KPMG, Edinburgh
Based in the financial services district, KPMG’s Edinburgh office has been transformed to provide sophisticated, Grade A workspaces. Approached by Michael Laird Architects, SAS International supplied a range of metal ceiling products to meet the design brief of capturing the Old and New town characteristics of the city.
To achieve the brief, the existing floor plan was divided into two. One side was designed to encompass attributes of new town and the other side, the 'old town'. The ceiling design played a crucial role in reinforcing these two distinct spaces. The design for the 'new side' was based on a semi-exposed soffit featuring bespoke SAS330 floating rafts. Fitted in the office areas by DV McColl Ltd, the rafts were installed with unique oddleg C-profiles surrounding the perimeter of each raft. Finished in crisps white RAL9003, the system flawlessly complimented the semi-exposed soffit.
SAS330 was also placed in the two corridors bridging the link between the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ zones as well as breakout areas, meeting rooms. One corridor was painted in an unadorned telegrey shade, creating a slight contrast to the office area. The other corridor was finished in jet black to enrich the gold-coloured plates on the corridor’s walls.
The design of the old side included SAS130 and exposed waffle slabs. Installed in meeting rooms, the suspended ceiling system was manufactured with apertures for lighting and service integration. Large SAS130 tile was also fitted on Alugrid installed in the back of house and cafeteria areas. Finished in RAL9010 white, the tiles produced a classic aesthetic the client wanted to achieve.
For one of the meeting rooms, the architect’s design included a bespoke lighting panel. As the details of how the panel would be supported had not been developed, SAS proposed forming a grid using an angled TCA0637 trim to achieve the desired look.
In the reception area, where the two sides intersect, a mixture of SAS740 and wooden material were chosen to further accentuate the ‘old’ and ‘new’ design. The linear ceiling system was installed using a bespoke coach bolt bracket and fitted directly to the soffit, producing a concealed grid aesthetic. SAS740 was further installed on a rigid grid at 210mm centres in the entrance area above the main door. This created a polished, striking appearance and presented aesthetic continuity in the welcoming area.
Producing a perfect synthesis between tradition and modernity in the space, KPMG Edinburgh is a fine example of an intelligent office design which articulates all the sophistication and vibrancy the Scottish capital has to offer. With site-works completed in December 2018, this unique refurbishment has since been shortlisted for Fit Out of Workplace for Scotland’s BCO Awards 2019 and is targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.
Sector:
Commercial
Client:
KPMG Edinburgh
Architect:
Michael Laird Partnership
Main Contractor:
GHI Contracts Ltd
Sub-Contractor:
DV McColl Ltd
Completion Year:
2018
System Type:
SAS130, SAS330, SAS740
Area:
1,079m²
Region:
United Kingdom
