The Rise of Premium Office Design in London

As covered recently by Construction News, London is now top of the global ranking for high-specification office fit out costs.

The data, collected by Turner & Townsend, shows that average costs in London have reached £4,661 per square metre. The consultancy firm puts this down to the rising material prices, construction industry skill shortages and a growing demand for premium workspaces.

Why is there Growing Demand for Premium Office Design?

According to Turner & Townsend’s head of occupier and retail, Nadia de Klerk, the pressure to attract staff back to the office has led clients to invest in sophisticated office fit outs.

Indeed, with the changing expectations of the post-pandemic workforce, tenants are placing employee experience at the heart of their workplace strategy.

We recently covered this topic in our own article on the trends shaping commercial office design. In the article, we highlighted how commercial real estate owners have faced soaring tenant demands over the past two years.

In addition to employee experience, sustainability and technology are key drivers for tenants when choosing an office space. Combined, these factors have forced commercial landlords to rethink their approach, placing more emphasis on creating premium workspaces that meet the evolving needs of tenants.

Related content: 6 Trends Shaping Commercial Office Design

What Does a Premium Office Look Like?

While not every company has the budget for a luxury space, you can still find inspiration by looking at what’s going on in the capital. Let’s look deeper into the trends and explore some examples to give you a flavour of what constitutes a premium office…

Less Space, Higher Quality

As highlighted in JLL’s office fit out cost guide, hybrid is still the predominant working style. However, there is a push by companies to improve workplace attendance in 2025.

While 65% of organisations in EMEA have adopted hybrid working policies, office attendance remains a key concern. This has prompted companies to invest in smaller footprints but higher quality environments to improve existing office attendance.

One aspect companies are prioritising to improve attendance is greater variety in workspaces, with emphasis on collaboration areas and focus rooms. This brings us to our next point…

Related content: Hybrid Office Design – How to Set Up Your Space
Related content: 8 Collaborative Workspace Design Ideas

More Workplace Variety

According to a report by Leesman (called ‘The Value of Variety’), those who have diverse seating arrangements have a better workplace experience. Using its own workplace experience method (Lmi) to measure this, Leesman found that those with more seating variety recorded the highest satisfaction level (72.8 out of 100).

As an office fit out company, we have seen many companies introduce more variety in their workspaces. Take our London client Hudl, which added lots of variety to its workspace by going for an “agile” setup. This means that, rather than assigning workstations to teams and individuals, the layout is made up of work zones that employees can choose from.

Whether it be working independently in a booth, typing away at a height-adjustable desk, or collaborating in a cool meeting room, the design allows workers the freedom to work how and where they like. See more of the project here.

For more ideas on how to add variety to your workspace, see our article: Office Seating – Why Variety Matters.

Instagrammable Office Design

The Hudl office design is so cool that it’s worth mentioning in two points. This time, we’re looking at it through the lens of Instagrammable office design, which is ideal for companies looking to appeal to Gen-Z and Millennials.

In our recent article, How to Create an Instagrammable Office , we referenced how Magic Spoon created an office to lure young people back into the office. The pop art inspired workspace is quite literally designed for sharing on social media, giving Magic Spoon free publicity while employees enjoy the surroundings.

Likewise, the Hudl office has numerous Instagrammable features, including a football-themed graffiti mural, a giant map of North London and meeting rooms with imitation grass walls.

Related content: 10 Instagrammable Office Design Ideas

Evolving Corporate Design

Increasingly, corporate firms are adopting design principles not typically associated with their sectors. As we’ve mentioned, this shift is down to the evolving demands of today’s employees, who want more out of their workspace in the post-pandemic age.

Take Ward Security, which went for a vibrant, biophilia-inspired office design that includes a variety of furniture for different tasks. From bleacher seating to a laptop lounge to sofas for impromptu meetings, the office puts employee-experience first.

That being said, many corporate firms are happy to go for a workspace design that reflects their sector. For example, our client WeSoda went for a classic corporate design, marked by rich materials like wood veneer doors and multiple executive offices looking out onto the City of London.

Attention to Detail

Our office interior designers will tell you that attention to detail is key in creating a strong aesthetic. For a premium look, the choice of finishes goes a long way in achieving the desired outcome.

Take our client CircleSquare as an example. As part of a relocation and CAT B office fit out, the London-based firm went for a polished concrete floor to complete the space’s modern-industrial look. Other key features include raw materials like wooden-top tables and Crittall glass meeting rooms, both of which are staples of the industrial aesthetic.

Over at Ward Security, the company’s boardroom is characterised by luxury office furniture and design details. Key features include rich oak finishes, brass accents and luxurious velvet fabric. Combined with the bespoke wine fridge, the space has an atmosphere of sophistication and sets the perfect tone for business meetings.

High-Tech Office Design

According to JLL, technology integration is at the forefront of enhancing hybrid working environments. Despite rising costs, technology investment is likely to take priority to improve operational and energy efficiency.

Here are some examples:

• Digital booking systems – Digital booking systems linked to an app can easily facilitate meetings. This is ideal for hybrid working where employees may use the office as a place to collaborate.
• Desk monitoring systems – In terms of energy efficiency, desk monitoring systems give insights into which areas are being underused. This means businesses can close certain areas of the office to reduce energy costs.
• Plug and play furniture – These days, office furniture is available with integrated power to allow employees to plug in a laptop and work. These are ideal for agile offices where employees have a choice of work zones. (Check out OE Electrics for more examples)
• Digital visitor management systems – As shown in the VPod image above, digital visitor management systems automate routine reception tasks, freeing up time for staff to focus on other duties. Key features include digital access control, meeting room booking, wayfinding and real-time monitoring of who is on site.

For more content on how technology is impacting office design, check out our article: How AI is Changing the Office Environment.

Hospitality-Inspired Design

We recently covered how many businesses are taking cues from hospitality to inform their office designs. Likewise, Workspace Show explored this in a recent article, highlighting how many London firms (Deloitte, Spotify etc.) have introduced hospitality-grade amenities in their London headquarters.

According to Workspace Show, some firms are introducing barista-run coffee bars, meditation rooms, and concierge desks that handle dry cleaning and dinner reservations. Combined with soft lighting, plush furnishings and social zones, these features blur the lines between work, leisure and lifestyle.

This represents another way in which businesses are embracing-employee centric design. By borrowing from the hospitality sector, London employers are giving employees more value and a reason to commute to work.

For a good example, take a look Classic Collection’s hospitality-inspired breakout floor.

Conclusion – The Rise of Premium Office Design in London

The data shows that London is leading the way when it comes to the high-specification office fit out trend. However, this surge isn’t simply about creating a luxury space: it’s a strategic response to the evolving expectations of the modern workforce.

Ultimately, the rise of premium London office fit outs signifies a re-evaluation of the workplace. Now, businesses recognising the workplace as a vital tool for attracting talent, fostering productivity, and building a strong identity in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Are You Considering a London Fit Out?

Ready to transform your London office into a vibrant, employee-centric space? At Rap Interiors, we’ve got 30+ years’ experience transforming offices in London and UK wide, giving business the facilities they need to set them apart from the competition.

Let’s discuss how we can make the most of your London space. Please call 0333 600 1234 or fill out the enquiry form below.