Background

The commercial law firm, Tughans has moved its headquarters to the 11th and 12th floor of the newly developed office accommodation at The Ewart. The architectural design was delivered by the team at Ply Design, and the project was managed by Johnston Houston. Somerville was selected as the main contractor to carry out the fit-out services of this substantial new commercial project.

Over two floors, their new company workspace spans almost 23,000sq ft of prime commercial space. The offices provide 360° panoramic views across the city centre and beyond. With each floor offering maximum natural daylight with floor-to-ceiling windows, all seating is perfectly positioned to allow staff to enjoy the impressive sights over Belfast.

This 17-storey building holds a BREEAM excellence rating that aligns with Tughans sustainability goals. The Ewart offers all its tenants a flexible and dynamic space for large offices and retail units. The former Ewart warehouse is an iconic B-listed building and has been restored to its former glory. It’s connected to the new 17-storey building with an attractive group courtyard.

Expertise

Main Fit-Out Contractor
Design Development
Design Management
Specialist Joinery
Project Management

Location

The Ewart

Architect

Ply Design

Fit-Out and Joinery Details

Over the two floors, we manufactured a significant amount of the furniture for this fit-out project; these items included:

  • Open-plan kitchen with a variety of seating
  • Variety of meeting room tables
  • Acoustic wall panelling
  • 26-seat boardroom table
  • Storage lockers
  • Ceiling baffles
  • Reception counter

The simple design and neutral colour palette offer a calm and relaxing atmosphere. The reception area is open-plan and welcoming, with plenty of spacious seating for visitors to wait. Navarra Ash is seen throughout the office scheme and complimented by modern charcoal-coloured accessories.

On the 11th floor, there is plenty of open-plan workspace around the periphery of the office for the team members to work in comfort. On the 12th floor - the reception area, primary boardroom, and various other meeting rooms possess plenty of space to provide the perfect working environment.

Agile and Collaborative Office

Moving away from traditional office space - the new open-plan layout harnesses a collaborative approach within Tughans. Everyone has a personal workstation that offers comfort, space and plenty of natural light.

For privacy, meeting rooms are furnished with state-of-the-art AV equipment and acoustic wall panelling to soften any harsh noise. Smaller work pods are dotted around both floors - perfect for 1-1 meetings or informal catchups. For staff who want a complete time-out, a quiet room is available. An events room allows internal or external conference events to take place.

In the primary boardroom, the customised U-shaped table is made from Navarra ash with a powder-coated cantilever steel frame. The curved recessed ceiling mimics the shape of the table and opens up the room even more, flooding it with light. This offers a truly professional space, with superb city centre views adjacent.
The exposed ceiling structure and services are painted in Signal White for a fresh look. In contrast, charcoal-coloured acoustic panels and wooden baffles are positioned throughout the office, offering task lighting and unique design details.

Biophilic Open-Plan Design

The large open-plan kitchen offers a welcoming space for staff to come together during lunchtime and coffee breaks. Hand-made and created in Navarra Oak, its matt black accessories, charcoal furnishings and feature lighting offer a tranquil social space. The banquette, bar seating and loose chairs provide flexibility throughout the working day.

Multiple faux planters and low-level shrubbery is dotted throughout the two floors, providing some much-loved biophilia in the office. This is a popular trend within new office fit-outs. Whether plants are real or faux, Biophilia can provide well-being benefits that make staff feel positive, happier, and more productive.

“We are delighted with the new office space Somerville has created for us; it is transformational for our business and truly is best in class within the market. The team at Somerville have been very personable and professional throughout the process, making the experience as easy as possible for us. The reaction of our staff and clients has been phenomenal, due in no small part to the hard work and dedication of the team at Somerville.”

David Jones, Partner, Tughans Solicitor
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