Gensler Converts Factory Loft Into Office in Birmingham, U.K.

It can take time for new neighbors to get acquainted. But Gensler’s first U.K. studio outside London has definitely embraced Birmingham. Office leader and senior associate Alistair Cory immediately loved the 2,700-square-foot loft’s location at the Custard Factory, a complex of Victorian buildings converted into culture and commerce destinations. Only minimal interventions to the original shell were required. Cory nixed rigid walls in favor of polyester curtains, which can be drawn to surround work-meeting areas. At night, the office morphs into a creative catalyst for the entire neighborhood, hosting design and business leaders for seminars, events, and perhaps a toast to Cory and team for winning Gensler’s Design Excellence Award for a built workplace.

> See more from the November 2016 issue of Interior Design