Who's the customer?

Secure Living (otherwise known as USB2U) are importers of promotional technology products.  Focused on delivering a range of innovative USB supplies, they are one of the UK’s largest and longest established suppliers of branded USB sticks and technology gifts.  Most impressively, they produce over 1.5 million printed, engraved, customised and branded USB sticks every year.

What was the brief?

Secure Living had an exceptionally large business premises which housed not only their staff members and equipment, but three other businesses too.  The customer had too much unused space and decided it was time to downsize.  Splitting from the other three companies, Secure Living knew that downsizing was not only a practical decision, but a more efficient and economy-friendly solution too.

For their new commercial premises, the customer wanted a clean and modern aesthetic with an industrial feel, and needed to maximise all available space.  ‘‘Waste not, want not,’’ as they say!

While the end goal was clear, we had just 5 weeks to transform an empty shell of an industrial unit into a contemporary, functional workspace.  It’s fair to say timescales were tight!

About the project

On the existing first floor, we created an office by installing a jumbo stud wall partitioning system with windows overlooking the production unit.  The main area was left open plan with the addition of a banded glass partition (very on trend and very stylish!) to create a director’s office and meeting room.  We did not install a ceiling as the client wanted exposed conduit as part of the ‘industrial’ feel, offering a commodious ambiance.  We also:

• Installed drop-down suspended LED lighting to aid the desired industrial and modern aesthetic.
• Carried out all electric cabling works including data points.
• Fitted the carpets and carried out all painting and decorating work. We even supplied the office furniture!

And when it came to the two-tier mezzanine, we had a lot of work to do there also:

• We fire rated the mezz as it was to be used for office use.
• In terms of access, the second floor of the mezzanine could be reached via the main staircase. We then installed a new staircase on the ground and first level of the mezz to access the first and second tier from the production area.
• In order to install the supporting mezzanine posts, we demolished and re-built a toilet block whilst also fitting a kitchen in the space below.