Built in the former media hub for the London Olympics, the 105,000 square foot Here East building houses dozens of technology companies in a mostly open-plan space beneath a triple-high ceiling. The mezzanine is built into a line of studios overlooking an open reception, above which dangles a pod designated for small groups.
“Industrial sheds offer great robustness and flexibility as workspaces,” says Michael Davis, director at JLL’s London Unlimited. “The critical metric is volume. Tall spaces with a high cubic capacity of usable area deliver constant stimulation and visual impact, and the potential for impressive design.”
Research has shown that high ceilings contribute to more creative thinking, while smaller, more constricted areas facilitate focused work. In the workplace, varied spatial arrangements that place pod rooms or reduced ceiling heights alongside tall spaces magnify both these effects, enabling various styles of working.
“Technology and creative companies whose business models rely on constant innovation have pioneered the demand for this type of space, but technology has sped up growth in many sectors. The whole business world is evolving to seek out more flexible spaces,” Davis says.
Versatile with design
The versatility offered by converted industrial sheds is particularly attractive to technology companies that want their workplaces to embody their company culture and fast-growing businesses that may not be able to predict more than a few years ahead, according to Industrial Rehab: A new space of opportunity from JLL and Hawkins/Brown.
Characteristics that were once suited for heavy-duty industrial processes make these buildings robust for adaption – sturdy frames with repeating units can support the addition or removal of large sections, while expanses of unobstructed floor allow for activity-based design of workspace, be it desk-based or production-based.
Station F is the world’s largest tech incubator, housed in a converted Paris train station that accommodates over 3,000 desks for young startups along with numerous configurations for larger startups, and public restaurants, shops and bars. Mezzanines comprise a varied range of open spaces and private pods, while the central atrium is open to a three-storey ceiling, maintaining the sense of height and ambience of the original building.
“Employees increasingly expect personalisation and individuality where they work, and in a competitive jobs market, a spectacular workplace is a crucial point of difference for attracting and retaining talent,” Davis says.
The value of going industrial
Companies, meanwhile, are finding converted industrial spaces are not only offering value for money but they’re also delivering financial benefits. One of the first conversion projects of its kind, the TBWA\Chiat\Dayheadquarters in Los Angeles exemplifies what makes industrial sheds desirable as workplaces with its innovative use of volume and inherent adaptability. Set in an industrial estate, the building was designed with large communal spaces, private workspaces, collaborative spaces and leisure areas arranged around open mezzanines that offer a sense of the vast space while remaining activity-specific.