Global Commodities Trading Company - London

Our client, a confidential global trading company, was relocating from a campus-style office in Leatherhead to a new central London HQ. The brief was to create a space that marked a clear departure from their previous environment. It needed to feel contemporary, unbranded, and full of personality. The new office had to support a variety of traders with different work styles, while also providing environments for meetings, focused work, and large-scale events. One of the main challenges came during the second phase of the project, which involved expanding the workspace without it feeling like a disjointed addition or compromise in design quality.

We began by optimising the available space in Phase 1 through strategic space planning. Each department was positioned based on how its teams worked, helping to streamline workflows and improve day-to-day efficiency, ensuring that both individual focus and team collaboration could happen easily. The design intent was centred around timeless materials and a neutral base palette, brought to life with warm pops of colour to add character without heavy branding. Phase 1 was fully completed, and after several months of rapid team growth and evolving business needs, the requirement for additional space became clear. As the team continued to grow, Phase 2 was developed to accommodate this expansion. By maintaining consistency in finishes, furniture, and layout across both phases, we created a fluid, cohesive and unified environment.

The London Trading Office was delivered in two seamless phases, covering a total of 18,000 square feet. A key highlight of the space is a striking townhall area that serves as both a breakout zone and a venue for larger events. This space features bespoke joinery, a thoughtfully detailed acoustic ceiling, and distinctive lighting that sets the tone. Elsewhere, we introduced a mix of meeting and focus spaces to support the diverse needs of the team. Every aspect of the fit out, including key elements such as furniture, joinery, M&E systems, graphics, and security, was carefully designed and delivered to support a unified and functional workplace.

The final result is a confident, modern headquarters that supports current ways of working while also offering the flexibility and infrastructure to accommodate future team growth and evolving business needs that supports a fast-paced trading environment. The space gives traders the flexibility to work collaboratively or independently, with everything they need easily accessible. Although completed in two stages, the workspace feels consistent and connected, delivering a well-balanced blend of personality, practicality, and purpose. It is a space that not only reflects the way the business works but also supports how it continues to grow.