Leading office refurbishment specialist, OP, has completed the refurbishment of Recordati’s new office space within their existing building, Breakspear Park in Hemel Hempstead.
The 12-week project has transformed 6,500 sq ft of office space, creating a contemporary workplace whilst introducing modern ways of working.
A key design feature is the reimagined entrance experience, relocating the main access point via the building’s atrium lifts to open directly into the heart of the space with views across agricultural countryside. This creates an immediate sense of arrival whilst avoiding the narrow corridor approach of the previous layout.
The workspace follows a progressive journey from vibrant collaborative areas at the entrance to quieter, focused zones. The layout includes open-plan desking, private offices, meeting suites, and enclosed focus rooms, concluding with a dedicated wellbeing suite in the most private area.
The project emphasised sustainability through extensive furniture reuse, with approximately sixty percent of items retained and refurbished from the previous space. Existing desks were restored, whilst soft seating was relocated throughout the new design.
A key design decision was retaining and exposing the building’s existing services ceiling rather than installing suspended ceilings. The exposed ceiling was carefully cleaned to reveal a warm, textured finish that adds character to the contemporary space.
The design incorporates Recordati’s centenary celebrations with a curated graphics package featuring historic imagery spanning the company’s 100-year history, alongside modern brand values positioned with clear sightlines from workstations. A distinctive slatted wood feature wall in white veneer with shadow gap detailing creates a modern focal point in the reception area.
Acoustic considerations influenced material selections throughout, with carpet inlays in the entrance area, acoustic rafts, panels and curtains in meeting rooms ensuring comfort across the workspace. The boardroom features layered acoustic solutions including ceiling rafts and acoustic curtains along glazed walls.
“The entrance experience is the standout feature of this project. Arriving through the glass lifts, the lighting creates drama whilst the logo and carpet work together to deliver immediate impact. The experience is layered – the initial impression as visitors enter is followed by the reveal of the views across the fields beyond. The success of the project lies in the redesign of the entrance experience, which creates a vibrant collaborative heart that brings teams together, whilst the focused areas at the far end provide everything needed for concentrated work.” Alannah Laud, Designer
“The way the design celebrates our 100-year heritage whilst bringing our brand to life has been particularly meaningful for the team. It’s created an environment that truly reflects who we are as Recordati, and we’re seeing people genuinely excited to come into the office and work together in ways we hadn’t experienced before” Lucy Bourne, Senior Director Human Resources, at Recordati
