An Expanded London Office for MarketAxess

06.14.21

GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS

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Spacesmith completed the expansion of the London office of MarketAxess. The space boasts views of St. Paul’s Cathedral and the cityscape.

Photos courtesy of Spacesmith/Stephen Bennett Photography

An Expanded London Office for MarketAxess

by Anna Zappia Architecture and design firm Spacesmith has completed an expansion for global financial technology company MarketAxess. The new 17,000-squarefoot office in London delivers a highperformance hub created for open communication, collaboration, and innovation. Completed in partnership with design-build contractor Morgan Lovell, the space at 5 Aldermanbury Square reflects the MarketAxess team’s vision for the next generation of fintech.

Spacesmith has a longstanding relationship with the leadership at MarketAxess, having completed four major projects for the company, including the U.S headquarters that opened in New York’s Hudson Yards in 2019.

The workplace captures the company ethos, but it has a touch of British flair.

“We maintained elements similar to those found in the New York office, but we laid out the space to maximize the views of St. Paul’s Cathedral and the surrounding urban environment.

We also brought in some features that made it distinctly more English. There are spots for tea, and some working areas are a little more separate,” said Michel Franck, partner in charge, Spacesmith.

A key goal was to create a space that not only showcases the latest technology but also attracts and retains top talent—essential in a competitive market. The Spacesmith team began the programming phase by surveying the staff and analyzing their styles and types of functions.

“What we found was that they really needed more flexible collabora-

tion space, because they are a very agile working team. The MarketAxess employees, especially in the London office, do a lot of video conferencing with the other staff members in offices around the world,” said Julia Libby, senior designer at Spacesmith, who worked with Franck on the project.

The staff needed more total area for scrum team meetings in particular, which the architects were able to provide without sacrificing other muchneeded components. “They have a daily scrum, which is a short, 15-minute meeting. They talk about what they did the previous day, the plans for the current, and any challenges they may have. It’s about effective communication and planning, which is helpful when working on complex projects like they do,” Libby added.

GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS

06.14.21

a&d In lieu of a traditional reception area, the primary focal point is the command center. This main section features a curved wall of natural oak with eight large screens that showcase the MarketAxess product in real-time. Providing privacy for the active work areas beyond, the command center extends across a cluster of eight workstations that control its demonstration display.

This central area of the office sets the right tone, achieved in part because of the Spacesmith team’s knowledge of the building, crucial to this deftly executed expansion. “When we originally worked on the 10th floor years ago, we learned lessons about the geometry of the building. As the leadership changed, so did the culture.

They wanted an office that was more theatrical, which is best expressed in the command center, the “brain.”

Staff and clients have the MarketAxess experience here,” Franck explained.

Pops of color throughout the space echo the vitality of the young staff, but the overall effect is subtle. “We took a more colorful, less brand-centric approach to the 12th floor. MarketAxess

is still a financial company, so we used a light hand. We kept the main finishes fairly neutral, and then moments of color peek out behind things,” Libby noted.

The office has a range of areas for both collaboration and heads-down work.

Employees can enjoy views and access to natural light in the new space.

06.14.21

GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS

a&d

The living green wall brings foliage into the space in a sophisticated way, and it requires little maintenance.

Graffiti covers the entire perimeter of the building’s core wall, akin to the street art that decorates the New York workplace. For Franck, the interior design should align with the architecture, never compete with it. “We’re creating these three-dimensional spaces, and then we layer in color or these art elements. These features are thoughtfully added, never gratuitously placed here and there.”

The office received an SKA Gold rating, reflecting the MarketAxess focus on environmental and social governance.

The SKA rating (a U.K. certification like LEED in America) is an environmental assessment method, benchmark, and standard for non-domestic fit-outs, led and owned by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). The Gold rating is a recognition of responsible construction practices and materials, including FSC-certified wood, recycled

finishes, and zero-VOC paints.

Supporting a healthy lifestyle at work was just as important to management as every other detail. “The client mandate was to promote wellness and incorporate biophilic elements,” Franck said. The work areas are outfitted with height-adjustable benching, with access to natural light and views. A large café offers employees three zones for training, eating, and lounging. Three feature walls signal the location of these zones. One has a media installation, the second is for café amenities, and the third is a live green wall.

The green wall brings the foliage into the space in a sophisticated way, an integral element rather than a smattering of potted plants. “We had water already coming through there for the bathroom, and there’s lots of daylight on that side of the floor. It was the perfect opportunity to have nature in-

doors. It’s self-watering, so it really is a low-maintenance feature that the staff doesn’t have to worry about,” Libby explained.

Libby noted that the design of the office allows for more expansion.

“MarketAxess is a company that likes to plan for the future. They have grown a lot over the past several years, and they are always thinking about how they can continue to use their spaces with more people in them.”

A design that allows for adaptability is set to become the most desirable amenity, and for Libby, it’s what makes this expanded office ideal. “Cuttingedge technology, a café with food options, all of these things add value. I think flexibility, though, is most attractive to prospective employees. They don’t want to just sit at a desk all day.

They want to be able to pick up and move,” she said. 