Como
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Supporting our clients
As the UK economy continues its recovery, clients are facing a number of challenges: a shortage in supply of Grade A office space as companies grow and want to expand; how to refurbish office space in a live environment; and, how to create more flexible work spaces so offices can adapt to a company’s changing needs. At the same time, clients are managing challenging programmes of work to ensure that the supply chain has capacity to respond to requirements, while also dealing with the rising cost of materials, labour and manufacturing. With over 10 years in the sector, the Como team has a wealth of experience and expertise and are passionate about helping clients meet their business objectives.
Major sectors
Insurance
Finance
Como
Technology and Media
Legal
Como
what we do
We deliver projects under all forms of contract, across the full spectrum of fit out services from Cat A and Cat B to refurbishment. We bring truly specialised teams to complex challenges – and our ability to deliver in occupied and operational spaces efficiently and safely is second to none. Como has a track record of delivering ambitious and rapid projects while giving clients the security of fixed price delivery. Our expertise is to provide a bespoke service to clients, with teams working according to project size, so whether your requirement is for a small, medium or major project, Como can scale up or down according to your needs. We have dedicated teams, so we are able to ensure a tailored service to clients. Our approach is to work with our clients, the design team and our suppliers as partners – this collaborative approach has been central to our company’s success and the high quality projects we have delivered. We work with a wide range of clients, often on repeat projects, including JP Morgan, Invesco, Ernst & Young, Google, Nomura, Linklaters, SABMiller, Burberry, Royal Mail, and major developers, such as Quintain, British Land and Land Securities. By tailoring our method to the specific requirements of each sector, we deliver the same great service no matter what business you work in.
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Como
Left to right: David Messer, Commercial Director Lee Phillips, Major Projects Director Trevor Bacon, Director Darran Brand, Core Projects Director
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whY coMo?
Como has a strong track record of first-class delivery through building strong and lasting relationships with clients, consultants and its dedicated and committed supply chain. The value of our client-focused and bespoke approach is demonstrated by the high percentage of repeat business we do with our clients and consultants – over 75% – taking them through from the initial strategy stage to delivery and occupation. Collaboration and innovation are at the heart of everything we do to ensure that we work with our clients and partners to tailor our services to their needs and requirements. By focusing on the output and desired end result, we don’t just follow a process; we are intelligence-led, taking a smarter approach to helping clients achieve their business objectives and achieving the right result first time.
Como’s relentless commitment to high quality delivery has been recognised by the British Council of Offices, which has awarded Como 7 BCO Awards. Como has some of the brightest and best talent in the industry with a wealth of experience and expertise. And as part of the wider Mace Group, you will be able to access leading practitioners from across the property spectrum, from MEP to sustainability, from BIM to logistics, ensuring that your project benefits from the business’s wider knowledge base. We have an exemplar safety record with a lower than industry average of accidents on site. Como has also won a number of awards for its safety record: ROSPA (the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) Awards in 2014 and 2013, the British Safety Council’s International Safety Awards and Considerate Constructor Awards.
Como’s flat structure means that clients have direct access to the senior leadership team, with three directors overseeing all projects, focusing on churn (under £500,000), core (£500,000-£7m) and major projects (£7m+). And as a privately owned business we are flexible, agile and responsive to both client needs and the market. Como provides upfront, strategic advice to clients to stress test the approach on every element of your project – programme, methodology, logistics, costs and value engineering – to ensure that work is set on the right path from the start in order to meet your business objectives. This is managed through Como’s dedicated preconstruction director, as well as having a dedicated M&E commercial team during the tendering and procurement process.
Como
our experience
125 London Wall London, UK
Major Financial Institution
Client
Nabarro
Client
Invesco
Value
Confidential
Value
Confidential
Value
£4.7m
Completion
2013
Completion
2014
Completion
2014
Sector
Finance
Sector
Finance
Sector
Finance
Client
Como was appointed by repeat client, a major financial institution, to transform the space in order to attract tenants to the building. Logistically, this was a very challenging project, with just a single goods lift and small entrance which had to be taken into consideration when planning the work.
Building on its relationship with the building owners, Como was appointed by Nabarro to create a high quality space to accommodate their staff and clients. The project saw the exceptional Category B fit out of 123,000 sq ft for the new headquarters for the international law firm.
There were additional challenges for the project, located in a sensitive environment with close proximity to the Barbican. Como attended tenant liaison meetings on a monthly basis with the landlord and issued regular newsletters to update local residents on upcoming activities. Como also met with the City of London on a regular basis to discuss upcoming activities.
Como also managed the coordination with other tenant fit outs taking place in the building and liaised closely with the building maintenance team to coordinate service shut downs and commissioning. This meant that Como was able to deliver the project to a tight and demanding programme ahead of schedule.
Como successfully delivered the fit out of 25,000 sq ft of space for investment management firm, Invesco, at its new 125 London Wall office in the City of London, UK. The Como project team had been working on the delivery of the refurbishment of the building for the landlord. Como’s sister company and international facilities management provider, Macro, has had a longstanding relationship with Invesco, which helped to not only secure Como’s appointment, but also to deliver a seamless service across the programme of works. Como provided the client certainty of delivery and cost despite a changing brief, delivering the design and build contract from concept through to practical completion within a tight 25 week timeframe. Working with the project consultants, Como’s project team was able to achieve a high quality and professional office space for Invesco.
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Š RAW Unlimited
Como
Five Brindleyplace Birmingham, UK
Client
Hines and the Moorfield Group
Value
ÂŁ8m
Completion
2013
Sector
Property
Como was appointed by Hines and the Moorfield Group to refurbish the space in a timely and cost effective manner to attract tenants. Having already delivered the refurbishment works for the building’s landlords, Hines and the Moorfield Group, Como understood its drivers and end goal, and worked with the professional team to deliver the best solution and get the building back to the market as quickly as possible.
Procured under a two stage design and build contract, Como helped develop the tenant fit out pack for the client and supported Hines and the Moorfield Group with information that assisted negotiations and secure incoming tenants.
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The Economist Tower London, UK
Client
Fiat
Value
ÂŁ720,000
Completion
2014
Sector
Transport
Como is delivering Category B refurbishment on Level 10 of The Economist Tower, which is a listed building, for Fiat. Having already delivered a number of projects for the client, Como has been able to draw upon this experience to provide strategic advice at the start of the commission to ensure that the end product would meets client expectations.
Not only is this a complex project because the work is taking place in an occupied building, but there is an added dimension of working within a listed building, which has seen the project team build a close working relationship with English Heritage to ensure that the work meets the heritage requirements.
Como
1 Angel Lane London, UK
“I think the success of any project, particularly one of this size, can only really be judged after some time has passed. After 18 months of occupancy, I still see a very high quality work environment, one which is still much visited and admired by clients of the firm and peers from other organisations, still very much commented on and appreciated by staff. Its infrastructure remains robust, and systems and services exceed expectations - all achieved within a programme that most would consider impossible.” Tony Bartle, Head of Real Estate and Services EMEA, Nomura
Client
Nomura
Value
£130m
Completion
2011
Sector
Finance
The Japanese investment bank appointed Como to deliver a new office building for the bank, as more space was required following a merger. Como negotiated and delivered the complex project, which includes three dealers floors hosting 1,300 dealers, a 210 seater auditorium, a restaurant with private dining area and a fully equipped gym, over 525,000 sq ft.
With ground breaking records such as Europe’s largest installation of water cooled desks and linear LED lighting, Como worked seamlessly with project partners and handed over the building in just eight months, making this one of the fastest and largest fit-outs in Europe at the time. Since completion, 1 Angel Lane has won the ‘Fit-out of Workplace’ category at the regional 2011 BCO London and South East Awards.
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20 Fenchurch Street London, UK
Client
Liberty Specialty Markets
Value
Confidential
Completion
2014
Sector
Insurance
Como has been appointed by Liberty Specialty Markets to fit out its new 120,000 sq ft headquarters at 20 Fenchurch Street, the Walkie-Talkie building, in the City of London. This project is the largest of 11 fit out projects being carried out within the building.
The fit out is delivering Category B space from shell and core over six levels and will provide Liberty Specialty Markets with new, high quality office accommodation including cellular offices, meeting rooms, broker lounge, reception, staff cafe, breakout spaces, storage, SER rooms on each floor and an interconnecting staircase between levels 20 to 22.
Como
110 Fetter Lane London, UK
Client
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Value
Confidential
Completion
2011
Sector
Legal
International law firm Weil Gotshal & Manges (Weil) were looking for a fit out partner who could deliver a more creative environment for their new 65,000 sq ft offices in Fetter Lane, one that would encourage interaction and communication between individuals and teams. Como installed breakout spaces and social points to create an easy flow of people around the building and to form spaces where people could concentrate, relax and interact, in addition to cellular offices for 150 lawyers and a fresh and sleek new kitchen and restaurant.
By using mock-ups to prove the installation of acoustic solutions, audio-visual technology, desk installation and lighting design, Como ensured that the client’s quality aspirations were met and reduced the time spent making adjustments on location. With neighbouring tenant, the Courts of Justice, undergoing simultaneous construction work, the Como team used their relationship management skills to ensure co-ordinated logistics and efficient day-to-day operations in the rest of the building.
Staying true to Como’s ‘right first time’ culture, 110 Fetter Lane was delivered to Weil on time, to budget and to the high end finish that reflects their status as a leading international law firm.
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“The Como team were superb. From senior management to our day-to-day contacts, they all worked with us to make a challenging fit out complete, on budget and on time. They listened to us, understood our priorities and delivered an end product that has both transformed the working environment of our London office and also had a very positive impact on our reputation in the market.� Fiona Haigh, Director of Administration & Strategy, Weil, London
Como
The Shard London, UK
Client
Al Jazeera
Value
£5.5m
Completion
2014
Sector
Technology and communications
Al Jazeera appointed Como to deliver a world class news room and production studio within the confines of a standard shell and core office development on Level 16 of The Shard. Como undertook detailed co-ordination and integration of specialist suppliers, including data, broadcast cabling and control, and set designers. With a fixed “go live” date in October, there was no flexibility on hitting the end date for the project, but Como was able to be a flexible contractor to incorporate design changes throughout the delivery. Como was also able to draw on its previous knowledge of the building, having already delivered Category A space for the landlord.
Having delivered the fit out of Al Jazeera’s original headquarters at 1 Knightsbridge, the Como team built on its expertise in complex technical fit out and worked effectively and efficiently with the Doha-based client.
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1 Silk Street London, UK
Client
Linklaters
Value
£23m
Completion
2014
Sector
Legal
Como carried out a high specification fit out of Linklaters’ London headquarters after a successful delivery of infrastructure works in the building. The project was delivered in phases while other parts of the building remained occupied. The works were taking place on the client-facing floors, so it was vital that no disruption was caused and Como managed a “seen and not heard” working environment. The works encompassed the fit out of the existing office environment, an area of 172,000 sq ft, and other special areas including a reception area, auditorium and meeting suites with integrated AV, restaurant, new gym and wellbeing suite.
The refurbishment provides Linklaters with offices that reflect their successful reputation and incorporates cutting edge audio visual technology in their client meeting suite, business lounge and deal zones. This saves not only money in travel but eliminates 1,900 tons in CO2 emissions each year. Attention to detail and design coordination were essential so that the works were completed within the phased and challenging timescales.
Como
1 Stanhope Gate London, UK
Client
SABMiller
Value
Confidential
Completion
2012
Sector
Food and beverage
“Overall 1 Stanhope Gate has been a very successful project and Como has delivered an extremely high quality fit out that has matched SABMiller.”
Building on an existing strong client relationship with Como’s sister company Macro, Como delivered a premium-quality fit-out of three executive floors of SABMiller’s London headquarters.
Como understood SABMiller’s drivers and vision of the refurbishment, which meant they worked together to appoint new architects to reworking the original designs for the building so they were fit for purpose.
The fit out of almost 16,000 sq ft office space took place during occupation, with SABMiller’s senior management in residence and the floors above in use by financial traders. Any disruption to their business-critical IT systems would have been extremely problematic.
The works were split into three phases and included a new boardroom, fine dining area, a bar, meeting suite, telepresence room and staff desks. There were two-week ‘fallow’ periods left between phases to ensure staff could take occupation of their new environment smoothly. All phases were completed in line with agreed phase completion dates.
Richard Horner, Facilities Account Manager, SABMiller
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1 St John’s Lane London, UK
Client
AKQA
Value
£750,000
Completion
2014
Sector
Technology and commuications
Como worked with digital marketing agency, AKQA to deliver an innovative project involving Category B refurbishment of over 15,000 sq ft of commercial office space within a restricted budget to a fast track programme of work. The theme for the new offices was the Victorian London docks, and allowed a flexibility of workspace and a new way of working for the company. The project included the installation of partitioning, specialist internal finishes and modification to the landlord’s MEP systems and existing comms room.
The Como team worked closely with the supply chain and specialist contractors to deliver the project, which was undertaken in occupation, adding a further level of complexity to the work.
About Como
About Mace
Como is a specialist fit out and refurbishment contractor that prides itself on employing the most talented people in the industry, and is an integral part of Mace.
Mace is an international consultancy and construction company working across the entire property and infrastructure life cycle. Our core services are programme and project management, construction delivery, cost consultancy and facilities management.
We deliver projects under all forms of contract, across the full spectrum of fit out services from Cat A and Cat B to refurbishment. We’re flexible and innovative, often completing projects in occupied premises to the tightest schedules, with minimal disruption to our clients’ operations. Como’s award winning team and collaborative approach means the highest quality product, whatever your project requirements.
Contact Trevor Bacon Director Trevor.Bacon@comogroup.co.uk
Como 155 Moorgate London EC2M 6XB +44 (0)20 3522 3000 info@comogroup.co.uk comogroup.co.uk
Our mission is to work with our clients around the world to shape cities and build sustainable communities. We currently operate across 70 countries located within the five strategic hubs of Europe, Middle East and North Africa, the Americas, Asia Pacific and Sub-Saharan Africa. We employ over 4,300 people and our current turnover is in excess of £1.18bn.