OBI refreshes brand to mark new era

Multidisciplinary real estate consultancy, OBI, has undertaken a brand refresh, including the re-design and fit out of its Manchester city centre office, and brand-new website.

The business behind some of the city’s most prominent office spaces, established in 2010, has undergone a substantial transformation as a result of company-wide feedback on how to improve the workplace environment to meet everyone’s needs.

The extensive fit out, which was spearheaded by a brief that aimed to create a sustainable and flexible workplace, included the introduction of new furniture, acoustics, technology, lighting, and improved air quality, as well as total reconfiguration of the space to provide better efficiencies.

Calm colour choices, as well as the use of timber, were key components of the project. Additionally, to accommodate OBI’s ESG aspirations, biophilia, sustainable materials and local labour were at the forefront of the transformation.

The 3,300 sq ft space now comprises 36 fixed desks, six agile workstations, four meeting rooms, a presentation / cinema room, bar, and a hospitality-led breakout space.

OBI’s capabilities have evolved over its 14 years, with the firm now delivering transactions & asset management, building consultancy, workplace consultancy, and interior design/studio. This considered, an agile working policy has been adopted with ‘neighbourhoods’ for each team, all reflecting the environments that best suited each disciplinary.

Additionally, rather than fixed desks, the new informal layout aims to encourage inter-team collaboration, further fostering a positive work culture.

OBI’s new strapline ‘We move as one’ aims to depict its collaborative approach and demonstrate its multidisciplinary capabilities.

Will Lewis, founder and director at OBI, commented: “In order to ensure that every space in our office was flexible and efficient, we took time to really understand the needs of the team and our clients by carrying out numerous surveys and undertaking extensive data analysis.

“The finer details, such as the quality and quantity of fresh air, acoustics, lighting and also the technology implemented throughout, is all best-in-class and has positioned us to maximise our outputs and productivity for the foreseeable future, all with the team’s wellbeing in mind.

“We are delighted with the new working environment with a brand-new website, and it’s set us up perfectly as a business to continue to collaborate and produce the best results for our clients.”

OBI’s office is located on 80 Mosley Street, overlooking St. Peter’s Square.