Moving offices is often a traumatic experience for employees even to move a few feet to another part of an office. When the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure relocated to new offices at the Causeway Exchange, in Northern Ireland they needed to make the transition to open plan offices as comfortable as possible.

The brief was to have defined areas that would give more privacy to higher-grade civil servants, and to create semi-private meetings, which staff can gather together for a meeting or a coffee break. The project was on seven levels and the zoning of areas needed to be flexible on different floors. In addition the design needed to allow for a touch of personalisation within departments.

Redhead Conference & Exhibition decided to take a totally fresh look at partitioning. They wanted an open and airy solution that would still give an element of privacy. The Fairfield Displays & Lighting, 10 mm rod system was selected as it provided tremendous flexibility, and it was extremely economical compared with traditional partitioning systems.

The system consists of stainless steel 10 mm rods, which have been fitted between floor and ceiling. It was the use of sandblasted acrylic panels of various sizes, which are clamped onto the vertical rods, which has created the style, and elegance of the project.

The majority of partitions do not exceed a height of 1.6m from ground level and the spaces between panels serve also to continue the theme of space. The overall look and feel is light, spacious and stylish with the option for personalising individual workspaces through the partition panels (coloured, frosted, clear, printed). The layout of the rods enabled the formation of curved panels, stepped areas to create interest and attractive dividers above storage areas. To continue the theme of the design, 6mm rods where used as a hanging system for 49 pictures which where fitted around the building. “It’s a flexible, yet robust and smart system.” States Sarah Lyons of Redhead.

Fairfield worked with Redhead right from the initial concept designs making teaks as they went along; it was this partnership approach that has delivered a top quality product and given the client the confidence and assurance to apply the same principles in other locations.

Redhead have been so delighted with the results of the project that since the first installation at the beginning of the year they have had a number of further significant enquiries for the same design and system fit. One has just been completed and another is scheduled for the New Year. It was the attention to detail, which ensure that the project ran smoothly and the Fairfield team where incredibly helpful.

Visit www.fairfielddisplays.co.uk to see the full case history.