Grant Thornton’s office fit-out is out of this world!
After a year of design and transformation, the uber-modern style refurbishment of Grant Thornton’s three floor, Clarendon Dock office, inspired by Senior Designer Lisa Allen, has been completed and officially launched this week.
There is a perception that Business Advisors’ offices are boring but Grant Thornton, with Lisa Allen’s help, have moved in a different direction, showcasing their unconventional approach to business and creating one of Grant Thornton’s trendiest offices. The Belfast Partners wanted a “creative” workspace in which their staff “would feel excited to work” and changed the office layout to make it more fun. The themed meeting rooms – Harry Potter, Star Wars, Jurassic Park and Willy Wonka Emporium – will host training sessions and large group meetings. The firm said it hoped the fun, yet functional, office features would inspire creativity and productivity among staff and attract more new graduates to join the company.
At the recent launch, Senior Designer Lisa Allen, explained:
“Inspiration for my designs for the Grant Thornton office came from blockbuster movies – people are fascinated by films and are in awe of what the likes of Universal and Disney can create, transporting people on a new discovery, away from day to day stresses of modern day life. Life along with work can be stressful and people can find it hard to gain a work life balance.”
“My design aim was to create an open functional office design for Grant Thornton people to work in, yet have unique meeting rooms where they could step away from their desks and feel they have been transported to a jungle when they are in the Jurassic Room, or a Spaceship when in the Star Wars room, or magically be in the Common Room at Hogwarts”.
Marcon played a significant role in the refurbishment and expansion of the new office space, manufacturing and installing all of the specialist joinery throughout. As well as forming and finishing the themed meeting rooms, we manufactured and fitted the new curved walnut reception desk, fabric wall panels, feature boardroom tables, vanity units, IPS panels, glazed screens, bespoke toilet cubicles, tea points and breakout areas.
Marcon Contracts Manager, Martin McErlean stated:
“Working on this refurbishment scheme was very unique. We have completed many commercial and office schemes before, but to turn our minds to a creative interior such as the Grant Thornton offices in Belfast was really enjoyable. It shows that office space does not have to be traditional and boring.”
Gareth Neill, Partner at Grant Thornton stated:
“It is really our people that make Grant Thornton the kind of company it is. We currently have around 250 employees in our Belfast Clarendon Dock offices, of which 80% are client facing. We hire people who are smart and determined and we favour ability and attitude over experience. It was important for us to invest in a creative environment, showing we care about our people, while inspiring them to grow with the business and most importantly recognizing the excellent work that they do.”
“Everyone working for Grant Thornton is amazed at the office transformation and how Lisa has turned her stunning vision into reality. Her challenge was to understand our people and we had the confidence that she would deliver a unique, enjoyable, dual-purpose workplace which can enhance your mood. The quality of Lisa’s work, attention to detail and design touches such as the library for our staff, the egg chairs in the Jurassic room, the Suit of Armour in the Harry Potter Room – to name but a few – has made the real difference to the office refurbishment “.
Image Caption above : (L-R) Grant Thornton Partners Gareth Neill and Mark Allen with Senior Designer Lisa Allen in the new Jurassic Room.
Image Caption: Willy Wonka Emporium (Photo by Press Eye presseye.com)
Image Caption: Harry Potter Board Room (Photo by Press Eye presseye.com)
Image Caption: Jurassic Park Room Room (Photo by Press Eye presseye.com)
Image Caption: New Reception (Photo by Press Eye presseye.com)