The Joseph Priestley Building – Birmingham City University

Our brief was to transform the existing small coffee bar into a more extensive servery area, to allow for a varied food offer throughout the day. The working culture within the building was changing, with the staff now ‘agile working’, meaning this space was crucial in forming a central hub within the Joseph Priestley Building for people to meet, work and relax.

We tackled this by looking at the space and designating a larger corner zone, allowing for the creation of a food court style offer. The front counters were removed and in their place a completely new concept was developed.

We incorporated a real mix of self-service and served food offers, to allow for added flexibility. Integrated soup wells allow for changeable menus throughout the working day, with an oversized island creating the perfect space to cater for breakfast, lunch and special events.

We rearranged the flow of the space to create a more leisurely customer journey, but still allowing for a sense of grab & go if needed.

The whole space has been given a new identity, with an injection of soft, tactile finishes, peaceful colours and a mix of furniture styles to create the perfect retreat throughout the working day.

Light, washed oak finishes, gentle green accents, and open metal feature gantries help to set the tone for the new space. It feels relaxed, earthy and inviting.