1. OPEN PLAN OFFICE FOR ACADEMICS
Case Study : KPI Move to VWB1
Changing Academic Workplace
By Olivera Katic-Kerzan

2. Introduction to the King’s College Estate

3. ORIGINAL PROPOSAL
(REJECTED)

4. VWB1 EXISTING FURNITURE LAYOUT

5. DESIGN PROPOSAL – KPI MOVE TO VWB1
1. Proposal
• Open Plan Admin and Academic Offices
• 1no Open Plan Senior Academic Office
2. Constraints
• Sensitive Information - No privacy
• No quiet space for research
• No Soft Seating – Waiting Area/ Social Gathering/Rest Area
• No flexibility
• No meeting room for group discussion/presentation
• Too loud – noise disruption
3. Planning Solutions
• University’s Standard Academic Space
• Proposed Innovative Solution
4. Concept Images
• Open Plan Work Environments
• Kitchen/Rest Area/Waiting Area
• Hot Desks/Meeting Space/Departmental Library
• Single Senior Lecturer’s Open Plan Office

6. KITCHEN – SOCIAL GATHERING/REST AREA/
INFORMAL MEETING SPACE

7. WAITING AREA

8. HOT DESKS/DEPT. LIBRARY/MEETING RM/
PRIVATE STUDY

9. OPEN PLAN ACADEMIC AND ADMIN OFFICES

10. OPEN PLAN ACADEMIC AND ADMIN OFFICES

11. NEW BRIEF

12. DESIGN BRIEF – PHASE 2 REFURBISHMENT VWB1
1. Concept
• To provide a friendly, open and external facing environment both for the research teams of varying sizes that will be based on the
floor and for senior visiting fellows and dignitaries. We would like to project a ‘think-tank-esque’ image with a transparent,
contemporary and ‘buzzy’ design, that makes the best possible use of the natural light on this floor.
• We are looking to create an open plan environment with a small number of single person offices, break-out rooms and meeting
rooms. As part of the design we need to ensure that space is available for informal meetings.
• The open plan space should not be organised with regular blocks of facing desks, but be more ‘random’ in layout with cogent
groups identifiable through colocation and design. We would like to preserve the sense of space that the large floor with large
numbers of windows provides. We would prefer not too many high dividing units in order to preserve a sense of space on the floor.
2. Facilities Required
• Five offices
• Area (ideally with glass wall) with hot desks, sofas etc., for visiting fellows (at least eight desks) adjacent to the office of the Director.
• Office for Director
• Two meeting rooms ( for 25/30 people) suitable for hosting high level dignitaries in, for example, policy round table discussions,
with AV and floor to ceiling whiteboards and nearby kitchen facilities
• Open plan reception area with comfortable seating for visitors at south end of floor
• Large office for the Media Standards Trust - space for six staff
• Area for professional services staff at south end of floor close to reception area.
• Open plan space not organised in ‘blocks’ of facing desks
• At least two break out rooms for staff from open plan space to use for small meetings
• New furniture would be required for all staff Open Plan Admin and Academic Offices
• One Open Plan Senior Academic Office
Jonathan Grant
Director & Professor of Public Policy
The Policy Institute at King’s

13. THE POLICY INSTITUTE @ KING’S
DEPARTMENT GROUPING
Pension Policy Institute
(PPI)
14
Social Care Workforce
Research Unit (SCWRU)
19
Humanitarian Futures
Programme (HFP)
6
International Centre for
Security Analysis (ICSA)
15
UK in a Changing
Europe (ESRC)
8
Ramphal Institute
5
Media Standards Trust
(MST)
6
King’s Policy Institute
(KPI) – Core staff
13
International Centre for
University Policy Research
(ICUPR)
3
Professional Services
9
Visiting Fellows
8
Total Floor Area: 1040m2
Total Number of People: 106

14. NEW PROPOSAL

15. DESIGN STAGES
1. Zoning and Grouping discussed and agreed with the Director
• 12 Max-packs proposed (approx. 2 months)
2. Working with Departments
• Getting a brief from the Head of Department
• Requirements discussed in detail
• Proposal issued including design solution suggestions
• Revisions requested
• Final revision signed off
3. Design Process
• Working with one Department at a time
• Understanding client’s needs, values and priorities
• Any special needs and requirements
• The nature of research of the department
• Need for meeting space, privacy and confidentiality
• Storage and library space
• Understanding grouping within teams
• Regular meetings with the Director and Project team
4. Final Proposal Signed Off (20th Revision)

16. VIRGINIA WOOLF BUILDING LEVEL 1
APPROVED PROPOSAL
Lifts
Male
W.C.
Kitchen &
Rest Area
Elec.
Cup'd
Dry
Riser
Elec.
Cup'd
Cleaner
(No access)
Risers
(No access)
Lift Lobby
Carillion Office
Female
W.C.
1
2
3
4
6
5
7
10
9
8
12
11
1
13
14
2
2
1 4
3
2
4
2
3
4
5
6.
7
10
8
9.
11 14
12
13
15
1618
17
Jill Manthorpe
Prof. Services
4no people + Receptionist
ICSA
12no people + 2no hot desks
HFP
4no People
SCWRU
18no people
MST
1
3
ESRC Director
14no People
PENSIONS POLICY INSTITUTE (PPI)
KPI STORAGE
Column
1600mm
Meeting Table
Jonathan
Grant
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
5
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
M-Table
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
M-Table
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
ESRC Hub
4-5no People
Ramphal
Institute
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
Jo Kidd
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
Core stuff
Delivery Group
6no People
All New partitions to be glass
New partition.
All New partitions
to be glass
Meeting Table
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
Future growth
2no desks
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
International Centre for
University Policy Research
2no People + Paul Blackmore
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
New partition.
All New partitions
to be glass
Shelving
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
Shelving
Jon Davis
M-Table
2
1
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
M-Table
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
Paul
Blackmore
M-Table
Policy Impact
Director
TBC
Policy Analysis
Director
TBC
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
FREM BOOK SHELVES
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
M-Table
Keith
Britto
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
M-Table
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
Rack
Rack
Rack
239
240
241
FC
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
FREM BOOK SHELVES
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour1320H
SCST9ESD
Tambour
50no New stacking
meeting
chairs MXP1C/JJ
(Xpresso.one by Connection)
25no New stacking
meeting
chairs MTE1A
(Team by Connection)
10no 1500x750mm white
interlocking/collapsible tables
8no stacking
meeting
chairs MTE1A
(Team by Connection)
2no 1500x7500mm white
interlocking/collapsible tables &
1no 1500mm white End
1 2
Mel
Duffield
Chris
Curry
1600mm
SILCOCK
DANIELA
ELLIS
CIARAN
ADAMS
JOHN
LIGHTBOURNE
MARITHA
OTHER
AN
OTHER
AN
3
4
5
6.
7
8
9
10
13
OTHER
AN
14
11
12
1193.8974
New Storage area for stacking
meeting chairs and tables from
meeting room when not in use.
Ian Hible to find the best
solution to this request.
Shelving
New shelving and small kitchenette
for drinks making facilities
with built-in fridge.
Ian Hible to find the best
solution to this request.
2
1
3
4
5 6
7
8
9
10
11
12 13
14
15
18
17
16
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
32
31
33
34
36
35 37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45 46 47
48 49
50
5152
53
54
55 56
VWB LEVEL 1 PROPOSED LAYOUT
L
Lo
ST
VIR
PR

17. VIRGINIA WOOLF BUILDING LEVEL 1
DEPARTMENT GROUPING
Pension Policy Institute (PPI)
14
Social Care Workforce Research
Unit (SCWRU)
19
Humanitarian Futures
Programme (HFP)
6
International Centre for Security
Analysis (ICSA)
15
UK in a Changing Europe
(ESRC)
8
Ramphal Institute
5
Media Standards Trust (MST)
6
King’s Policy Institute (KPI) –
Core staff
13
International Centre for University
Policy Research (ICUPR)
3
Professional Services
9
Visiting Fellows
8

18. NORTH END VWB1 AGREED/APPROVED LAYOUT

19. SOUTH END VWB1 AGREED/APPROVED LAYOUT

20. STORAGES & SIDE FILLERS - TAYLOR MADE
Side fillers and storages
act as a cable management

21. KITCHEN – SOCIAL GATHERING/INFORMAL
MEETING/REST AREA

22. ESRC, ICSA, HFP & SCWRU DEPARTMENTS

23. ESRC, ICSA, HFP & SCWRU DEPARTMENTS

24. INTERNATIONAL CENTRE & KPI DEPARTMENTS

25. MAIN RECEPTION

26. INTERNATIONAL CENTRE & KPI DEPARTMENTS

27. INTERNATIONAL CENTRE & KPI DEPARTMENTS

28. LARGE MEETING ROOM

29. VISITING FELLOWS AREA

30. FINAL OUTCOME

31. KPI, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, ICUPR
DEPARTMENTS & VISITING FELLOWS AREA

32. MEETING ROOMS,KITCHEN, POD & MAIN RECEPTION

33. ESRC, ICSA, HFP & SCWRU DEPARTMENTS

34. PPI & SCWRU DEPARTMENTS, LIBRARY & KITCHEN

35. OPEN PLAN OFFICE FOR ACADEMICS
LESSONS LEARNED
1. Get the Decision Maker on your side
2. Understand your client, their needs and requirements
3. Define the need in order to find the solution quicker
4. Include Academics in your project
• Design process
• Decision making
• Ask what they want to achieve
• Values and priorities
• Approval
5. Process is time consuming, cannot be rushed

36. POST-OCUPANCY FEEDBACK
Q&A’s
1. What is your personal opinion of the design process and of the final outcome?
Excellent – the designer delivered the brief of creating an open, transparent, creative space.
2. How did your academic staff feel about the proposed scheme and how well did they settle into the new working environment?
To begin with there was some uncertainty, but now people are settled in and there are no negative comments.
3. What are your favourite features?
The space, light and colour scheme.
4. What could have been done better?
The only thing that could have been improved is if everything could have been completed in a shorter time frame.
5. Do you have further comments on any aspect of the project?
Overall the project went very well. We are all delighted with the outcome.
Jonathan Grant
Director & Professor of Public Policy
The Policy Institute at King’s

37. • King’s has acquired the Bush House Building (ex BBC
World Service and 2 neighbouring buildings, providing
approx 30,000 sqm NUA of space for expansion.
• We are currently working with the faculties to ensure
that lessons learned in this project are carried forward.
NEXT STEPS

39. THANK YOU