Location: King’s Cross, London, UK
Size: 11,003 sqft / 1,022 sqm
Industry: Engineering
Services: Design
Rolls-Royce
This head office relocates Rolls-Royce to the heart of London’s tech district, reflecting a broader shift in the company’s culture and ambitions. The new workplace supports agile working, fosters collaboration, and brings the brand’s forward-looking mindset into the built environment.
A Strategic Shift to the Heart of London’s Tech Scene
Relocating their headquarters to King’s Cross was a pivotal move for Rolls-Royce, situating the company within London’s vibrant technology hub. But it wasn’t just a change of address, it marked the beginning of a broader evolution in workplace culture and brand expression.
Collaborating closely with Rolls-Royce leadership and brand teams, we set out to create an environment that reflects the company’s forward-looking mindset. The goal: design a space that signals innovation and enables a more connected, responsive way of working.
Translating Brand into Built Form
A key design challenge was balancing stringent security with a welcoming atmosphere. This was achieved through discreet interventions, such as a custom bench that creates a soft threshold between reception and the conference suite, and open security gates that close only when a visitor fails to present a pass.
Every design move was intentional, balancing Rolls-Royce’s storied heritage with a focus on innovation. At reception, the iconic logo is framed by contemporary finishes, extending the brand’s visual language into the workplace. A bespoke brand pattern, integrated across front-of-house surfaces, offers a quiet yet consistent expression of identity.
From Traditional Desks to Adaptive Workstyles
With a smaller footprint than before, the new headquarters required a flexible approach. We introduced a variety of workspace settings, including quiet focus zones and open collaborative areas, designed to support different workstyles and encourage day-to-day adaptability.
Meeting rooms were made easily reconfigurable, accommodating everything from small group discussions to large team sessions. The shift from fixed desks to agile working marked a significant cultural change, reflecting Rolls-Royce’s evolution into a contemporary, tech-enabled business while staying grounded in the excellence that continue to define the brand.
