SpaceInvader

Celebrating Excellence: Two Projects, Three Awards, One incredible night   Last Thursday, we had the honour of seeing our work recognised at the British Council for Offices (BCO) Northern Awards, and what a night it was. The BCO consistently champions high-quality design and sustainability in the workplace, encouraging progressive thinking across the industry. Its annual Northern Awards celebrate projects in our region that set the benchmark for excellence in office design, fit-out, and sustainability. Eden at New Bailey took home not one, but two awards: Best Commercial Workplace and the inaugural Environment, Social & Governance (ESG) Award. Designed to lead the way in sustainability, wellbeing, and low-carbon innovation, Eden is now the first new-build commercial project in the UK to achieve a 5.5-star NABERS UK rating. We’re proud to have helped bring this vision to life alongside an incredible team and grateful to ECF (Muse, Legal & General, and Homes England) for the opportunity to be part of it.   ECF | CHROMA | RPS | Make Architects | Woolgar Hunter Engineers | Cundall | Bowmer and Kirkland Ltd | Atelier Ten | OBI | JLL | BDO UK LLP I TLT LLP I Light Forms Ltd | J Carey Design I The Furniture Practice I Tarkett I Photography: Philippa Rustage Oldham Spindles also made its mark, taking home the Innovation Award, a special honour chosen by the BCO’s judges from all shortlisted entries. This recognition means a lot to us. Innovation is at the heart of what we do, and we’re proud to see that spirit reflected in this project. The redevelopment of a former shopping centre has breathed new life into the area, creating a modern, inclusive environment for the community. It’s more than just a renovation, it’s a reimagining of what a public space can be, one that fosters connection, creativity, and accessibility for all.   Oldham Council | AEW Architects | Hive Projects | Gleeds | Futureserv Consulting Engineers | WSP | Dalkia UK | Renaissance Associates Limited | JSP | Hilson Moran | Willmott Dixon | ADT Workplace | Jenkinsons | J Carey Design I CW Studio Ltd I Photography: Jak Spedding   To all our collaborators, clients, and teams, thank you! And congratulations to all the winners and nominees. It’s inspiring to see so much innovation and creativity being recognised within our region. Read more about these award winning projects here:https://lnkd.in/e3P_fxf9

The big night is here! Tonight, we come together at the British Council for Offices' Northern Awards Dinner, to celebrate the best in office design and workplace environments and we couldn’t be more excited. Good luck to all the finalists, it’s an honour to be part of such an incredible industry. We’re especially excited to see three of our projects shortlisted: Spindles, Oldham Council – Recycled Workplace category Eden at New Bailey – Commercial Workplace category Arden Square – Corporate Workplace category We can’t wait to recognise and acknowledge the achievements of our peers, and a massive thank you to our clients, team, and collaborators. Here's to celebrating the amazing projects and people in our industry! #BCOawards #CommercialDesign #InteriorDesign #WorkplaceDesign #SustainableDesign

Ever wondered what makes a great client-designer relationship? Thank you Design Week, for featuring our founder John Williams, in its recent article, 'Never Bullsh*t – What Client Services Want Designers to Know'. In it he discusses the art of balancing creativity with client needs. It’s not just about delivering beautiful spaces, it’s about truly understanding clients, respecting their vision, and using design to build trust and long-term partnerships. John puts it perfectly: “If both are equal, you end up with a differentiated and unique project. If you pander too much to what the client says, the client will have no respect for you and the project will disappoint. “If you railroad the client, the project won’t be effective, and you’ll be in danger of creating a house style – the last thing any design agency should aspire to.” This philosophy is at the heart of everything we do at SpaceInvader. We believe the best design happens when we listen closely, collaborate openly, and push boundaries while staying true to our clients’ needs. Read the full article for more design insights from industry leaders. https://lnkd.in/e2rb6xS8 #DesignInsider #OfficeDesign #InteriorDesign #CommercialInteriorDesign

Exciting news - Award Shortlisting We have been shortlisted for the North West Insider Media Property Awards 2025 in the Workplace Fit-out of the Year category, for our design of Overbury’s Manchester new office at Chancery Place. This project provides a vibrant, future-focused environment that combines sustainability, connectivity, and organic design. The project reflects Overbury’s commitment to delivering high-quality spaces that inspire both employees and clients, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. One of the standout features is the sculptural ceiling design, inspired by Overbury’s nautilus shell logo. Not only does it create a striking visual impact, but it also enhances the acoustics of the space. Sustainability was also at the heart of this project, with carefully selected low-embodied carbon materials, FSC-certified timber, and energy-efficient lighting, all contributing to the goal of achieving SKA Gold certification. We’re incredibly proud of this recognition and grateful to Overbury for their trust. A huge well done to everyone involved, an exceptional project team that made this possible. Looking forward to the winners being revealed later in May. Read more about the project here: https://lnkd.in/eG2ZpyWe Photography: SG Photography Limited #InsiderPropertyAwards2025 #WorkplaceDesign #Sustainability #commercialinteriors

Celebrating Thought Leadership at SpaceInvader - we are incredibly proud of our Associate Designer, Bethany Gibson, for contributing her insights to Design Insider's new editorial series, Workplace Matters. In her article, titled "The Mandatory Return to the Office", Beth explores the complexities of post-pandemic workplace strategies. Drawing on her extensive experience in workplace design, she reflects on the balance between the benefits of in-office collaboration and the flexibility of remote working. She also highlights key considerations for business leaders, from fostering company culture and supporting neurodivergent staff to managing financial implications and promoting employee wellbeing. Beth’s thoughtful contribution adds real value to this important conversation in workplace design, and we’re thrilled to see her expertise shared with a wider audience. We’re proud to see our team members shaping meaningful industry conversations. Fantastic work, Beth! Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eGaAz-YU #SpaceInvaderDesign #ThoughtLeadership #WorkplaceMatters #InteriorDesign #OfficeDesign #FlexibleWorking #Commercialinteriordesigner

Looking forward to MIPIM 2025 Our Founder, John Williams, will be in Cannes next week as part of the Place North delegation. MIPIM is always a great chance to meet familiar faces, make new connections, and spark ideas about the future of the built environment. At SpaceInvader, we’re all about designing spaces that inspire, whether it’s a workplace, a hospitality venue, or a mixed-use development. For us, it’s always about people, place, and purpose. If you’re heading to MIPIM too, keep an eye out for John, he’d love to connect. And if you’d like to learn more about what we do, visit https://lnkd.in/ex2GJG4f #MIPIM #MIPIM2025 #CommercialDesign #InteriorDesign #Manchester #North #PlaceNorth

Spindles Town Centre: A landmark in regeneration & design A 1990s shopping centre has been transformed into a modern civic and cultural hub, recently earning a BCO Award shortlist and marking a significant milestone in Oldham’s bold regeneration. This project is the first phase of Oldham Council’s vision, redefining how commercial spaces serve both workplace needs and the wider community. Reworking a previous retail structure into a cohesive, multi-functional workplace required more than just a new layout. The design had to support collaboration, accessibility, and adaptability while maintaining a strong civic identity. Carefully zoned spaces create seamless transitions between teamwork areas, focused work zones, and public engagement spaces. Every material choice was intentional, with textures and tones reflecting Oldham’s industrial heritage. Sustainability was embedded throughout, integrating energy-efficient strategies and biophilic elements to enhance the user experience. A transformation of this scale is only possible through seamless collaboration. From concept to completion, we worked closely with Oldham Council, AEW Architects, and a brilliant team of engineers, sustainability consultants, and suppliers. Together, we have delivered a workspace that is both high-performing and human-centric. Stay updated as we unveil more of our BCO Award-shortlisted projects over the next coming weeks. And read more about the project here: https://lnkd.in/eUjsJGUC Photography by Jak Spedding Project Team: Oldham Council, AEW Architects, Hive Projects, Futureserv Consulting Engineers, WSP, Dalkia UK, Renaissance Associates Limited, @JSP, Hilson Moran, Willmott Dixon, ADT Workplace, Jenkinsons, J Carey Design, Tarkett #CommercialInteriorDesign #FlexibleOfficeSpaces #WorkplaceDesign #OfficeBreakoutSpaces #InnovativeOfficeSpaces #ModernOfficeInteriors #Regeneration #BCOAwards

Earlier today, our founder John Williams and Associate Director Imogen Woodage joined Dean Street Developments and Assured CMS at the top of their latest hotel development to celebrate a key milestone, the topping-out ceremony of a 357-bedroom, 25-story hotel on Deansgate, positioned at the gateway to one of the city's most historic and iconic streets. Next up? Bringing the interiors to life, creating spaces that match the ambition and energy of this landmark project and ambition of this incredible city. Proud to be playing our part in the city’s skyline. #ToppingOut #Manchester #InteriorDesign #Deansgate #Spacelnvader #hospitalitydesign #hoteldesign

THREE Projects. THREE Judges' Visits. ONE Proud Studio   We’re really happy to tour around three of our recent projects shortlisted by the judges for this year’s BCO Awards for the North of England, North Wales, and Northern Ireland. ·      Spindles, Oldham Council – Shortlisted for the Recycled Workplace category: A bold transformation, turning heritage into a sustainable future. ·      Eden at New Bailey – Shortlisted for the Commercial Workplace category: A next-generation office space leading the way in biophilic design. ·      Arden Square – Shortlisted for the Corporate Workplace category: A seamless blend of innovation, functionality, and aesthetics. Between now and the Northern Awards Dinner in early April, where the winners will be announced, we’ll be sharing the concepts behind these projects, what inspired them, how they came to life, and what makes them truly special. You can also learn more about them here - https://lnkd.in/e3P_fxf9 A huge thank you to our clients, team, and collaborators, these nominations reflect our continuing aspiration to create inspiring, human-centric spaces that redefine the way people experience their environments. #BCOAwards #CommercialInteriorDesign #CommercialWorkplace #CorporateWorkplace #SustainableWorkplace #SpaceInvader

Part T is a game-changer for inclusive design and it’s already shaping our approach at SpaceInvader. Here’s how it will be impacting our projects:   Early Integration: Embedding Part T considerations from the start, ensuring accessibility isn’t just a compliance checkbox but a fundamental design principle.   Collaboration Shift: Conversations with clients, developers, and suppliers now centre more on how spaces support inclusivity, leading to smarter material choices and layouts.   Innovation & Opportunity: Rather than seeing Part T as a challenge, we view it as an opportunity to push for better, more human-centred design that benefits everyone.   Learn more about Part T by checking out this week's article from Material Source, "Are you ready for Part T?", featuring insights from our senior Technical & Interior Designer, Wincey Lam.   Read the full article here - https://lnkd.in/eWMQ-vzQ   #SpaceInvader #PartT #InclusiveDesign #Interiordesign #BuildingRegulations #MaterialSource