Aecom

Client overview:

Aecom, a global infrastructure firm, revamped its office space at Aldgate Tower, spanning Levels 7, 8, 9, 10, and 16. The project aimed to foster employee well-being, creativity, and sustainability through biophilic design and innovative planting across various collaborative spaces.

The brief

Aecom sought to integrate a variety of indoor and outdoor plant features across several office levels. The design included a mix of cabinet-top planting, inbuilt seating planters, and bespoke planting arrangements for breakout spaces. Additionally, they desired sensory planting for outdoor spaces and low-maintenance options like succulents for desktops and countertops.

What we did

We installed trough planters with client-chosen plants across multiple levels, including cabinet-top planting and concrete-style floorstanding planters. The seat planting featured lush varieties like Rhipsalis and Chamaedorea Metallica, while the desktop planting used small concrete pots with round-leaved bushes. In breakout spaces, inbuilt troughs were used to create varied heights and greenery, complemented by banana trees in the Exchange area. On Level 8, we crafted a sensory garden with aromatic plants like Mint, Basil, and Rosemary, and introduced orange trees and Strelitzia to provide a striking interior focal point.

Outcome and feedback

The biophilic design successfully brought the outside in, creating an environment that supports relaxation and well-being. The combination of fruit trees, a sensory garden, and trailing plants across various levels enhanced both aesthetic appeal and workplace productivity. Employees have responded positively to the varied planting arrangements, which provide a refreshing contrast to the office's modern architecture, making the office a more inviting space.