Take a look at the exciting new home of D&AD

If you're going to celebrate and nurture creative excellence, and award the world's very best in design and advertising, you'd better have a home to be proud of. That's certainly something D&AD can confirm with its new offices and event space on Cheshire Street in London.

Written By: Katy Cowan

2 June 2017

But as a charitable organisation, the obvious approach has been a modest one. The starting point was an 8,000 square feet empty concrete shell spread over two floors with high ceilings and generous proportions. The site takes the lower ground and basement of a beautifully restored Victorian building that claims a long strip of the street.

D&AD wanted the working environment to be flexible for staff and also to enable people to be fully immersive when events and exhibitions take place.

Calling on the talents of Brinkworth, the architect introduced bold interventions to connect the two volumes of space, combining the functionality of the office and reception upstairs with the event space below. Throughout the project, sliding glass doors have been installed to allow the spaces to adapt to the wide range of activities you can expect.

D&AD's storefront on Cheshire Street in London features bold yellow branding on black fascia panels with large windows reflecting the Victorian building above

Yellow D&AD signage on white wall beside glass-partitioned office space with exposed concrete ceiling and pendant lighting

Modern office reception area with yellow sofa, black chair, potted plant and wooden shelving unit displaying books and design materials beneath exposed concrete ceiling and pendant lights

Modern interior space with concrete ceiling, black seating, wooden accent wall with warm lighting, and industrial-style track lights and exposed ducting

On entering at street level, you immediately land on a short walkway with a solid plywood balustrade. A large drop beyond the balustrade's edge encourages a pause to appreciate views across the main staircase void to the lower ground reception and office area.

Once you've descended down a short stair to this level, it is apparent that the solid balustrade is just the tip of a vast wall that wraps around the staircase to the space below. A large void has been cut into the reception floor to further connect the two levels with vistas between them and to allow abundant light into the basement.

A modern staircase with dark treads and metal handrail descends through a double-height space with cream plywood walls and exposed concrete ceiling in D&AD's new London offices

Black perforated metal staircase with brass pendant lights hanging above in the D&AD offices designed by Brinkworth

Interior view of D&AD's new offices showing a modern open-plan workspace with concrete ceiling, black perforated partition, light wood storage units and staff working at desks in the distance

Wooden furniture leg with red castor wheel on polished concrete floor, part of D&AD's new office design by Brinkworth

Of course, as a charitable organisation the design needed to be modest and hardworking. The materials selected reflect this approach, using cork, plywood, steel, pegboard and painted white walls. The general feel is utilitarian yet still comfortable and welcoming.

The one introduction of colour to the design is the signature bright yellow from the famous D&AD pencil awards. Hidden within the inside of the cupboards, a surprise flash of colour is revealed when opened.

Modern office lobby with sliding glass doors enclosing bookshelves, black chairs, and potted plant on polished white floor beneath exposed concrete ceiling

Row of wooden shelving units with perforated metal panels in white, dark blue and black finishes at D&AD's new London offices

Multiple brass pendant lights with black cords hang from the ceiling above a staircase with a perforated metal railing and plywood wall panelling in the D&AD offices

The reception desk has a layered detail cut out in the shape of half a pencil which will glow with hidden lighting inside. The reception has custom made bookcases integrated into the walls, to house the complete collection of the D&AD Annuals, which will add meaningful colour and texture.

In the basement, the event space has bleacher seating, to a casual auditorium feel, and the large board room at the back can be opened up to blend the two.

Furniture designer Carl Clerkin joined Brinkworth to collaborate on this particular project and developed the freestanding furniture elements, adding some delightful details and discreet humour.

Modern office meeting space with wooden table, mixed seating, black kitchen with textured backsplash, yellow sculptural element and exposed concrete ceiling

D&AD is settled in the space and its team is already planning events for the next few months. Check out the website at www.dandad.org for further updates.