Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice's new office integrates the organisation’s brand identity, commitment to sustainability, and focus on inclusivity and accessibility. The result is a dynamic, welcoming space that supports employee wellbeing and productivity while showcasing Citizens Advice’s mission and legacy. This thoughtfully designed environment aligns with the organisation's core values, creating a functional and inspiring space for the team to continue their vital work.

Sustainability was a core consideration throughout the design process. With Citizens Advice downsizing as part of the move, they already had an extensive inventory of existing furniture. To align with both sustainability and budgetary goals, the team aimed to reuse as much of this furniture as possible. New furniture was limited to task chairs and a few phone booths—items that were necessary to meet the functional needs of the new office. This decision to repurpose existing furniture not only supported sustainability but also contributed to creating a space that felt lived-in and familiar. An audit of the existing furniture was conducted to ensure that it would fit seamlessly into the new office layout, both functionally and visually. This exercise proved invaluable in giving old furniture a new life while maintaining consistency with the overall design scheme. Furniture that couldn’t be reused and that was damage free, was donated to a charity that repurposes it for schools in need, further contributing to the project's sustainability goals.

Additionally, the finishes chosen for the office were selected not only for their aesthetic appeal but also for their sustainability credentials. The flooring, provided by Tarkett, was particularly notable. Tarkett’s Linon flooring, which covers much of the office, is made from 67.8% recycled content and holds Cradle to Cradle Silver certification, ensuring that it meets high environmental standards. In addition, Tarkett’s IQ Surface flooring was used in the tea point area, and its colourway perfectly complemented Citizens Advice’s ‘Inventive’ colour scheme. Tarkett takes sustainability seriously, collecting post-installation off-cuts and post-use flooring, which are then processed into raw materials for new flooring products.

As the space was handed over as a newly refurbished CAT A by the landlord, both buildgen and Citizens Advice placed significant importance on reusing as much of the existing infrastructure as possible. To minimise waste and support sustainability, 100% of the existing lighting fixtures were retained, ensuring energy efficiency while reducing environmental impact. Additionally, the original meeting rooms were preserved, keeping the layout functional while allowing for necessary updates and enhancements. This thoughtful approach to reuse not only aligned with sustainability goals but also helped to create a cost-effective and environmentally responsible office design.

In the move, Citizens Advice were downsizing and needed to find a way to encourage staff to return to the office. Prior to producing a final space plan, buildgen spent time at the existing office to understand why employees weren’t coming in. Many staff members choose to work at Citizens Advice because they want to be part of something meaningful, but their existing office felt generic and uninspiring. Large expanses remained unused, due to the segregation of meeting rooms, open-plan desks, and collaboration areas.

Alternatively, the new design aimed to create a vibrant, interconnected environment, blending different zones to encourage utilisation of the whole space. Each area was given a distinct purpose through colour schemes and graphic signage. Collaboration areas and meeting rooms, were designed with the ‘Heritage’ and ‘Inventive’ colour palettes to stimulate creativity, teamwork, and communication. The energetic pink and blue tones inspire brainstorming and problem-solving.

Flexibility was key, with much of the furniture on castors, enabling easy rearrangement for various teams and activities. The layout also incorporated hot desking and strategically placed collaboration spaces, promoting adaptability and cross-departmental collaboration.

In recent years, there has also been a strong push to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) design. With spaces like the wellness room and quieter meeting rooms, we used the CA's ‘Inclusive’ palette of burgundy and baby blue to create a serene, inclusive atmosphere. This design reflects Citizens Advice’s commitment to supporting employee well-being and mental health, ensuring everyone feels valued.