tp bennett completes new London Office Aviva at EightyFen in London’s Square Mile

tp bennett has successfully completed the new London office for Aviva at EightyFen, marking a significant move from the 1960s St. Helen’s building. This 115,000 sq ft workspace spans six floors and is meticulously designed to offer a fresh, modern environment for Aviva’s clients and serve as a central hub for its London-based employees.

tp bennett, a premier architecture and design practice, operates from London, Manchester’s Northern Quarter, and Leeds, with affiliates in over 20 countries. The firm excels in sustainability, strategy, town planning, research, and graphics.

With a team of over 350 staff, tp bennett handles projects in various sectors, including corporate offices, data centres, education, health, hospitality, public spaces, residential, retail, student housing, and transportation. Founded in 1921 by Sir Thomas Bennett, the firm is now led by a fourth generation of Directors dedicated to exceptional design and tailored professional services.

Aviva at EightyFen, designed by tp bennett ©HuftonCrow

As the original architects of EightyFen, tp bennett leveraged its intimate understanding of the building to create a workspace reflective of Aviva’s collaborative culture. The designers used EightyFen’s signature light-filled atrium to create a visual connection and transparency across the business, focusing energy and attention inwards. This marks a significant shift from the central core typology found at the St. Helen’s building and has resulted in a more dynamic and engaged work environment.

The design focused on creating community and enhancing connectivity throughout. tp bennett has created a seamless client arrival experience starting from an exclusive concierge point on the ground floor, which invites visitors up a feature staircase suspended over EightyFen’s shared events space. This leads to a dedicated reception and a warm, inviting gallery space complete with its own barista coffee bar. Meeting rooms of varying sizes line the perimeter as part of the client suite. This space also provides access to large subdivisible meeting rooms which can host larger events.

Aviva at EightyFen, designed by tp bennett ©HuftonCrow

To blur the boundaries and promote transparency between Aviva’s clients and colleagues, the first level has been designed to host a series of connected spaces. The client suite sits alongside the colleague hub with a variety of informal seating and a large kitchenette, providing a relaxed and casual space for interaction between colleagues or clients.

A new central staircase links levels 1 through 4. Surrounded by glazing to create visual transparency, the generously sized staircase encourages chance encounters between colleagues. Envisaged as ‘the beating heart of Aviva’, the staircase features adaptable elements of the organisation’s brand and history, collaboratively designed by tp bennett, brand specialists Landor & Fitch and Aviva. On each level, it opens onto activated collaboration zones and refreshment areas which wrap around the light-filled atrium.
The new office brings together Aviva’s various business units in one central location. Open-plan agile workspaces, organised as neighbourhoods, are located around the perimeter of the floorplan to maximise access to daylight. The workspaces are integrated with a central booking system, and comprehensive smart sensors, to help colleagues plan ahead and work together. The design breaks down siloes that were more prevalent in traditional offices and creates a fresh and modern workspace filled with light.

Aviva at EightyFen, designed by tp bennett ©HuftonCrow

tp bennett worked closely with the client to craft a bespoke ‘Aviva Fitout Sustainability Strategy’ which aligns the design brief with Aviva’s ESG programme, including their climate-focused targets. This strategy set 105 new industry-leading environmental and social metrics over the project’s design, construction and operational phases, and was produced as a repeatable process for consistent use across Aviva’s portfolio. Working closely with the client as well as Hilson Moran, 24 Ltd, Overbury and multiple suppliers, the project achievements included optimisation of operational and embodied carbon, responsible and circular materials, health and wellness, social value and equality, diversity and inclusivity.

Aviva at EightyFen, designed by tp bennett ©HuftonCrow

As well as sourcing products using ‘AD Lib’, tp bennett’s proprietary responsible sourcing platform, the project also achieved one of the largest embodied carbon calculations for a fitout on record – with more than 500 products assessed. Another key focus was on using the project’s exciting results to influence Aviva’s work culture, helping employees use their new office as sustainably as possible. As part of a wider user engagement process, tp bennett installed sustainability information tags onto furnishings and plants to help share environmental and wellbeing information to Aviva’s staff and guests. The performance of the fitout is design to be carefully monitored and continuously improved throughout its operation.

A dedicated and thoughtfully designed well-being suite underscores Aviva’s commitment to creating a holistic and positive workplace. This comprises a central lounge, meditative spaces, a multifaith prayer room, a first aid treatment room as well as a designated space for parents.

Aviva at EightyFen, designed by tp bennett ©HuftonCrow

A neutral, warm colour palette with a mix of timber flooring, carpet and tiles is employed throughout. References to Aviva’s brand identity are strategically placed in key spaces to foster a sense of unity and shared purpose. A diverse art collection adds further character to the spaces.

Shane Kelly, Principal Director at tp bennett said:

“It was a special experience to deliver a fit-out in a tp bennett designed building in the heart of London’s Square Mile. Our close collaboration with Aviva has resulted in a truly fresh and sustainable headquarters, with modern spaces for agile working throughout. We are proud of how our design has helped the organisation push its unique collaborative and dynamic culture even further.”

The workspace stands as a testament to the evolving landscape of modern offices, where design plays a pivotal role in driving culture and shaping the way people work. tp bennett’s design for Aviva’s new London headquarters represents a milestone in the organisation’s commitment to fostering a positive workplace.”

Aviva at EightyFen, designed by tp bennett ©HuftonCrow

Phoebe Barter, Aviva Brand Director said:

“It’s been a pleasure partnering with our property team, tp bennett and Landor, to create EightyFen, a stunning physical manifestation of our evolved Aviva brand. The response from our colleagues has been absolutely awesome. What we’ve created is more than ‘just’ a workplace. It’s an embodiment of our purpose, personality and of course, our brilliant people.”