News

The Church Studio in Crookes has been the proud home of our Sheffield Office since 1989 and has become synonymous with our brand identity in the North. As a beautiful, historic building of significant architectural merit, it has provided a fitting environment from which to grow a nationally-focussed design-based studio over the past three decades and will always hold a warm place in our hearts.

However, as a practice, we recognise that it is now time to look ahead, with excitement, towards a new future – in a new home within Sheffield City Centre. The world has changed somewhat since 1989: our values have evolved, our commitments reimagined – yet our purpose remains at the absolute forefront of our decision-making process – to create positive change.

This new home, on Rockingham Street, within the western fringe of the exciting new Heart of the City 2 development, will provide the following environmental, social and economic benefits to our practice, our people and our region:

• the creative re-use of an existing building, recently refurbished to high energy-efficiency standards to provide lower carbon and operational energy needs.
• recent services and plant upgrades undertaken in 2019, including the installation of photovoltaic power supplies to guarantee the contribution of a clean energy source.
• good access to public transport, cycle networks and staff cycle storage to promote green commuting and active lifestyle choices linked to our new flexible working policy.
• repurposing of existing furniture, fittings and finishes: either those within our current office or by working in collaboration with our new landlords, South Yorkshire Housing Association, to agree a zero-demolition waste strategy.
• donation of unrequired remaining items to local schools and charities as part of our ongoing commitment to CSR and giving-back within our communities.
• new fit-out principles- developed in accordance with the WELL Standard – to ensure that staff health, wellbeing and happiness is at the forefront of our relocation.
• specification of lowVOC and low formaldehyde products, avoiding glue fixings to ensure a high level of indoor air quality.
• prioritisation of materials selected for their low embodied carbon content.
• maximisation of an open plan layout within our design, including a collaboration zone upon entry to the office, as well as open booths, a ‘make and meet’ area, a large social kitchen area and a staff wellbeing room – all to reinforce cohesion and integration amongst our team.
• a more spatially-efficient and less energy-intensive office footprint, reflecting the reduced desk-space demand brought about by agile working in the aftermath of the global pandemic, to better reflect the needs of our people.
• closer integration with other like-minded businesses and contacts to drive much-needed employment and post-covid economic investment back into our city centre.

This move has been several years in the making and represents a huge step forward for Bond Bryan: better representing our values, our ambition and who we are as a practice.  We can’t wait to welcome all of our friends, clients and collaborators into our new home.