Arval, Manchester
Client
Arval
Contract Administrator
BNP Parabis
Contract Period
16 weeks
Value
£1m
Flexible Business Interiors was appointed by BNP Paribas to lead the delivery of Arval’s new Manchester office in April 2024. The fleet management and vehicle leasing company, previously located in Sale, moved to Think Park in Trafford for its exceptional transport links and onsite facilities which include a gym, café and business lounge.
Working in partnership with interior design firm BlueSky Design, FBI completed the project in 16 weeks. Works to transform the first-floor office suite comprised the creation of various work settings from hot-desks, to focus areas, seating booths and team scrum rooms. In addition, informal meeting spaces, a boardroom and two large format conference spaces were installed to allow for a full range of client hospitality.
An auditorium style seating area with large AV screen and full height glazed partitioning was installed for hybrid meetings and workshops, while the scrum rooms feature writeable wall coverings and heavyweight fabric curtains to facilitate a level of privacy when closed, or left open for swift ‘stand up’ meetings.
One of the client’s ambitions was to reuse furniture from its previous office, and this was achieved through careful consideration from the design team to ensure the existing furniture felt integrated with the new look and feel of the space, as well as how it could be modified to provide improved function for the user. A range of desks and chairs were repurposed, reupholstered and reused effectively throughout the scheme.
The brand’s colour palette and shapes were used to inform the design, and a vibrant patterned carpet tile effect was installed by FBI to mark the main circulation route, as well as into meeting spaces. Cork roll, decorative timber rafts and felt were used throughout the space as a sustainable, decorative finish which also assists with acoustics. Graphics, taglines and signage were included throughout the workspace to further enhance the representation of the ‘Arval’ brand.
“Working with Flexible Business Interiors took the stress out of the fit out – the team communicated well, were helpful and efficient, and on site everything ran smoothly and without delay. They paid close attention to our vision for the office, and took time and effort to deliver Bluesky’s design exactly as it was intended. The appointed team, and the management of sub-contractors, was always professional and delivery of the plan was exemplary. The end result is a really high quality fit out, which the business is incredibly proud of and we hope will serve us well for years to come.”
Stephen Homer, Arval, Category Manager
