One of the advertising industry’s premier agencies, McCann Worldgroup partnered with Gensler to bring together over 1,200 employees across 12 different agencies working in four separate locations – all under one roof for the first time in the organisation’s history. The aim was to create a workspace that was conducive to collaboration, cohesion and creative thinking whilst celebrating each agency’s specialism, individuality and independence.

 Renovated with eclectic and eccentric spaces which will adapt to their resident’s needs over the years, the design complements McCann Worldgroup’s culture and delivers smarter, more flexible working options and spaces which encourage idea-sharing, connections and social interaction. Our imaginative transformation has created a vibrant, collaborative, healthy and sustainable headquarters. The move to 135 Bishopsgate gave us the opportunity to rethink the way McCann Worldgroup wanted to work together in a new environment. As such, the space has been designed to boost communication. 

The design is rich in space typologies. An interspersed series of shared informal spaces, meeting rooms, external spaces, indoor gardens and intimate client areas, set across generously proportioned floorplates, deliver a series of diverse work zones which encourage employees to explore the wider office – circulating, collaborating and creating chance alliances. We intentionally created ideation spaces in primary circulation routes to celebrate the content-creation process. With the interconnecting stairs in the atrium, you have to navigate through the collaboration and social spaces on each floor – which encourages additional social interaction and cross-collaboration between different agencies. 

The physical design of the space encourages sustainability, health and wellbeing, as do many of the initiatives and policies which McCann Worldgroup have put in place – helping perpetuate a nurturing and forward-thinking company culture. As advocates of equality, diversity and inclusion, the HQ provides a designated prayer room providing privacy for religious observance. The spaces have also been designed for neurodiversity – supporting its users to achieve their physical, mental and emotional best at all times. 

The new McCann Worldgroup HQ has sustainability at its core. Built to a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating and with a fit-out that’s been awarded the LEED Sustainability Certification, the project is grounded in environmentally responsible principles. Where possible materials and products have been sourced locally, and the reuse of existing furniture and equipment from the former studios has aided the reduction of waste and the optimisation of cost. We ensured that as many materials and products specified throughout have an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) – helping us to understand the environmental consequences and potential impacts of the products throughout their entire lifecycle.