Project Description

Sumitomo Electric Hardmetal Limited (part of the Sumitomo Corporation who are one of the five largest general trading companies in Japan), first came to the UK in 1984, basing themselves in the London area, specialising in the development and manufacture of a comprehensive range of cutting tool materials, Carbide, Cermet, SUMIBORON (CBN) and SUMIDIA (PCD). They identified that they needed to relocate to a more central part of the UK, and after a vigorous tender process, it was with great pleasure that Sumitomo selected Prime Solutions to fit out and form their new UK office headquarters building, located south of Birmingham in Redditch.

The project brief was to redefine and enhance an existing ground floor office space within an existing three-story office building, providing modern office facilities with additional offices, meeting room, and conference/training room, break-out area, and new office furniture. There needed to be two sections – staff working and break out area; and a client/customer/ training area.

Offices, meeting, and conference rooms were introduced into the space via frameless glazing systems with some solid partition walls as well. A single glazed conference room was provided, with two offices and a meeting room formed, utilising a double-glazed frameless glass system. All the doors were full height veneered timber. A graphic vinyl corporate logo was utilised for the manifestation to all of the new glazed partitions. A low-level wall to accommodate the printers was also installed.

The existing carpet tiles were retained in the office side, with new carpet tiles provided within the client area. Both sections had staff breakout areas with new LVT vinyl flooring. The existing kitchen was modernised by replacing all the cupboard and base unit door fronts, providing new worktops and splashbacks and installing integrated fridge, dishwasher and new sink and mixer tap.

A feature tea point area was created within the client area comprising navy coloured kitchen base and wall units with oak worktops. A large illuminated bottle fridge was the central feature. The walls throughout the ground floor were redecorated. The existing security system was enhanced; together with reconfiguring the existing fire alarm and emergency lighting installations.

A feature storage wall was installed to the reception, office and accounts areas. For the office staff, new workstations were provided. Some of these comprised of desks which were electrically powered sit/ stand desks; fabric screens; bespoke tower pedestals and high-quality operator mesh back chairs. The other desks were in a bench system configuration with the same chairs and screens to form a hot desk area. Credenzas have been installed in the offices, meeting room and hot desking area to provide an additional storage facility.

The client reception area has been fitted with luxurious leather chairs and high stools, with associated tables. The conference room has been fitted with flip top tables with meeting chairs so that the room has the flexibility to be a training room or a meeting/ conference/ board room. A mobile media unit was also supplied which had a TV on one side of it and a whiteboard on the other.

Corporate signage was introduced around the office areas including a large digital printed map of the world with all Sumitomo’s offices and factories around the world displayed upon it. This was applied to a large curved perimeter wall within the office area.

Project Details

Categories
Client Sumitomo Electric Hardmetal Limited
Location Redditch, West Midlands
Completed 7 weeks