Creating an engaging, efficient workspace solution for LinkedIn’s UK HQ
The background
Insightful Environments has worked with LinkedIn in London since 2009. In that time IE has furnished one building for them (The Charlotte building near Oxford St) and helped to refurbish their new location in New Oxford Street twice.
Refurbishment
IE originally provided new workstations and loose office furniture to LinkedIn in 2012 for the eight floors of their new office in New Oxford St. In 2015, it decided to refurbish the offices again to help stimulate and inspire its employees, placing a huge emphasis on ‘Wellbeing’ for its staff.
As part of this, LinkedIn invested in new, electric, height adjustable desking. IE managed to remove all of its existing crank handle desking and found a home for the furniture with a charity called Shelter in Sheffield. This meant an ecological solution for the old furniture with no disposal costs for LinkedIn and free furniture for the charity.
The client had requested an immersive working environment that represented the diverse culture found in Great Britain today through individually themed floors and rooms. The interior design had to appeal to both visiting global workers and native Londoners while providing an efficient workspace for its staff that maximised employee engagement.
The results
The Reception boasts an iconic phone box, leading on to the recognisable details from a typical London street, culminating in ‘Big Ben’ and ‘Changing of the Guard’ boardrooms, complete with sentry boxes.
At the other end of the floor staff have been treated to their very own bar for social events and celebrations, which includes brass detailing and the LinkedIn logo lit up high on the back bar as the focal point.
London-born artist Damilola Odusote was invited to create a piece of art for both floors, in which he weaved symbology of London together with elements of LinkedIn’s branding in his signature intricate style.
The transport-themed 3rd floor features a string of meeting rooms taking inspiration from typical and more abstract ways of getting around the British capital. Highlights include a take on the classic routemaster bus, Boris Bike-inspired teapoint seating that charges your phone when cycled and an Underground room complete with curved tile wall and genuine ‘80s District/Jubilee line seat fabrics.
