Stack Exchange – London Offices
Peldon Rose has developed a new office design for tech company Stack Exchange located in London, England.
Like any other young tech company, Stack Exchange needed their space to represent their dynamic and fresh approach and wanted their brand and heritage to stand out through the new office design.
Interaction, communication and a having a social atmosphere is key to Stack Exchange, so they needed a design that would promote this, especially as they were going to be spread across two floors.
They wanted to expand their office from one floor within Bentima House, Old Street, onto two floors to allow for and support company growth, while making sure all elements of their brief were addressed. All works were complete while Stack Exchange were in occupation, so care and diligence was taken to minimise any disruption to their staff and visitors.
To enable natural communication throughout the office, Peldon Rose created a bright, contemporary open plan front of house reception and waiting area with coffee bar. This area also serves as an informal meeting area for staff looking to work away from their desks.
A large tea point was created with cafeteria-style seating, folding tables and an AV booth, allowing for multiple usages and configurations. Not only could staff use this at lunchtime or working away from their desk, they could also hold seminars and informal events here too. To encourage further staff interactions, they created a games room within the office so staff can take a break, for a fresh state of mind.
With global offices in New York, Denver and London, they wanted to pay homage to these offices and used them as inspiration within the office design. This too would help bring the company together. The design team incorporated these into the design through their photo booth meeting rooms.
The first photo booth meeting room celebrated New York, with a 1980’s subway themed room, complete with digital vinyl wallpaper sourced from the original photographer. The second to Denver, creating a ski chalet, with its mountain top wall graphics, wooden wall cladding and lounge furniture. The London meeting room was tribute to their heritage and previous office in Southwark (a warehouse-style building). And finally, their unofficial mascot is a unicorn, so they decided to fill one with the creature all over the walls!
Throughout the office design, the colours were chosen to say, “We are Stack Exchange” as a subtle representation of their branding, without literally putting their logo on the walls.
Design: Peldon Rose
Photography: Matthew Beedle
