It was back in 2006 that we at Land Securities started our transformation of London’s Victoria with the redevelopment of 80-100 Victoria Street and Cardinal Place.
More than 10 years later, our vision for the area as a vibrant and sought-after destination has come to life. Victoria Street is a place people want to be - whether for the cafés, the shops, the bars or the cinema. It attracts the curious, the cool and the corporate in equal measure. And Nova, which completes next month, is the culmination of our Victoria vision.
Nova totals 480,000 sq ft of outstanding office space, high-quality apartments, significant public realm and 17 exciting new restaurants in the shape of Nova Food, the capital’s newest food quarter. It is already attracting foodies, fashion lovers and financiers alike.
So, when our lease at 5 Strand was due to expire, it was an easy decision for us to move our headquarters to the heart of SW1 and in January, our 400 head-office staff moved to 80 Victoria Street, the building that kickstarted the area’s transformation.
As the largest commercial property company in the UK, we have a better understanding than most of how the right space can empower a business.
We know that providing the right working environment has a variety of tangible benefits for an organisation - from attracting and retaining talent to ensuring high levels of productivity and staff collaboration, there is nothing more important than your environment and the experience it shapes for you each day.
Wellbeing at the forefront
In delivering our new fit-out, wellbeing was at the forefront of our design and we were delighted that our new office achieved a BREEAM Outstanding rating at the design stage.
With acoustic rafts and circadian lighting designed to support wellbeing and productivity and natural, chemical-free materials specified to create clean indoor air quality, we ensure our commitment to sustainable design shines through.
There is nothing more important than your environment
This not only benefits our people, but also demonstrates the potential for innovation to our customers. In addition to our BREEAM rating, we also hope to achieve WELL certification, which is a new initiative that assesses the impact of building design on health and wellbeing. We hope to be one of the first employers in the country to receive the certification.
Technology in a new space
In order to attract and retain talent, it is imperative that an office meets the needs of the people working in it. Our new office boasts a variety of workspaces including quiet rooms and collaboration areas. We’ve also provided a ‘support bar’ - a one-stop shop for tech help and office requests.
Technology, of course, plays a vital role in shaping how people use our new space. Since January, printing has fallen 65% because we’ve become less reliant on paper and more engaged with the ways in which technology can advance our business.
Whether it’s through increased collaboration, remote working or digital signage, our state-of-the-art docking stations, hub screens and network connectivity mean people can genuinely work anywhere, any time and anyhow.
And it’s not just our own people who will benefit. Understanding the needs of our customers and visitors to our office was key to the design of the reception space.
A 10-year-old lobby has been transformed into an inspiring space where visitors can meet, chat, work, or enjoy a coffee while admiring the neo-Byzantine beauty of Westminster cathedral.
In embracing the latest technology and ways of working in our own environment, we are providing our people with the best possible experience, enabling them in turn to provide the best experiences for our customers.
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