Interiors to the Directors Areas, Sage HQ, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Sage is a successful top100 FTSE company based in Newcastle and is internationally renowned for producing high quality business software and accountancy packages.  In deciding to concentrate their resources at the Great Park in Gosforth, Sage has shown commitment to the north east and considerable faith in the local consultants and companies entrusted to design and deliver them a fittingly prestigious new headquarters.

The Directors and Executives Offices is a four storey structure containing the main reception on the ground floor, with offices, boardrooms, meeting rooms and informal break out spaces arranged on the floors above.  These are supported by various ancillary accommodation including clerical services, executive loos, kitchens, roof terraces and security.

The concept was to introduce curves into every aspect of the high-spec interiors, to soften the rigorous design of the external building shell.  Walls, ceilings, finishes, even the built-in-furniture adopts the same mantra.  On the ground floor, bending mesh screens draw visitors inside and then meander to define meeting spaces adjacent to the curving reception desk.  On the floors above, space is mostly open plan with some cells formed with frameless glass screens to preserve the unconstrained aspect and achieve individual privacy.  Each floor has its own variation of a palette of high quality materials and classic furniture.

The quality of all these spaces are of great consequence.  These are the areas where the most important clients will come closest and form crucial first impressions.  Therefore the interiors must successfully communicate the company’s professionalism, confidence and ambition.

Graham worked on this commission during his time at Bill Hopper Design.  Bill developed the concepts and the overall design whilst Graham coordinated the layouts and project information and developed individual components, including the main frameless glass entrance, reception and security desks, a glass staircase and a range of bespoke doors.