DS Smith are a leading provider of corrugated packaging and are present in 37 countries, employing around 27,000 people. Their story can be traced back to the box-making businesses started in the 1940s by the Smith family in East London, and after over 70 years of success are now a leading provider of corrugated packaging and a specialist in plastic packaging worldwide.
With such a strong global presence, increased pressure was being put on DS Smith’s London headquarters, and the space was no longer sufficient for their needs. With sustainability and waste reduction a key principle of the business, it was fortuitous that their neighboring tenant vacated the space, allowing them to expand naturally next door and not start from scratch!
Modus worked closely with DS Smith to produce a design which matched and retained as much of the original office as possible. The first phase of the project was a 10,000sqft strip out, and CAT A & B fit out of the neighboring space. A new suite of offices and meeting rooms was created, complete with Visitor’s Room and multi-functional boardroom with top VC facilities to enable the HQ to effectively maintain a connection between its many branches. A new Reception connected the wings, creating a welcoming focal point for both staff and visitors to start their journey.
Once the first phase was complete and the pressure was taken off the existing office, the second and third phases was to physically join the two spaces, and lightly refresh the existing office so that the two wings were brought together. Always conscious of staff comfort, Modus worked evenings and weekends to avoid downtime, minimise disruption to business activities, and alleviate disturbance to staff.
