End User: Aurora Energy Research, Oxford
Design and Build: Morgan Lovell
Photos: Nick Caville
The Goal:
Aurora Energy Research required a new office space that better suited their growth, emphasizing connectivity and functionality. Morgan Lovell brought their design to life in their new 38,000 sq ft office in the heart of Oxford in only 12 weeks. Their vision included an inspiring environment that fostered collaboration, akin to top-tier universities, featuring a central café for gatherings and versatile meeting rooms for international operations. Sustainability was a priority, with 50% of the old furniture reused and materials sourced from recycled ocean plastics.
Solution:
To meet this brief, the design utilised a “workplace sandwich” approach, positioning meeting rooms at one end and quiet zones at the other, with collaborative spaces in between. The lower ground floor was dedicated to training, equipped with large meeting rooms and breakout areas, while easy access for commuters was ensured with bike storage and showers. Our Huddlebox Edge seating and planters were incorporated into their collaborative and functional design by providing seating for their presentations, brainstorming and collaborative discussions. This promoted a sense of unity and teamwork, leading to enhanced collaboration, idea exchange, and joint problem-solving among employees.
The boardroom was strategically placed on the top floor to enhance client experiences. Attention to neurodiversity informed the colour scheme and lighting, creating calming quiet zones and energizing work areas. The multifunctional café, with bleacher seating featuring our Huddlebox tables and warm timber accents, became the office’s social hub.
Our Folding Nimble tables’ multifunctionality integrated seamlessly with the design, able to seat 6-8 people, perfect for social events, group meetings and general touchdown working. The castors allow versatility and can be easily moved to different areas with ease, freeing up space for larger events or general reconfiguration!
Conclusion:
The result is a dynamic, collaborative environment that supports Aurora’s current needs and future growth. The incorporation of Workagile’s Huddlebox seating system and Nimble tables successfully met the project’s goals of improving collaboration, promoting sustainability, and creating a more cooperative work environment fostering a strong sense of community and effective teamwork.
