of Illingworth’s preferred corporate color scheme.
  • Creation of meeting spaces, tea points, kitchen areas, a guest catering space, a reception area, a gym, and a staff dining restaurant.
  • They needed a space that would allow for future growth.
  • Furthermore, they required a space for a photography studio.

The challenges

  • Consolidating departments previously spread across multiple locations into a single, cohesive space.
  • Balancing the diverse functional requirements of different departments, some of which generated significant noise.
  • Transforming a large, open-plan space into a series of distinct yet integrated work areas.
  • Creating a workspace that supported both collaborative and focused work.
  • Integrating a gym and photography studio into the office space.
  • Managing acoustics within the open plan office and dining areas.

The results

iQ Workspace successfully delivered a comprehensive solution that met Illingworth's objectives.

Furthermore, the team created specialised spaces, including a gym with Technogym equipment, a secure mail room with OLS Storage-wall, and a bespoke Hoozone pod for a photography studio.

  • iQ Workspace successfully transformed a “blank canvas” 14,800 sqft facility into a vibrant and functional headquarters, consolidating Illingworth Research’s previously scattered offices.
  • The new space effectively supported Illingworth’s ambitious global growth plans by providing ample room for existing and future staff.
  • Through detailed stakeholder questionnaires, iQ Workspace created a space that met the unique needs of each department, including dedicated meeting and video conferencing spaces, breakout areas, and quiet concentration zones.
  • The design effectively addressed the challenge of potentially noisy workspaces by incorporating acoustic solutions like cloud-shaped sound baffles and desk-mounted screens.
  • The implementation of Nova bench desks with Kardo monitor arms and Boost desktop power maximised workspace and minimised cabling, enhancing staff efficiency.
  • Sit/stand workstations and ergonomic Kind task chairs were provided to ensure staff comfort and well-being.
  • Fifteen Environments meeting booths and Hoozone pods provided quiet and focused spaces for meetings, video conferences, and private interviews.
  • The multifunctional ground floor included a well-equipped staff restaurant with Nova Wood dining tables and comfortable booth seating, fostering a positive and collaborative environment.
  • The Quadrifoglio Z2 reception desk and Layla sofa created a professional and welcoming first impression for visitors.
  • The use of cloud baffles, and acoustic screens greatly improved the sound quality of the working environment.

First floor office space

Discrete department spaces were created using planter topped storage, utilised to define and divide the various teams. Adding plants to storage adds oxygen to the space and absorbs sound.

Building this into storage achieves three aims of providing at the workstation file storage, demarking space and creating a green space which has significant health benefits.

Nova bench desks with Metalicon Kardo monitor arms

All staff were arranged in clusters utilising Nova Bench desks with desktop power and Kardo monitor arms to offer maximum desk surface area and minimising cabling.

Under-desk power supplies and cables are accessed via the sliding top workstations. Sit/stand workstations were introduced where needed for particular staff.

All staff are now seated on very comfortable and adjustable Kind Task Chairs from Edge Design.

Overhead sound baffles in the shape of clouds

All workstations are fitted with desk mounted acoustic screens at 530mm high giving a high degree of privacy/concentration for the staff and superior sound absorption qualities.

Certain teams were identified as being particularly noisy and overhead sound baffles in the shape and colours of clouds were introduced to help absorb additional sound from these teams.

Fifteen Environments meeting booths by Edge Design

Quiet meeting space booths provided for ad-hoc meeting, quiet working or meeting is solved by Fifteen Environments from Edge Design.

Narbutas’ Myspace utility pods are introduced to hide printers and also further absorb ambient office noise.

Hoozone Pods by Era

Hoozone Pods by Era, each with AV capability, were introduced to create focussed environments for meetings, video conferences or private interview spaces.

As Hoozone Pods require no fixing to the structure of the building there is no dilapidation cost, the units may be reconfigured and redeployed.

Zenith meeting chairs provided a contemporary vibrant feel to the meeting pod interior.

Myriad by Boss Design

Breakout space is created using Boss Design’s Myriad and offers space for ad hoc meetings and chill out space for staff.

Forum tables are simple but robust and can be easily relocated to serve other areas.

Ground floor multifunctional space

Greeting visitors at the front door is a Quadrifoglio Z2 Reception desk and matching storage.

Luxurious seating for arriving guests in top quality Scottish leather, glass and polished chrome is provided by Layla from Boss Design. Chosen for its timeless design and superior quality.

Nova Wood dining tables

The staff restaurant was created using Nova Wood dining tables giving a less formal and softer feel to the space.

Sound absorbing Cloud sound baffles from Era suspended from the ceiling helps absorb the sound of diners.

Booth seating in wipe clean vinyls offer comfortable seating at the peripheries of the space and divide the restaurant from space earmarked for future expansion.

Tango high back lounge chairs by Narbutas

A catering/kitchen space services all of the meeting spaces and furniture for dining and Twist & Sit high back lounge chairs included for meeting breakout spaces.

Products used in this project

Alto 1 Standing Office Desks

TWIST & SIT Meeting and Conference Chairs

Kind Office Task Chair

FIFTEEN Office High Back Sofa

Z2 Office Reception Desks
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The business is Macclesfield born and bred and this is where we wanted to stay, but in workspace more suited to us that could accommodate not only existing headcount but allow us to build out our resource and infrastructure to support our growth plans.

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.

John Illingworth, Chairman
Director, Gift Packaging Supplier
Estates & Facilities Manager, NHS
Transition Programme Manager, NHS

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