Creating a game-changing office design for Aristocrat

Collaborative office design for innovation

The prestigious 80 Strand, with its iconic art deco features, was carefully chosen for its prime location in the West End of London with stunning views of the Thames and Embankment. Having worked extensively in the building previously, we utilised our experience and performed a feasibility study on the space to help support Aristocrat’s decision. To inform the design we arranged workshops with stakeholders from each business unit to understand their identity and culture, and how they could work collectively in a shared space. With gaming content at the core, inspiration was drawn from a pinball machine, creating a dynamic design that guides users through the space on an "excitement journey", echoing the creative process during product development.

Creative work and play spaces

The floor layout of the 28,000 sq ft space is split by the lift lobby and stairs, which naturally separates the lively breakout space, which includes an expansive games room, in-house barista and town hall, from quieter work zones. Functional work areas support collaboration, with both open and closed spaces for game developers. Colour psychology and energy mapping were also integral to the design, with bright colours energising livelier zones while calming neutrals were used in low energy zones like the wellness area. This thoughtful approach to space planning creates a balanced environment and aligns with the company’s identity without overwhelming the workspace.

Employee wellbeing and wellness focussed workspaces

A key element of the design was rethinking how spaces function to enhance wellbeing. We sought to go beyond a standard wellness room, instead creating an expansive 3,000 sq ft wellness area overlooking the river, featuring large sofas and bespoke furnishings to promote calmness. To complement this, a room for creative ideation was introduced, merging the elements of a traditional meeting space with a dynamic, creative environment. With soft seating, writable boards, and a conventional meeting table, this hybrid space offers flexibility for different working styles.

Sustainable office design solutions

Sustainability was at the heart of the design for Aristocrat’s new London workplace. We prioritised repurposing elements from their existing workspaces and incorporating them with the new design. A significant portion of furniture and fittings were reused, including workstations and meeting room tables and chairs, as well as mesh ceiling panels, which were creatively transformed into a dartboard surround in the games area. Base-build fittings were also repurposed, adapting them to enhance our design rather than replacing them. By rearranging the existing linear lighting and adding coloured film to the uplights, we infused Aristocrat’s brand identity into the space while making use of the original building fabric.

Creating workplace harmony through thoughtful furniture and design

Furniture played a vital role in bringing Aristocrat’s creative identity to life. Working closely with the client and our designers, we curated a selection that aligned with their bold, playful ethos. The new pieces that were chosen were carefully sourced from our extensive network of suppliers. This gave us the flexibility to select items that not only met functional needs but also added a sense of fun and personality, pieces that felt as though they could belong inside a game.

Workplace design that adapts to the future of work

The design for Aristocrat’s new workplace harmonises functionality, brand identity, and employee wellness, creating a vibrant, balanced environment that supports both work and creativity. Through thoughtful spatial planning and a holistic focus on workplace wellbeing, together with Aristocrat, we have redefined how a modern office functions to best serve their people.

Discover our other projects at 80 Strand for Vitality and ECI Partners.