Aurora Energy Research Offices – Oxford
Morgan Lovell designed Aurora’s new office in Oxford to support diverse working styles, with a focus on collaboration, flexible layouts, vibrant colors, sustainability, and creating a dynamic, inspiring space.
Aurora’s spacious, inspiring new office has been designed to support the diverse working styles of their growing team. Their workspace is a vibrant, multifunctional environment that reflects their ambitious company culture.
Aurora had outgrown their outdated office space, which lacked the connectivity and space required for their growing business. With ambitious plans for expansion, they required a more inspiring and functional space that reflected their strong company culture. They wanted to create a collaborative office space with a collegiate atmosphere, drawing inspiration from the dynamic and academic environment of top-tier universities.
They wanted a central café area for town halls, social gatherings and meetings, with collaborative spaces that allowed teams to work together but easily transition to individual tasks. Operating internationally, Aurora needed well equipped meeting rooms for online collaboration and spaces for training new people.
The larger floorplates of the new building enabled a layout that functioned like a sandwich: with meeting rooms at one end, quiet zones at the other and a range of collaborative, open spaces in between. This approach provided flexibility for different working styles and improved team interaction.
The lower ground floor is dedicated to training and includes large meeting rooms, a tea point and breakout areas. Recognising the importance of a hassle free commute for Aurora’s people, the back entrance, with its bike storage, showers and changing areas, was designed to look as welcoming as the front.
The boardroom was strategically placed on the top floor so that clients could experience the full flow of the workspace as they moved through the building. They wanted their space to leave a lasting impression and reflect the professionalism of their business.
Aurora needed their new space to be a haven for productivity so colour theory was used to inform pallet decisions, creating a calming and logical atmosphere. Teal and vibrant colours have been used in the main working areas to boost energy, while darker pastels were used in quiet zones as they are known to reduce stress and incite a calm environment, particularly for neurodiverse staff. Accent colours were incorporated into the collaboration and café spaces, adding a playful touch. Lighting was carefully selected to complement the design, with softer tones in certain areas and an emphasis on natural light to promote wellbeing.
The café was designed as a multifunctional space. It features bleacher seating for town hall meetings and can be adapted for events. The walnut timber acoustic wall serves as the café’s backdrop, adding warmth and elegance to the space. This timber feature was echoed in the collaborative areas, creating cohesion throughout.
Sustainability was a key focus. Around 50% of the furniture from Aurora’s previous office was reused, as well as acoustic materials made from recycled PVC and finishes derived from recycled ocean plastics. Exposed ceilings have been maintained to maximise height and create a relaxed, non-corporate atmosphere.
The new office has created a more dynamic, collaborative environment that supports both their current needs and future growth. The café space has become the heart of the office and encourages a stronger social culture and encourages a sense of community from within. The introduction of quiet zones and collaborative areas allows teams to work more effectively, while the improved meeting rooms enable smoother online collaboration with their international offices.
Design: Morgan Lovell
Photography: Nick Caville
