Work on new offices for BBC Studios in Bristol has been completed. The redesign of the Beeb’s production base at Bridgwater House in Finzels Reach was carried out by London architecture and design firm HOK.

The new office will house BBC staff from the Natural History Unit (NHU) and Factual Entertainment Bristol, which produces Top Gear , Antiques Roadshow , Gardeners’ World , Countryfile and DIY SOS.

BBC Studios occupies 5,575 sq metres over the first three floors of the building. The organisation has its own entrance and main reception on the ground floor, with enough space for functions and bi-fold doors extending the event space outside to a new landscaped garden. There is also an auditorium for presentations and masterclasses.

The first and second storeys house office space, with so-called team “neighbourhoods” wrapping around the perimeter, HOK said. The design firm said it used plants and dividers to form collaboration space and focus areas, and open shelving dividers with adjustable whiteboards to create “customisable team zones”.



HOK’s London studio has designed a new production base for BBC Studios in the centre of Bristol
HOK’s London studio has designed a new production base for BBC Studios in the centre of Bristol

A central breakout space overlooks the ground-floor event area and there are break-out and tea points in the centre of the office as well.

“We designed the new space to showcase BBC Studio’s content pioneers, inventors and reinventors while providing an inclusive, inspiring workplace that motivates its people to do their best work and helps them feel valued,” said Timothy Hatton, senior interior design professional at HOK.

According to HOK, it was “imperative” to provide a highly sustainable design for the BBC. The space has already been awarded a SKA Gold certification – an environmental accreditation.

All timber used in the project was certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and parts of the office have been built with reclaimed wood, while there are also cork walls. The furniture selected for the office is mostly reused.

HOK collaborated with Studio B, AECOM, Cath Leach, and Currie & Brown on the design.

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