The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) is one of the UK’s most established business membership organisations, supporting thousands of companies across London and beyond. As its community grew and the way people work continued to evolve, LCCI recognised the need for a workspace that felt more welcoming, more flexible, and more closely aligned with its mission.

The challenge

LCCI’s headquarters needed to work harder for both its members and its teams. They required:

• A flexible environment that could easily adapt to changing demands
• A multi‑purpose reception area that could act as a warm welcome point, member’s lounge and transform into an event space for talks, networking, and briefings
• A future‑ready workspace built with sustainability and resourcefulness at its core
• A design that visibly reflects LCCI’s three guiding principles:
  Support, Connect, and Champion
• An approach that offered maximum impact with minimal building work, ensuring value and minimising disruption

Our response

Working closely with LCCI, we shaped a design strategy that brings their purpose to life while making the space more inviting and versatile. The transformation focused on refreshing the ground and lower‑ground floors through light‑touch, thoughtfully targeted improvements, reinforcing sustainability and smart reuse wherever possible.

Design strategy

1. Purpose‑led zoning

We re‑imagined the layout around LCCI’s three core commitments:

• Support
  Comfortable workspaces, clear circulation, and accessible touch‑down areas that help members and staff feel at ease the moment they arrive
• Connect
  Warm communal spaces, meeting booths, and soft‑seating zones that make interaction natural and effortless—whether for a quick chat or a focused discussion
• Champion
  Confident graphics, branding, and messaging that showcase LCCI’s role as a voice for London’s business community

These themes help the space tell LCCI’s story in a subtle, intuitive way.

2. A flexible, event‑ready reception and member's lounge

The reception area has been carefully designed to work beautifully throughout the day and transform when needed. It now functions as a welcoming front‑of‑house environment, member’s lounge and a practical event venue.

Key improvements include:

• Opening up the entrance for better visibility and flow
• Removing bulky column cladding to maximise usable space
• Adding comfortable soft seating, flexible furniture, and curated displays
• Streamlining circulation by relocating the vending machine and reusing storage elements

The result is a light, modern, and friendly space that can quickly accommodate member events without compromising everyday activity.

3. Sustainability at the heart of every decision

A sustainable mindset guided the entire project. We focused on:

• Reusing and reconfiguring most existing furniture
• Minimising construction to reduce waste, carbon footprint, and cost
• Choosing new furniture when it added clear functional or aesthetic value
• Prioritising materials and finishes that support longevity and ease of future adaptation

This approach kept environmental impact low while allowing LCCI to invest in features that genuinely elevate the member experience.

4. Spaces That Flex for Every Occasion

Across both floors, we introduced a variety of working and meeting environments that support different styles of work:

• Work booths for quiet focus
• Zoom and virtual meeting pods
• Light‑filled open work areas with improved spacing
• Soft‑seating breakout zones
• Clear colour zoning to help visitors intuitively navigate the space

Whether LCCI is hosting a busy afternoon of member drop‑ins or supporting staff collaboration, the space can quickly adapt.

The Outcome

The transformation has delivered:

• A welcoming, purpose‑driven environment that feels distinctly LCCI
• A cost‑effective and sustainable upgrade that avoided unnecessary build
• Better visitor journeys and more inviting member touch‑points
• Enhanced staff comfort across a range of working styles

Before and after

Impact

LCCI now has a space that not only reflects who they are but also supports where they are going. Their refreshed environment brings their mission to life, helping them support, connect, and champion London’s business community in a more meaningful and visible way.