The Workstation in Sheffield have been using a large ground floor room, previously a retail unit, for small conferences, presentations and public meetings, but its use was limited by poor acoustics, poor lighting. Working closely with the clients we analysed the requirements of all the potential uses and then proposed a new layout which could successfully accommodate all of them.

The design introduces a new acoustic textured walls to create a central shaped room with a demountable stage. The resulting space between the new and existing walls contains easily accessible storage, and a small bar hidden behind ranges of flush doors, along with all the new electrical and mechaniccal services and acoustic panels.  Instead of a continuous ceiling, there is a co-ordinated series of acoustic panels separated by lighting strips containing both LED panel lights and sets of adjustable spotlights. The existing steel windows are to be refurbished and motorised curtains allow a full black-out, while completely concealing the new bar behind doors increases the variety of possible users.