Argenta

Long standing Office Portfolio client Argenta were going through a review of their facilities strategy. Approaching a lease expiry there was a decision to be made whether to relocate with all the associated costs or remain in situ and evaluate how better space utilisation could allow them to stay. So, Office Portfolio conducted a consultative Workplace Occupancy and Insights Review across the 5th floor and part of the 6th floor at 70 Gracechurch Street. The findings from this review directly informed the subsequent transformation of the workspace, ensuring the final design fully addressed the needs identified across the business.

The Challenge

Some of the needs and goals identified that the workspace consultation and transformation sought to address were:

·       Lack of available desks for new starters
·       Under occupancy in some desking areas
·       Insufficient meeting rooms and meeting spaces
·       Lack of spaces for private calls and informal meetings
·       No creative spaces
·       A need for more collaboration settings
·       A requirement for space that could support future growth
·       Alignment with Argenta’s “The Way We Work” objectives; creating an inviting, morale‑boosting environment that supports talent attraction and retention.

 The Consultation

‍Our three‑step consultancy approach began by listening and observing to understand each department’s culture, workflows, and challenges. We then analysed the data to uncover patterns and opportunities, before turning those insights in to tailored recommendations that optimise space, support collaboration, and strengthen long‑term organisational success.

Our consultation included analysis of Workplace Metrics such as:
1. Capacity & Occupancy - how many people the office can hold and how the space is used over time.
2. Total Workplace Utilization - how fully departments use available capacity, highlighting peak usage and underused workstations.
3. Department Space‑Specific Utilization - how different areas are used and what each department needs to work efficiently.
4. Mobility Ratio – comparison of employees to available seats, current and future scenarios.
5. Immediate Occupancy Rate - the percentage of time individual or department workstations are in use.
6. Capacity v Occupancy Rates - how much a specific space is being utilised.
7. Over Capacity - how much space is going unused - which helps to identify areas to accommodate agile and collaborative working spaces.

This data‑driven approach ensured every recommendation was grounded in evidence, not assumption. Argenta had 250 workstations available, of which only 163 were occupied at any one time, therefore there was an over capacity of 65%. Heat maps helped visualise current underoccupancy and under-utilised zones that could be used more strategically to give far greater value to the Argenta team. Using projected growth in staff numbers by function over the next three years, we were able to plan a redesigned space that would meet occupancy demands per department now and for the future.

The Solution

The aim was to create a more modern and creative work environment that inspires staff by providing further creative, collaborative spaces to work and meet. Argenta already had a robust IT set up that would support their move to a more agile and collaborative workspace and our consultation provided a clear strategy to optimise their space to meet the needs of the team both now and for the future.  Floor layout designs were built at a departmental level, to ensure adequate workstations were retained and unutilised desks removed - creating space for new collaboration spaces, meeting rooms, acoustic focussed work pods and agile task tables.

A sustainable approach guided the entire process: existing desking and other suitable items were carefully identified and reused within the new design, while all new furniture was selected for its dismantlable, reusable, and future‑proof qualities. Together, we made responsible choices that deliver flexibility today and adaptability for Argenta’s evolving business needs.

The redesigned workspace includes:

·       Agile desking, supported by migration to lockers for staff members to address underutilisation of assigned desking.
·       More private, multipurpose meeting spaces, break out spaces and presentation facilities. With the capability for town hall style larger gatherings and team meetings.
·       PODs, booths and touchdown points to take the pressure off desking and meeting rooms- and to create quiet spaces and spaces for informal meetings.  
·       Effective collaboration spaces with flexible layouts that provide well‑equipped, comfortable environments with strong technology, natural light, and visual tools to support productive teamwork.

‍The Result

The redesign enabled Argenta to remain in situ, avoiding the cost and disruption of relocation. The final implementation across the 5th and 6th floors delivers a workplace that truly enables how Argenta works today and provides enough space for teams to operate efficiently well into the future.

The redesigned environment creates an inviting, morale‑boosting workspace, designed to deliver positive employee experiences that will support Argenta’s focus on attracting and retaining talent. Previously underutilised areas have been redesigned to deliver far greater value, supporting a richer mix of collaboration, focus and informal meeting settings. By introducing spaces that support open communication and collaboration, the new environment empowers teams to brainstorm, problem‑solve, and innovate together in flexible, well‑equipped settings designed for comfort, connection, and productivity. This has been achieved through a sustainable approach that prioritised reusing existing desking and identified furniture, complemented by new agile, adaptable pieces selected to evolve with Argenta’s long‑term needs.