A major refurbishment and fit out for Warner Music UK has enabled the company to consolidate its London operations from across six buildings to three—including a new HQ building in a phased construction programme.
With its broad roster of new stars and legendary artists, Warner Music is the world’s third-largest recorded music business.
It is home to a collection of the best-known record labels in the music industry including Atlantic, East West, Parlophone, Rhino, Warner Bros., Warner Classics and leading music publishers Warner/Chappell Music.
The HQ project required a modernisation through fit out and refurbishment of the base building that celebrates the distinct identities of each label, whilst still providing a unifying design language.
The design approach seeks to optimise the consolidation of Warner Music’s property portfolio into three buildings in West London, bringing its key music labels under one roof in the new ‘HQ Music House’, 27 Wrights Lane.
This property strategy allows the key functions of the business—the record labels, the publishing arm and the back-of-house functions—to operate more efficiently and within close proximity of one another.
The space seeks to express the brand and identity of each label, whilst still making a clear statement that the Wrights Lane building is the company’s London headquarters.
Lighting levels are subdued, ceilings are exposed, retained timber floors are stained black and black-painted window frames are surrounded by a distinctive deep green finish running along the perimeter of each floor.
No floor plate of the tenancy is of a similar configuration, thus providing the impetus for some innovative and unique uses to ensure the space delivered the efficiencies required not only to house 500 staff but also to allow flexibility for future expansion.
The design delivers high quality interiors that offer recording artists an attractive and comfortable environment—far from a conventional office design—in which to interact with WM executives, as well as creating an exciting and enjoyable workplace for staff. Source by Woods Bagot.
Location: London, UK
Architect: Woods Bagot
Project Manager: Capita Property and Infrastructure
Leadership Team: Emma Smith, Natasha Bonugli, Greta Kriovaite, Nicholas Byok, Chris Columbus, Lisa Humphries, Davinder Ranu, Phoebe Settle
Quantity Surveyor: Capita Property and Infrastructure
M&E Engineer: Medland Metropolis
Contractor: Overbury
Furniture Dealer: Dovetail
Move Manager: Merit Office Installations
Client: Warner Music UK
Year: 2015
Photographs: Gareth Gardner, Courtesy of Woods Bagot
