Working with the Presidential Team, Richard Kauntze has held the position for close to 25 successful years, guiding the BCO through transformative growth and evolution
After soon-to-be 25 years of serving as Chief Executive for the British Council for Offices, Richard Kauntze will be stepping down in summer 2025. His successor will be appointed by the BCO Presidential Team in due course.
During Mr Kauntze’s tenure, the BCO has grown in membership and become established firmly as the office sector’s source of education, guidance and discussion. Since Mr Kauntze joined as Chief Executive in 1999, membership has increased from 585 to over 4,000, spanning a range of disciplines from leading architects and developers to major office occupiers.
Mr Kauntze has also worked hard to increase the BCO’s geographical reach, expanding from its initial base in Reading to a strong national presence across regions with a London headquarters.
The BCO NextGen programme has advanced over the past decade, with 25% of the BCO’s total membership now comprising of NextGen members – members aged 35 and under – demonstrating that the BCO is shored-up for the future. Mr Kauntze was instrumental in the creation of the NextGen Committees, which provide a platform for knowledge-sharing, mentoring, networking and professional development across five regions.
The NextGen ideas competition was launched in 2017 and has evolved into the BCO NextGen Ideas Project celebrating the boldest, most innovative and creative ideas for the future workspace of the next generation. The programme aims to encourage the NextGen’s confidence, expand their network and help them advance in their career.
The BCO Awards programme has developed and expanded to recognise new priorities and innovation within the sector, such as the ESG Award introduced in 2023. A new occupier award is being developed by the BCO, to highlight the highest standards for workplaces while they are in in-use.
In collaboration with the BCO Research Committee, the Presidential Team and the BCO’s Head of Research, Mr Kauntze has steered the BCO Research programme to inform upon and investigate continually the critical challenges in the office sector. This has seen vital research published on topics ranging from sustainability, agile working, health and wellbeing to designing for neurodiversity.
Working alongside the Presidential Team, Mr Kauntze is overseeing the introduction of two new BCO Committees – the London Regional Committee and the Life Sciences Committee. Each committee is being created to respond to emerging major trends in the sector, including London’s unique position in the British office market and the growth of life sciences into a notable real estate market.
The BCO also launched its newwebsite last week which reflects and supports today’s office sector, with clear, user-friendly access to essential resources such as BCO guides and research. It will showcase the best in office design while providing all the latest BCO news and details of upcoming BCO events.
Richard Kauntze, Chief Executive of the BCO, said: “It will be bitter-sweet to say farewell to the BCO next summer. It has been an honour to hold the role of chief executive with the organisation for what will be 25 years this November. I will always have great fondness of the BCO and I am excited to see how it will continue to grow and progress with the excellent Presidential Team. Meanwhile, I am delighted to be launching the London Regional Committee and the Life Sciences Committee in this final year, which I believe will offer new springboards for discussion on progressive topics in the sector.”
Despina Katsikakis, President of the BCO, said: “I would like to express deep gratitude personally and on behalf of the BCO committees and members for Richard’s extraordinary work and commitment. For a quarter of a century Richard has focused on growing and diversifying the BCO’s membership and driving forward its purpose to research, inform and inspire best practice and discussion of key issues. Throughout his tenure Richard has positioned the BCO as the guiding light for a dynamic commercial office sector, a crucial role which we in the presidential team will continue to uphold and develop in line with the sector’s changing priorities and evolution.”
Peter Crowther, Senior Vice President of the BCO, said: “Fast approaching 25 years at the helm of the BCO, Richard has been a fantastic ambassador for the office sector, guiding members through economic recessions and the Covid-19 pandemic, to emerge stronger each time. Richard has steered the BCO to become one of Britain’s leading property bodies, producing publications heralded as ‘industry bibles’ and the BCO Awards have evolved to become acclaimed as the most rigorous and respected in our sector. He is an incredibly well-respected voice and leader in the industry. I am sure the entire membership and industry will join me in sincerely thanking Richard for his outstanding contribution and wishing him good health and happiness in his next chapter.”
ENDS
About the BCO
The British Council for Offices’ (BCO) mission is to research, develop and communicate best practice in all aspects of the office sector. It delivers this by providing a forum for the discussion and debate of relevant issues.
Established in 1990, the BCO is the UK’s leading forum for the discussion and debate of issues affecting the office sector.
Its members are all organisations involved in creating, acquiring, or occupying office space, whether architects, lawyers, surveyors, financial institutions, or public agencies. The BCO works to advance the collective understanding of its members, enabling them to work together to create more effective office space.
Crowther, Co-Founder of HERE, succeeds Cushman & Wakefield’s Despina Katsikakis, and GPE’s Helen Hare becomes Senior Vice President
LONDON, 27 June 2024: Peter Crowther, Co-Founder at HERE, has been elected President of the British Council for Offices (BCO) with immediate effect, following yesterday’s BCO annual general meeting. He succeeds Despina Katsikakis, Executive Partner & Global Lead, Total Workplace at Cushman & Wakefield.
The presidential team also sees Helen Hare, Director of Projects at GPE, take on the role of Senior Vice President, following on from Crowther in the role. Andy McBain, Head of Future of Workspace & Design at NatWest Group, becomes the new Junior Vice President.
Crowther brings to the role expertise in navigating the intersection between the office and other sectors, as well as a passion for creating and delivering innovative and sustainable workplaces. His career spans more than 25 years in real estate. In his previous role as Chief Development Officer at Bruntwood SciTech, Crowther led the evolution of the company’s development portfolio since he joined in 1997, including the advent of its commercial, science and technology joint venture with Legal & General in 2018.
In April 2024, Crowther co-founded HERE, with fellow Bruntwood alumnus Kate Lawlor. HERE is a development management and advisory company focused on the acquisition, reinvention, repositioning and ongoing management of operational real estate – with a focus on commercial offices and laboratory spaces.
Crowther first joined the BCO in 2010, acting as a member of the BCO’s Northern Regional Committee. He was also a member of the National Awards Judging Panel between 2012 and 2017, acting as Chair of the panel in 2015.
Last month, Crowther chaired the BCO’s Annual Conference in Birmingham, which was themed “creating vibrancy”. Crowther was instrumental in involving the BCO’s NextGen cohort – the 25% of BCO members who are aged 35 and under – in the organisation of conference panels on topics including how culture shapes workplaces.
Crowther’s focus as BCO President will be on how the sector can continue to evolve in response to the challenges posed by climate change and rapid technological advancements through solutions such as retrofit and the integration of AI, while improving occupier-experience for all.
During her 12-month presidency, Katsikakis championed the role of the office in supporting environmental, social and economic resilience and providing inspiring places for people to thrive. Katsikakis took part in the organisation of the BCO’s inaugural ESG conference and oversaw the launch of the BCO’s new research agenda in January this year. This significant update included the development of the BCO’s ‘2030 vision for the office’, concentrating on four pillars: economy, business, technology, and ESG.
Katsikakis also led the undertaking of a new research initiative to define the parameters of customer experience and create a new BCO awards category, acknowledging that the future of the office will be characterised by a greater focus on people and experience.
Other changes to the BCO’s Presidential Team include Helen Hare’s promotion to Senior Vice President. Bruce Paterson, Founding Partner at Quantem, continues in his role as Honorary Treasurer.
Peter Crowther, President of the BCO and Co-Founder at HERE, said: “It is an honour to take on the role of BCO President. As we adapt to the new realities of hybrid, tech-enabled working conditions, the role of the office will continue to adapt to best meet the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s workers. I look forward to working with the BCO committees across the regions and the NextGen as we explore new models for office design and operation, and how commercial real estate can feed into the broader development of UK cities.”
Despina Katsikakis, Immediate Past President of the BCO and Executive Partner & Global Lead, Total Workplace at Cushman & Wakefield, said: “My warmest congratulations to Peter for his appointment as President of the BCO. It has been a pleasure to hold the position of BCO President over the past year and to be part of the organisation’s ongoing evolution. For me, finding new platforms for collaboration and testing ideas is one of the most important ways forward and the BCO continues to play a vital part in the industry by giving members from different sectors the chance to come together to learn from each other. I am excited to see what Peter will achieve in the coming year and look forward to continuing to support BCO members through my new position as Immediate Past President.”
Richard Kauntze, Chief Executive of the BCO, said: “I am delighted to welcome Peter Crowther to the role of BCO President. Peter has made his mark in the commercial sector as an innovative and ambitious leader, and I am a great admirer of Peter’s collaborative and creative vision for the future of the workplace. It was a huge pleasure to work alongside him on the curation of this year’s BCO conference in Birmingham, where his focus on social value and inclusivity was brought to the fore. I wish him the very best for this new role and look forward to seeing all he will accomplish during his presidential year.
“My sincere thanks go to Despina Katsikakis for her outstanding work over the past year. Despina has been a formidable leader for the BCO. Despina’s work with the BCO’s Research Committee to launch new research pillars to set the parameters for upcoming papers demonstrates her ongoing role in guiding the office sector as it continues to evolve in response to changing occupier needs, economic shifts, the rapid progression of workplace tech and growing sustainability standards. Despina’s human-centric approach, her inquisitive nature and her clear passion for creating spaces with wellbeing at their heart have left a lasting impression on the BCO.”
“I would also like to thank Bruce Paterson for his dedication and continued work as BCO’s Honorary Treasurer, congratulate Helen Hare, who now becomes our Senior Vice President, and welcome Andy McBain, our new Junior Vice President.”
ENDS –
About the BCO
The British Council for Offices (BCO) is the UK’s leading member organisation representing the interests of all those who occupy, design, build, own or manage offices in the UK. The BCO leads on thought leadership and best practice in all issues related to the creation and use of office space – through its research, awards, conference and events programmes. You can learn more about the BCO at www.bco.org.uk.
Key recommendations include the development of the BCO’s ‘2030 vision for the office’. Four priority focus areas are identified in the Research Programme Working Document, which sets the agenda for upcoming research over the near and medium term. These are economy, business, technology and ESG (environmental, social and governance).
The agenda is a direct response to the current and ongoing dynamics in the office sector. It seeks to focus the BCO’s research on the areas where in-depth understanding is most needed of fast-moving trends and emerging opportunities. The publication aims to lay the groundwork for a new vision of the office as an economically productive, occupier-first, technologically enabled and sustainable part of our built environment.
The papers are introduced by a forward from Bill Hughes, Global Head of Real Assets at Legal and General Investment Management, and have been authored by leading industry specialists, who explore economy, business, technology and ESG, respectively:
Nick Axford, Global Head of Research at Avison Young,
Chris Kane, Co-Founder at EverythingOmni,
Nigel Miller, Managing Director at Cordless Consultants
and Hannah Davis, Director at Faithful+Gould.
Each paper identifies a series of key changes facing the office sector and how the BCO will lead investigation and discussion around them, resulting in new innovation and exemplar solutions.
This includes:
re-evaluating the notion of offices as capital assets in light of the broader role of offices as a source of community and place-making in the UK’s new and shifting economic geography;
responding to the rise of consumer power and rapidly changing business priorities by establishing an improved dialogue between the property industry and its occupiers;
developing strategic industry guidance around technology and its adoption in build and fit-out process;
working towards a common definition of ESG principles and providing technical guidance on full life cycle sustainability for office designers, planners, operators and asset managers.
An integral part of the brief for each research pillar was the need to consider change, not only in terms of the detailed issues being faced today but, critically, to take a longer-term perspective in order to anticipate challenges and turn them into opportunities.
Each pillar topic also considers the social relevance of the office as a fully integrated part of the broader infrastructure of UK cities and towns.
Intended to spark discussion, the BCO’s Research Committee will use this publication as a basis for its ongoing research around these subjects.
Members can download the BCO Programme Working Document here.
Helen has over 30 years’ experience in the construction and property industry. Having started her career as a quantity surveyor, she joined GPE as Project Manager, before becoming Head of Project Management and then Director of Projects in 2017 and 2019 respectively. More recently Helen’s role has been expanded and now includes responsibility for GPE’s Building Surveying and Technical Service teams.
Helen is an active member of the Construction Productivity Taskforce – which brings together leading figures in the construction industry to undertake practical interventions designed to make the sector more productive. The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) also welcomed Helen as Industry Chair earlier this year for its Building and Places Group.
Helen has been involved with the BCO since 2013, when she led the tours programme for the BCO’s annual conference in Madrid. More recently, Helen was the Chair of the Judging panel for the BCO Regional Awards for London in 2022 and 2023.
Helen Hare, GPE's Director of Projects
Helen joins current President, Despina Katsikakis of Cushman & Wakefield, and Senior Vice President, Peter Crowther of Bruntwood, on the BCO’s Board of Management.
Helen brings a wealth of knowledge to her new role as Junior Vice President as well as a passion for unlocking the potential of young people in the real estate sector and building the confidence of those new to the industry.
In her role at GPE, she holds responsibility for the delivery, procurement and maintenance of all projects across the development and flex workspace programme, future pipeline and existing managed portfolio.
In addition to her role at the BCO, Helen is a regular speaker at industry events and acts as a mentor for Mentoring Circle, an organisation which seeks to address the gender diversity gap at senior leadership level in the built environment.
Helen Hare, Director of Projects at GPE, said:
“It is an honour to be asked to join the British Council for Offices as its Junior Vice President. Having been part of the organisation for over ten years’ and seen first-hand its importance for informing, inspiring and sharing best practice, taking on a leadership role feels like a natural transition and I look forward to working with the BCO team as it continues to support the ongoing evolution of the office sector.”
Richard Kauntze, Chief Executive of the BCO, said:
“Helen is a great addition to the BCO’s Presidential team. She has been a long-standing supporter of the BCO for many years, and I have no doubt that Helen will make an outstanding contribution to our organisation. Helen’s extensive experience will be invaluable to the BCO as we continue to make the case for the office as an integral part of our cities.”
About the BCO
The British Council for Offices’ (BCO) mission is to research, develop and communicate best practice in all aspects of the office sector. It delivers this by providing a forum for the discussion and debate of relevant issues.
Established in 1990, the BCO is the UK’s leading forum for the discussion and debate of issues affecting the office sector.
Its members are all organisations involved in creating, acquiring, or occupying office space, whether architects, lawyers, surveyors, financial institutions, or public agencies. The BCO works to advance the collective understanding of its members, enabling them to work together to create more effective office space.
Media Contact:
For further information please contact ING Media BCO@ing-media.com / + 44 (0) 20 7247 8334
The awards dinner, with guest speaker Jeremy Vine, attracted over 1,200 key players from the industry. The winners of the BCO Regional Awards were among the attendees at Grosvenor House in London, hoping to take home the National Award for their category.
The winners of the BCO National Awards 2023 are:
Best of the Best – Barclays Glasgow Campus
Corporate Workplace – Barclays Glasgow Campus
Highly commended – TJX Watford Campus
Commercial Workplace – One Portwall Square, Bristol
Fit Out of Workplace – Diageo 1HQ, London
Projects up to 1,500m² – Threesixty Architecture Studio, Inverness
Highly commended – Calico, Manchester; The Kensington Building, London
Innovation – Five Bank Street, London
ESG – HERE Building, Thames Valley Park
Test of Time – White Collar Factory, London
Highly commended – Waterfront Point, Widnes
President’s Award – HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) Locations Programme
Barclays’ campus has successfully regenerated a derelict site on the bank of the River Clyde. It particularly impressed the judges with the benefits it has delivered for both employees and the wider community through considered placemaking and social initiatives. Combining such initiatives with exceptional workplace design makes it a “truly outstanding” project, the judges remarked. Notable for its focus on creating an inclusive and “barrier-free” working environment, the campus also deploys renewable energy technologies and houses an educational Sustainability Centre.
Another campus, home to TJX in Watford, was a highly commended Corporate Workplace for its positive contribution to the local area, where the retailer has been a key employer for 25 years.
Innovation in design and delivery earned One Portwall Square the Commercial Workplace prize. The judges were particularly struck by the building’s pioneering mixed mode ventilation and cooling systems. Generous floor to ceiling heights, roof terraces on every level and a touchless journey throughout the building also contribute to its success.
Described as “clever and thought through” by the judges, Diageo’s new global HQ is the winner of the Fit Out of Workplace award. As part of the refit of the space, generous interventions such as a striking feature staircase make connectivity a focal point. The judges also noted that state of the art technology has been deployed with a user experience that is both functional and inspirational.
The prize for Projects up to 1,500m² went to Threesixty Architecture’s own studio in Inverness, for making an impact larger than its relatively small scale and demonstrating a commitment to “walking the walk”. To support the recovery of the high street, the office plays host equally well to yoga classes as a venue for the RIAS convention. A sensitive approach to construction procurement saw the extensive use of local trades to create a beautifully crafted workspace.
The judges found Sycamore House’s transformation from tired and underutilised storage shed to cutting edge office “truly inspirational”. In the Refurbished/Recycled Workplace category, award-winning building, modern and flexible workspaces combine with vibrant communal areas to encourage interaction between occupiers. Large meeting spaces, a welcoming café, winter gardens, and clever use of height and volume create a space that the judges said feels genuinely collaborative.
The BCO celebrated the abundance of high-quality entries to the Refurbished/Recycled Workplace category by highly commending two projects. At Calico, a clear distinction between Grade II-listed building fabric and new interventions – including art, colour and texture – won the judges over. The Kensington Building was recognised for its beauty, biodiversity and sustainability credentials.
At Five Bank Street, the judges felt that the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD) demonstrated a passion for doing the right thing, both socially and environmentally, while providing a state-of-the-art office environment for its workforce and clients. A materials passport and deconstruction guide for the project was one of the reasons the judges decided it was worthy of the Innovation award. On-going post occupancy evaluation also stood out as exemplary.
Through the creative repositioning of the HERE Building, a forensic approach was adopted to tracking and minimising its carbon impact. The winner of the ESG award exemplifies how data-led design can deliver an aspirational product. Its timber atrium is a tangible expression of how ESG has permeated every aspect of the project, redefining how a business park can meet the needs of today’s occupiers.
White Collar Factory, a previous winner of the BCO’s National Innovation Award in 2018, was presented the Test of Time award. Described by the judges as “a very brave project” that created the next generation flexible office, the building has allowed businesses to grow, during and beyond the pandemic, and is now fully let.
Highly commended for the Test of Time award, Waterfront Point felt to the judges like “a real home” for the workforce of Halton Housing and has been easily adapted to reflect changes to the business post-Covid.
The President’s Award was presented to HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) Locations Programme, a more than decade-long workplace restructure and estate transformation within one of the UK’s biggest employers. In that time, 11 new or refurbished HMRC offices have been in the running for the BCO’s Regional Awards. 73,000 civil servants now benefit from smarter working and a more supportive culture – increasing colleague satisfaction to 88%. At the same time, the new regional centres enable better service to taxpayers, while supporting levelling up and local communities.
Despina Katsikakis, President of the BCO, said: “In addition to impressive estates savings, what is of particular importance to the BCO is how workplaces are making a positive social impact. As we consider the future role and value of offices, a programme that actively focuses on creating more resilient cities, communities, and societies is highly commendable. We are honoured to give HMRC our 2023 BCO President’s Award for just such a programme.”
Richard Kauntze, Chief Executive of the BCO, commented: “It’s always a joy for the industry to come together at the BCO National Awards to celebrate best-in-class office design. This year, all of the winners demonstrated a clear passion and commitment which goes beyond simple commercial excellence. Putting ESG at the heart of their decision-making was undoubtedly more evident, shining a light on the meaningful role that offices play in society.”
Mike Burton, Director at AECOM and Chair of the BCO’s National Judging Panel, added: “Visiting and evaluating the shortlisted projects for this year’s BCO National Awards has been a pleasure. It has been truly inspirational to see such a high level of holistic design thinking and innovation. The winners have set new standards for the next generation of offices, and I would like to congratulate all of the teams involved.”
ENDS
For further information please contact ING Media BCO@ing-media.com / + 44 (0) 20 7247 8334
Notes to editors
About the BCO
The British Council for Offices (BCO) is the UK’s leading member organisation representing the interests of all those who occupy, design, build, own or manage offices in the UK. Since inception in 1990, the BCO has provided thought leadership and best practice in all issues related to the creation and use of office space – through to its research, awards, conference and events programmes.
www.bco.org.uk
X: @BCO_UK Instagram: @BCO_UK Facebook: BCOonline
About the BCO National Awards
For more information about the BCO Awards and the winners, please visit the BCO website (www.bco.org.uk). Entries for the 2024 BCO Awards competition open on Wednesday 4 October 2023 and close on Friday 24 November 2023.
The Platinum sponsor of the BCO National Awards 2023 is ISG. Gold sponsors are AECOM, Glamox Luxonic, SAS International and Troup Bywaters + Anders. Silver sponsors are Barr Gazetas, GPF Lewis, Quantem, Quartz and Rider Levett Bucknall.
The BCO Awards are in association with EG.
Image caption here
Abo. Nequi re porrum apero vent dolum am solora voluptatis sundi reptates etur asperit lacea quis necaborem doluptat.
Volor sit, te eius, niste non nonet eati unt, nusam re, omnist quas parions entent ime esequi beatibus.
Xerchil mint magnistium vel maio. Ihillores etur, ut inte solescit qui beritis di imagnisse vendi doluptae audia asinime nihicab orumet es earumqu untendi ullique et a eum esectur aut voloristio et est que nihil enetum vitat doluptur aut repellesti corrum int
faccuptatem et ma velit hiciis pos estion reptatium volupta tesciassime sequia volore num cus sitempo rendigent, ullit mint volo ium ad eum am voluptam hilia que omnimus, sunt facepel ma pe nonsequ iaectem poribustem. Aximusci voluptatur archil int et fugia sundunt magnimagni ut quia que ex eum volutenihil ipsam doluptaspero corumque vel idendundae pa dolorum lab idebis destio delibea quossequi dolenis sapelliquam recatatior rem core platibusanis dolecepe mintem aut lab ipsam inissint re, adigendel idenis es denis ullabor erestenet magnis magnam quo tem excepel ium in rest, te diciatem faccupt ationsequam fugitat.
Despina Katsikakis, Executive Partner & Global Lead, Total Workplace at Cushman & Wakefield, has been elected as President of the British Council for Offices (BCO) with immediate effect. She succeeds Mark Kowal, Partner at Sheppard Robson. Peter Crowther, Managing Director at Bruntwood, becomes Senior Vice President today.
Despina is one of the leading voices in the office sector. She has over 35 years of experience advising global companies such as Microsoft, Barclays,Unilever and BP as well as investors of landmark developments worldwide. She pioneered the role of workplace consultancy in the 1980s and led the transformation of the workplace as an experience. In her role at Cushman & Wakefield and, as President of the British Council for Offices, she continues to lead on latest trends, guiding the approach towards offices that enhance employee wellbeing, deliver social value and business performance.
Since joining the BCO’s Board of Management in 2021, Despina has advocated for a human-centric approach to workspaces. She chaired the 2023 BCO Conference in Dublin, which explored how offices can contribute to ensuring the social, economic and environmental sustainability of cities. As BCO President she will champion the role of the office in supporting resilience and providing inspiring places for people and society to thrive.
Mark Kowal’s 16-month presidency focused on the overarching ambition of maintaining the relevance of the BCO in a fast-shifting context. This saw a launch of bold changes to the BCO’s Guide to Specification to address both hybrid working and revised net zero carbon targets.
Other changes to the BCO’s Presidential Team include Peter Crowther’s promotion to Senior Vice President. Peter is Managing Director at Bruntwood and joined the BCO Board of Management in 2022. He served in the BCO Northern Region Committee and the National Awards Judging Panel.
The BCO’s Honorary Treasurer, James Clark, Partner at Core Five will also be standing down and is to be succeeded by Bruce Paterson, Founding Partner at Quantem.
Despina Katsikakis, an Executive Partner at Cushman & Wakefield
Despina Katsikakis, President of the BCO and Executive Partner & Global Lead, Total Workplace at Cushman & Wakefield, said: ‘It is an honour to be appointed President of the BCO. With the role of the office increasingly focused on people, experience and social impact, under my leadership the BCO will focus on the unprecedented level of change that is affecting our industry, to drive research and provide a forum for discussion of how we can develop new skills, measures and indices that will shape inspiring offices for a resilient future. I am looking forward to working closely with the BCO committees and members to share knowledge, ideas and debates.’
Mark Kowal, Immediate Past President of the BCO and Partner at Sheppard Robson, said: ‘It has been an honour to be President of the BCO and I thank the organisation and its Board of Management for all their support. In my term, I was committed to readdress the role of the office in our lives, and shape how buildings can encourage innovative and fresh thinking, while introducing greener solutions. My focus remains on supporting the BCO as Immediate President and I wish best of luck to Despina for her presidency.’
Richard Kauntze, Chief Executive of the BCO, said: ‘I am delighted to welcome Despina Katsikakis as President of the BCO. Despina is a hugely respected and experienced thought-leader on the workplace and, as Senior Vice President, led the BCO’s sell out annual conference in June. I wish her every success for her presidential year.
I would like to thank Mark Kowal for his exceptional hard work and dedication during his presidency. As the office sector emerged from the pandemic, under Mark’s leadership the BCO has continued to strengthen its role as a leading voice in office design and workplace trends. Mark was an outstanding President of the BCO and should be hugely proud of all he achieved.
I must also express my gratitude for James Clark, who is stepping down as the BCO’s Honorary Treasurer, for his commitment and service to the organisation. It is a pleasure to welcome Bruce Paterson as the incoming Honorary Treasurer.”
– ENDS-
About the BCO
The British Council for Offices (BCO) is the UK’s leading member organisation representing the interests of all those who occupy, design, build, own or manage offices in the UK. The BCO leads on thought leadership and best practice in all issues related to the creation and use of office space – through its research, awards, conference and events programmes. You can learn more about the BCO at www.bco.org.uk.
Scotland’s most outstanding workplaces have been announced, with British Council for Offices (BCO) Awards going to seven office buildings across the country. Held today at Glasgow’s Grand Central Hotel, the BCO’s annual Scottish Awards Lunch recognised projects that demonstrate best practice in office design, fit-out, operation and sustainability, setting the standard for excellence across the sector.
The winners of this year’s competition in Scotland stand out for their user-centred design credentials, as well as their creative implementation of wellbeing and sustainability measures. This year has seen the addition of a new prize – the ESG Award – recognising a workplace that will have a game changing influence on the environment, social value, governance or sustainable outcomes in the commercial building sector.
The BCO Award winners for Scotland are:
ThreeSixty Architecture Studio, Inverness (Projects up to 1500 sq m)
Leven Office Project, Dumbarton (Refurbished / Recycled workplace)
Brodies, Capital Square, Edinburgh (Fit-out of Workplace)
Barclays Glasgow Campus (Corporate Workplace)
177 Bothwell Street (Commercial Workplace)
Barclays Glasgow Campus (Innovation)
Barclays Glasgow Campus (ESG)
The Committee Chair’s Award, for an outstanding contribution to the Scottish property industry, was also presented to Stephen Lewis of HFD Property.
Barclays’ new Glasgow Campus, which won three Awards, had been clear from the outset that its mission was to make a positive difference for both its teams and the city of Glasgow. Featuring 400,000ft2 of office space for 5,000 staff within three acres of regreened public realm, the project is truly transformative in repairing the fabric of this area of the city, whilst offering an incredibly inclusive ‘best in class’ environment for its people.
The judging team commented that the new campus is an excellent example of public and private co-operation and a prime example of developer and tenant working together to achieve a more efficient outcome. The three buildings significantly regenerate the surrounding area of Tradeston and the internal public squares and streets create engaging public areas for the benefit of the wider community.
ThreeSixty Architecture Studio in Inverness took the award for Projects up to 1500 sqm. Recently relocated to accommodate its growing team, the new space was selected with the staff’s wellbeing in mind, providing a welcoming and comfortable environment for the team. Providing the opportunity to support the company’s culture, values, and design collaboration in a purpose-built environment, the new office is designed to foster creativity and is equipped with state-of-the-art technology.
The judges commented that Threesixty Architecture has skilfully crafted a workspace from a high street retail unit that embodies their brand values, with clever use of planting in the shop windows drawing attention to the high street and adding an element of intrigue. It is a remarkable example of repurposing retail space that would have otherwise remained vacant and engaging the local supply chain.
Chivas Brothers’ Leven Office Project took Best Refurbished / Recycled workplace.
The aim for this refurbishment was that it would be of an equal standard to their Glasgow and Chiswick offices and radically improve visitor arrival experiences, unite their teams and create a healthy attractive environment for their people.
The judges noted that a once unwelcoming, convoluted and underwhelming space has been transformed into a workplace that offers inspirational environments, high-quality welfare facilities and new staff wellbeing and social facilities.
Brodies LLP was presented with the Award for Workplace Fit-Out. Having relocated into the top three floors of Capital Square, Brodies were open to dramatic and transformational change, both in terms of the way they work and the space they work within. Their trailblazing approach has provided the opportunity to create something innovative and progressive in the legal sector.
The judging team commented that Brodies has exemplified a progressive move towards a workplace that embraces the wellbeing of their employees and provides a stimulating environment to foster the return to the office.
HFD Property Group’s 177 Bothwell Street took best Commercial Workplace. Standing at a gateway into Glasgow city centre on a site that had been vacant for over 10 years, HFD Property Group has delivered the largest multi-let office building in the City Centre comprising 316,000ft2 of Grade A office accommodation, with market leading sustainability credentials. The building also prioritises wellness, with a rooftop running track set within an 8,000 ft2 roof terrace.
The judges commented that HFD has achieved unrivalled success with 177 Bothwell Street with the building exceeding the standards expected of a commercial workplace. Even after initial lettings, enhancements were being made to the development including enhancing the glass specification and the decision to locate a data centre with full generator protection providing a unique offer to tenants. The success of the development is underlined by the 100% pre-letting of the space.
Gillian Stewart, Chair of the BCO in Scotland, said: “Every year we see the standards of office design in Scotland surpass our expectations, as developers and occupiers innovate, push boundaries, and create the unexpected. This year has seen a particular emphasis on the human face of workspace, with wellness and physical and mental health driving change at a design level.
“What we need now is to return to the office in more capacity than we are currently, not only to give the office sector purpose, but more importantly to regenerate and build our local economies. More people in our cities will create demand for retail, leisure, entertainment, and hospitality, and benefit society as a whole.”
The Scottish winners will compete for the BCO National Awards in October 2023.
The lead sponsor for this year’s BCO Awards is ISG. Category and Gold sponsors are AECOM, Glamox Luxonic, Troup Bywaters + Anders and SAS International. Regional Sponsors are Ryden and Autex Accoustics. The BCO awards are in association with EG.
ENDS
About the BCO
The British Council for Offices’ (BCO) mission is to research, develop and communicate best practice in all aspects of the office sector. It delivers this by providing a forum for the discussion and debate of relevant issues.
Established in 1990, the BCO is the UK’s leading forum for the discussion and debate of issues affecting the office sector.
Its members are all organisations involved in creating, acquiring, or occupying office space, whether architects, lawyers, surveyors, financial institutions, or public agencies. The BCO works to advance the collective understanding of its members, enabling them to work together to create more effective office space.
The Midlands and Central England’s most outstanding workplaces have been announced, with British Council for Offices Awards going to five office buildings across the region. Held at ICC in Birmingham, the BCO’s annual Midlands and Central Awards Lunch recognised projects that demonstrate best practice in office design, fit-out, operation and sustainability, setting the standard for excellence across the sector.
The winners of this year’s competition in the Midlands and Central England stand out for their user-centred design credentials, as well as their creative implementation of wellbeing and sustainability measures. This year has seen the addition of a new prize – the ESG Award – recognising a workplace that will have a game changing influence on the environment, social value, governance or sustainable outcomes in the commercial building sector.
The BCO Regional Award winners for the Midlands and Central England are:
●Cadent Gas, Ansty Park, Pilot Way, Coventry (ESG)
The striking new Watford headquarters of TJXEurope received the award for Best Corporate Workplace. The project sits in a campus of three buildings, with this c.160,000 sq ft centrepiece linked to the other two refurbished buildings via a bold new bridge, creating a collection of connected villages. The judges were impressed to see sustainability and employee wellbeing play a defining role in the design and purpose of this outstanding development. Comfortable and eclectic work and social spaces are shaped around the company’s culture, with the building providing flexibility to keep pace with future requirements.
103 Colmore Row in Birmingham was crowned Best Commercial Workplace. The judges were struck by the respectful way in which this ambitious 26-storey development has changed the city’s skyline without dominating the conservation area in which it lies. The predominately glazed façade allows 103 Colmore Row to reflect the streetscape around it, while the muted palette of grey and black finishes gives the building a classic, timeless feel. A dramatic entrance art gallery, roof terrace and restaurant provide amenities for tenants and visitors alike, with stunning views. The judging panel commended the project for its bravery and success, with more than 80% of the building let or under offer.
Roku’s office at Building 2, Cambridge Science Park was awarded Best Fit Out of Workplace. This fast track fit out blends traditional office areas with workstation laboratory space to allow the company to test its products in a secure environment. The judging panel applauded Building 2 for the steps taken to minimise operational carbon usage and embodied carbon in the design and build. Embracing BCO’s Guide to Specification, the building showcases Roku’s brand, ethos and culture by carefully accommodating the needs of its workforce and encouraging cross collaboration with other businesses in the science park.
The Refurbished/Recycled Workplace award went to Sycamore House in Stevenage, an office that challenges the idea of what makes a good workspace. The building was unanimously acclaimed by the judging panel for its transformation from an unused metal shed into a cutting-edge life-science facility. Sub-divisible laboratory and office spaces co-exist with vibrant, communal areas that are served by a café and dramatically planted winter gardens. The overall effect is of a multi-tenanted building that feels light, open and genuinely collaborative, encouraging interaction between neighbouring start-up companies.
The ESG award was given to Cadent Gas for its c.100,000 sq ft purpose-built headquarters at Ansty Park, Coventry. The judges singled out this building for its impressive design which is focused on employee engagement and the health and wellbeing of occupants in a light-filled space. Its extensive on-site amenities include a restaurant and gymnasium, mother and baby rooms, multi faith areas, outdoor terracing and cycle storage. The panel also praised efforts to reduce the build’s carbon footprint, with locally sourced materials and the use of the latest technology and energy saving measures contributing to first class BREEAM and EPC ratings.
Lee Jones, Partner at Quantem and Chair of the BCO Midlands and Central Judging Panel said: “The calibre of this year’s awards has pushed the boundaries of workplace design. The emphasis on carbon reduction, decrease of fossil fuel use and a true focus on the health and wellbeing of all who use workplaces has been outstanding.”
Rob van Zyl, Building Services Partner at Cundall and Chairman of the BCO Midlands and Central committee said: “These offices represent best practice in a post-pandemic world. Society has been forever changed, and with it the workplace of the future is emerging. These outstanding projects demonstrate what can be achieved by creative and dedicated teams who are delivering exceptional offices for the Midlands and Central England.”
Midlands and Central England winners will compete for the BCO National Awards on Tuesday 3 October 2023.
The lead sponsor for this year’s BCO Awards is ISG. Category and Gold sponsors are AECOM, Glamox Luxonic, SAS International and Troup Bywaters + Anders. This year’s regional sponsors are Overbury and Quantem. The BCO awards are in association with EG.
ENDS
About the BCO
The British Council for Offices’ (BCO) mission is to research, develop and communicate best practice in all aspects of the office sector. It delivers this by providing a forum for the discussion and debate of relevant issues.
Established in 1990, the BCO is the UK’s leading forum for the discussion and debate of issues affecting the office sector.
Its members are all organisations involved in creating, acquiring, or occupying office space, whether architects, lawyers, surveyors, financial institutions, or public agencies. The BCO works to advance the collective understanding of its members, enabling them to work together to create more effective office space. www.bco.org.uk
South of England’s and South Wales’s most outstanding workplaces have been announced, with British Council for Offices Awards going to six office buildings across the region. Held at The City Hall in Cardiff, the BCO’s annual South of England and South Wales Awards Dinner recognised projects that demonstrate best practice in office design, fit-out, operation and sustainability, setting the standard for excellence across the sector.
The winners of this year’s competition in the South of England and South Wales stand out for their user-centred design credentials, as well as their creative implementation of wellbeing and sustainability measures. This year has seen the addition of a new prize – the ESG Award – recognising a workplace that will have a game changing influence on the environment, social value, governance or sustainable outcomes in the commercial building sector.
The BCO Regional Award winners for South England and South Wales are:
One Portwall Square, Bristol (Best Commercial Workplace)
HERE Building, HERE + NOW, Thames Valley Park (ESG)
One Portwall Square in Bristol succeeded in the category of Best Commercial Workplace. The innovative building demonstrates what can be achieved on a compact city centre site, even in the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic. The six-storey Grade A office building of 35,750 sq ft was constructed on the site of disused squash courts and provides desirable sustainable workplace to the Bristol office market. A key focus of the building was placed on wellbeing and environmental performance. The judges were particularly impressed by the pioneering mixed mode heating, ventilation and cooling system, incorporating passive ventilation with traffic light system and concrete core cooling through embedded pipework in the exposed floor slabs. Occupier experience in the building is enhanced through roof terraces on every level and a touchless journey throughout the building.
Winning the award for Best Corporate Workplace, CABI Headquarters in Wallingford convinced the judges with its holistic design scheme which incorporated the occupier’s brand into the building. Its excellent environmental credentials are combined with a passive approach to design and a focus on biodiversity, with a sweeping green roof that meets the landscape seamlessly. The judges highlighted the strong collaboration between the client, design and construction team which delivered this successful scheme on a very impressive budget for a not-for-profit organisation.
A highly flexible space that took home the award for Best Fit out Workplace was Clockwisein Southampton. A clever design, careful use of colour and furnishing has transformed a tired 1990’s office building into an inviting, open and collaborative environment. The scheme has been designed with flexibility in mind. It provides a range of communal spaces as well as a variety of office sizes. Office types are modular allowing office sizes to be modified in the future should the demand change. The project has focused on the use of sustainable and recycled, low VOC materials, lime-based paints, and using local marine waste to create select pieces of furniture. The design takes cues from luxury hospitality and residential design with a nod to Southampton’s Regency architecture. The judges described the winner as ‘an exceptional workspace that truly lift the spirits’.
Dock House in Bristol was crowned best Project up to 1,500sqm. This compact office on the Bristol harbour front seamlessly blends with surrounding buildings while excelling with bold office fit out, including a secret meeting room and purpose-built bar. The judges highlighted how this office is a perfect example of where an occupier ‘expresses their personality through fixtures and décor’. The building was commercially successful, having been fully let.
Campus Reading International received the award for Best Refurbished/Recycled Workplace. 500,000sq ft of office space has been refurbished to create a space which has ESG and wellness at its core. Moving away from a reliance on fossil fuels, electric heat pumps have been implemented, and over 95% materials removed from site have been reused. The Social Value Bank has worked alongside the project to track and demonstrate the project’s social impact. The building has been designed for flexibility delivering a range of options from fully fitted incubator space to CAT A fit out and shell and core space. Occupiers benefit from high-quality amenity including a restaurant, town hall space, and a gym and wellness suite. The project was awarded a wide range of credentials including BREEAM Excellent, WiredScore Platinum, ActiveScore Gold ratings, WELL Platinum and WELL Health Safety. The judges were convinced by the building’s impressive scale and success demonstrated by positive occupier feedback.
The HERE Building, part of the HERE + NOW complex in Thames Valley Park, was the winner of the newly created ESG category. This building is carbon neutral in operation and in construction and embraces circularity by reusing the old HVAC system in the sister building next door. The design team was challenged to design out any excess to minimise upfront carbon and the residual carbon was offset using a high-quality offset programme. Architecturally, the building has been designed sympathetically to the existing fabric and internal features. The judges were stunned by meeting rooms ‘hung from the building’ and occupier wellness initiatives such as a premium gym and personal training, as well as cycling and treatment rooms.
The South of England and South Wales winners will compete for the BCO National Awards in October 2023.
Matthew Heaman, Director at Hoare Lea and the British Council for Offices’ South of England and South Wales Committee Chairman, said: “The BCO’s regional awards are an annual highlight for the office sector in this vibrant area of the country. It is a great occasion that allows us to convene and celebrate the best of the best that workplace has to offer. This year’s winners across the South of England and South Wales are beacons of innovation in sustainable office-sector design. Importantly, they also offer impressive examples of how design can enhance work culture and support employee wellbeing. Congratulations to all our regional winners and good luck for the BCO National Awards 2023.”
Catherine Macpherson, Project Director at Hoare Lea and South of England and South Wales Judging Chair, said: “This year’s winners for the South of England and South Wales demonstrate the meaningful role that offices continue to play in our region. The impressive projects that the judges visited this year showcase the office’s potential to harness creativity and community. Sustainability and decarbonisation played a key role in this year’s winning projects, whether through retrofit, reuse and electrification. Our winners are at the forefront of sustainable office design.”
The lead sponsor for this year’s BCO Awards is ISG. Gold sponsors are AECOM, Glamox Luxonic, Troup Bywaters + Anders and SAS International. Silver sponsor is Hoare Lea and Bronze Sponsor is Invest in Cardiff. The BCO awards are in association with EG.
ENDS
About the BCO
The British Council for Offices’ (BCO) mission is to research, develop and communicate best practice in all aspects of the office sector. It delivers this by providing a forum for the discussion and debate of relevant issues.
Established in 1990, the BCO is the UK’s leading forum for the discussion and debate of issues affecting the office sector.
Its members are all organisations involved in creating, acquiring, or occupying office space, whether architects, lawyers, surveyors, financial institutions, or public agencies. The BCO works to advance the collective understanding of its members, enabling them to work together to create more effective office space.
The north’s most outstanding workplaces have been announced, with prestigious British Council for Offices (BCO) Awards going to seven landmark office buildings across the region.
Held last night (Thursday 27th April) at Manchester’s Kimpton Clocktower, the BCO’s annual Northern Awards recognise projects that demonstrate best practice in office design, fit-out, operation and sustainability, setting the standard for excellence across the sector.
The BCO Regional Award winners for the North were:
University of Sheffield AMRC North West, Samlesbury, Lancashire (Projects up to 1,500 sqm)
Calico, 53-55 Mosley Street, Manchester (Refurbished/Recycled Workplace)
Brabners Manchester, 100 Barbirolli Square, Manchester (Fit out of Workplace)
The Lincoln, Lincoln Square, Brazennose Street, Manchester (Commercial Workplace)
PZ Cussons Global HQ, Manchester Business Park (ESG)
Highly Commended workplaces were:
EE Tyneside, Newcastle upon Tyne(Fit out of Workplace)
The Ewart, Belfast(Commercial Workplace)
Commenting on each of the winners the judges noted the following:
The University of Sheffield AMRC North West really stood out with its triple-height atrium which creates a focal point, where occupiers can interact and exchange ideas. This ‘social heart’ space overlooks the workshop, where these ideas will inform innovative research into new manufacturing processes. The judges felt that flexibility was at the core of the design approach, with working spaces easily reconfigured as classrooms, seminar rooms or offices. The workshop offers varying zones which can be adapted for different tasks, accommodated through both the architectural and services design.
Calico, winner of the Refurbished/Recycled Workplace category is a sensitively refurbished industrial warehouse in Manchester city centre providing flexible workspace across five original storeys and a two-storey roof extension. The clear distinction between the Grade II-listed building fabric and new interventions celebrates a new period in the building’s history, while recognising its former use as an industrial warehouse.
Winner of the Fit out of Workplace category, the judges noted thatBrabner’s relocation to 100 Barbirolli Square in Manchester, provided a unique opportunity for the 200-year-old legal firm to transform the way it works and introduce colleagues to a modern working style. There is a transition away from floorplates dominated by enclosed offices and cellular workstations and a move towards an open, split-level workspace specifically designed to support hybrid and flexible working. Connected physically and visually through the creation of an internal staircase, the contemporary workplace gives people more choice in where and how they work, and offers a variety of hospitality areas for staff to interact with clients. The striking design promotes connection and collaboration in an environment inspired by the history of Barbirolli Square, the Halle Orchestra and the concept of sound.
For Stockport Council’s Stopford House the judges awarded the Best Corporate Workplace award saying the space is inspiring, supportive of both work and wellbeing in a flexible, logical and well-designed scheme. A 70’s Brutalist style building, its concrete panels are carefully matched to the council’s adjacent Neo-Wren Town Hall building. Taking a strong sustainable stance, the Council decided to repurpose Stopford House rather than building new. The design team delivered a full workplace strategy enabling the Council to adopt hybrid working and vacate other premises for alternative services. The building’s key architectural features were revealed and improvements made to make it more sustainable. The project has revolutionized the way in which Stockport Council works.
The Lincoln in Manchester city centre, which won the Commercial Workplace award, forms the centrepiece of the Lincoln Square regeneration initiative, a 12-year process involving multiple buildings and landowners which will create three new public spaces – Lincoln Square, Mulberry Square and The Hidden Gem Square. The Lincoln has been designed to positively create and interface with each of these spaces. The low, long form of the building was defined by a complex Rights of Light envelope which limited the height of the building. The judges noted that the vertical masonry and geometric façade design is informed by the surrounding Victorian architecture and said that The Lincoln is a high-quality, efficient workspace which offers excellent occupier amenity and well-being.
Winner of the ESG award, PZ Cussons Global HQ at Manchester Business Park was delivered in just 12 months from first meeting to handover of the reimagined space. The immersive brand-led workspace demonstrates how complex user engagement can be translated into a creative, future-proofed design, delivered in a way that is respectful to the external envelope of the building, the ongoing operations of a global business, the environment, and the budget.
Employee wellbeing was at the heart of the project, with the new destination office designed to encourage staff to come together. It features paces that give individuals complete control over their workspace, pioneering hybrid video conferencing capabilities for connectivity with global partners and a state-of-the-art fitness centre to ensure PZC’s team stay strong in body and mind. The team’s circular approached focussed on retaining, repurposing, local sourcing and donating materials for second life. Sustainability was a key factor for the management team and as a result the design concept allowed for the re-purposing of as much of the original fit out as possible.
Commenting on behalf of the judging panel Thomas Bone, Chair of the Northern Judges said: “The winners of this year’s BCO North Awards all really stood out for their highly sustainable approach to design, the novel approach to recycling and re-purposing of materials and well-planned, advanced workspace planning and consultation.
“This year saw the addition of a new prize – the ESG Award – recognising a workplace that will have a game changing influence on the environment, social value, governance or sustainable outcomes in the commercial building sector. We’re delighted that PZ Cussons is the winner of this inaugural category and the judges were really impressed with the strength of the ESG credentials which all of the winning entrants demonstrated.”
The Northern region winners will now compete for the BCO National Awards in October 2023.
The lead sponsor for this year’s BCO Awards is ISG. Category and Gold sponsors are AECOM, Glamox Luxonic, SAS International and Troup Bywaters + Anders. The BCO awards are in association with EG.
The British Council for Offices’ (BCO) mission is to research, develop and communicate best practice in all aspects of the office sector. It delivers this by providing a forum for the discussion and debate of relevant issues.
Established in 1990, the BCO is the UK’s leading forum for the discussion and debate of issues affecting the office sector.
Its members are all organisations involved in creating, acquiring, or occupying office space, whether architects, lawyers, surveyors, financial institutions, or public agencies. The BCO works to advance the collective understanding of its members, enabling them to work together to create more effective office space.
Peter Crowther appointed President of the British Council for Offices
Peter Crowther, Co-Founder at HERE, has been elected President of the British Council for Offices (BCO) with immediate effect, following yesterday’s BCO annual general meeting.
Make sure you’re kept up to date on BCO news and events by signing up to event and monthly newsletter emails. Emails direct to your inbox will ensure you receive opportunities to attend our events before they sell out. You can also opt-in to receive postal mailings from the BCO, including special event booking forms
June 27, 2024 
By BCO Media 
