In Autumn 2021, Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), The National Lottery Community Fund (TNLCF), Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and Data Cymru relocated their Cardiff sites to the fourth and fifth floors of One Canal Parade on Dumballs Road, Cardiff.
We were appointed to design, specify and project manage the fit out, supply of furniture and graphics for all areas working closely with our client teams and Merthyr Tydfil Institute for the Blind.
The brief was to create a flexible workspace which fully supported blended working and encouraged colleagues to work together when in the office.
To support agile ways of working we specified private one to one pods, collaborative booths with teleconferencing technology to facilitate online meetings, and semi enclosed group working or informal meeting spaces. It was important that our design included different zones to meet the varied working styles adopted by WLGA.
The formal meeting rooms feature Moka Felt meeting chairs which are made from recycled PET plastic bottles.
Key Facts
• 187 Pieces of furniture saved from landfill/energy from waste
• 95 New desks remanufactured
• 250 Lockers and planters remanufactured
• 481 Pieces of furniture created
• All products FSC certified
• Reduced delivery road miles
• 15,861kg of CO2e emissions avoided
Desking, lockers and planters were made from legacy furniture stock within WLGA and WCVA’s current assets with new soft seating and collaborative furniture areas complimenting the overall design. New furniture ranges were specified from Nomique who support MTIB as their primary supplier of soft seating frames. Responsible procurement and supporting the circular economy were highly important to all organisations involved in this project. Carpet was supplied by Green Stream Flooring who are also a business with social aims.
“We are really pleased with the completed project at One Canal Parade. The team at Ministry of Furniture helped us realise our vision. It is important to us as an organisation that we support local suppliers with social aims. Ministry’s remanufacturing capabilities enabled us to minimise waste from redundant furniture. Our staff love the lockers and desking made from our old desks and they look great.” Chris Llewelyn, Chief Executive at WLGA
Our design team created a central fitted teapoint with both poseur height and low level furniture. The combination of sofas and bar stools offer a variety of styles and areas to meet, work, collaborate or enjoy a break with colleagues. The Hemp Fine bar stools are made from materials of hemp and resin, this range is 100% biological and recyclable, something which has never been possible before.
The technology adopted by all four organisations fully enables blendid working. There are no fixed desking positions and no telephones on desks. They have adopted a digital telephone system so staff receive their calls directly through their surface laptops whether at home or in the office. All desks and touchdown spaces have monitors with built in web cameras for maximum efficiency and flexibility.
The wall graphics and signage designed by our team perfectly complement the interior aesthetics reflected in the paint, carpets and furniture finishes. Our Interior Design team designed and co-ordinated all elements of the fit-out in addition to the furniture specification.
A phased approach to this substantial project was adopted to ensure a rolling program, with the largest area WLGA then WCVA and TNLCF and shared space finishing off the scheme. The initial phase of the project included a design brief, consultation with staff and basic space planning, with 3D visuals and mood boards being of utmost importance prior to the scheme going ahead. Following an initial period of legacy furniture audit and desk dismantle/clearance, the main project began.
This project was a great opportunity for Ministry and MTIB to demonstrate the social and sustainability benefits that can be achieved when public sector organisations practice ethical procurement wit remanufacturing at the heart of the design. We are grateful to WLGA, WCVA, Data Cymru and the National Lottery Community Fund for working with us.