Planning an Office Fit Out in Shoreditch: What London Businesses Should Know

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Why Shoreditch Is Different

Shoreditch is home to a large share of London’s creative agencies and start-ups, and many of them occupy former workshops and factories. The area has an abundance of character, but that can bring challenges. If you are planning an office fit out shoreditch project, the businesses that have done it before will tell you the same thing: the building shapes the job as much as your brief does.

Start With the Building, Not the Mood Board

Many premises here are old, with irregular services, uneven or split-level floors and limited risers. There can also be unexpected problems with ageing electrics and ventilation systems. The best way to avoid nasty surprises is to commission a measured building survey before any design work starts, because finding a problem after the contractor is on site costs far more than finding it during planning.

Before you design anything, find out whether your premises are listed or sit within a conservation area. Parts of Shoreditch are protected, so changes to the exterior and some of the internal fabric may be restricted. Your landlord’s licence for alterations will also set out what you can and cannot change, so read it early.

Keep the Character, Fix the Comfort

If you want to keep exposed brick walls and beams, the fit out has to deal with sound and temperature control. Some of the older buildings in the area can be really draughty, and temperatures can vary noticeably between floors.

• Acoustics: sound bounces off hard surfaces. A mix of acoustic panels, rugs, soft furnishings and hanging baffles will calm the reflections without hiding the architecture.
• Lighting: deep floor plates often mean patchy daylight. Use layers of lighting, such as task lamps and pendants, and think beyond a standard grid to create an inviting space.
• Heating and cooling: tall volumes affect the mechanical design. Plan the mechanical and electrical work early, and think about how the floor will cope in summer as well as winter.
• Flooring: old floors may have humps and dips, particularly where heavy equipment or storage has been used before. These may need to be levelled or protected before the fit out begins.

Plan for Flexible, Hybrid Working

Open-plan layouts can give people greater choice over where and how they work. Fewer fixed desks and more shared floor space often make better use of expensive square footage, and a smaller floor area can improve your margins. Good layouts include a mix of collaboration areas, quiet focus zones and meeting rooms. Think about how your team really works, and ask for their feedback before you finalise anything.

Technology has a part to play too. With remote and hybrid working now common, make sure there are enough power and data outlets for video meetings, and leave room for future growth so you are not reopening the floor in two years.

Logistics Can Make or Break the Programme

Shoreditch streets are narrow and busy, and access can be restricted, which makes deliveries a real challenge. Agree timed deliveries with the landlord and the neighbouring businesses, and check when noisy work is allowed. A contractor who knows the area will plan around these constraints and schedule the loudest tasks for permitted hours.

Budget Honestly and Allow for Contingency

Costs depend on the specification and the condition of the building. A Category B fit out, which adds furniture, partitions and finishes to a Category A shell, will generally cost more than a basic Category A fit out. Get itemised quotes and set aside around ten per cent of the total for contingency, because older buildings tend to produce surprises. Remember the costs around the build itself, such as furniture, IT and signage, plus any dilapidations at the end of your lease.

Choose the Right Partner

The best results come when design and construction are brought together, so nothing is lost between the drawing board and the building site. Ask for references, look at completed projects in buildings similar to yours, and make sure the programme and responsibilities are clearly written down.

At Offices and Property Services, we help businesses think through the practical side of their workspace decisions, including a move into east London. If you would like to talk through your options, get in touch for a friendly conversation.