Hitachi Consulting

Strategic Office Relocation and Merger

In the swiftly evolving landscape of global business consultancy, Hitachi Consulting—a subsidiary of the prestigious Hitachi Ltd.—stood at the threshold of transformation. Their ambitious objective: to seamlessly merge and relocate two strategic London offices into a single, unified European headquarters. This case study examines the meticulous orchestration of this venture by Cityspace, highlighting the complexities, innovative solutions, and the ultimate realization of Hitachi Consulting's vision for a workplace that fosters integration, collaboration, and enhanced operational efficiency.

• Location: Bouverie House, London, UK

• Company Size: 6,500 employees worldwide, 252 consultants in London office

• Project Size: Over 7,000 square feet

• Sector: Information Technology

Bridging Distances to Create a Unified Space

Cityspace's expertise was enlisted to create an office space that could bring together two distinct teams from diverse backgrounds into a cohesive and integrated workplace. The client envisaged this relocation as an opportunity to align their brand and values, enhance employee experience, and facilitate seamless collaboration among teams. Our design had to be highly practical, efficient, and leverage the latest technology to enable a seamless transition into a new office environment.

Bringing Together Two Worlds Under One Roof

A key challenge was merging two different organizational cultures into a single space while maintaining each team's identity. Additionally, the new office had to cater to diverse work styles and preferences, ranging from open plan desks to private individual offices and meeting rooms. We had to find innovative solutions to balance these needs while also ensuring the office met necessary regulatory requirements.

A significant challenge in nature was to implement agile working principles in an open-plan office while maintaining confidentiality in sensitive consultations. To overcome this hurdle, Cityspace designed a collection of acoustic telephone booths, enhancing privacy without compromising the essence of an open, collaborative environment.

Innovative Design that Fosters Integration and Collaboration

Our team worked closely with Hitachi Consulting to gain an in-depth understanding of their values, brand, work styles, and operational processes. This allowed us to conceptualise and design a space that reflected their identity while also promoting collaboration and efficient workflow. The open-plan layout was complemented by private booths, breakout areas, and meeting rooms with sophisticated AV technology integration for seamless virtual and in-person meetings.

In a gesture true to the firm's heritage, Cityspace engaged a branding consultant with a special commission—to weave the Japanese essence through a visual theme that connects Hitachi's global offices. The creative outcome was a series of bespoke window and wall graphics, each portraying a unique flower or plant native to one of the 12 countries housing Hitachi's satellite offices. This artistry served to celebrate not just the company's international presence but its rich cultural tapestry.

A Harmonious Blend of Tradition, Innovation, and Corporate Identity

The new office is a testament to the successful merger and relocation of Hitachi Consulting's London offices. The space beautifully blends elements of both teams' identities while fostering a sense of collaboration and integration. Employees now have access to various work settings, each designed to cater to their specific needs and preferences — featuring 80 desks in strategic array to enable 252 consultants to thrive.

Cityspace took pride in ensuring that every aspect of the design process was closely aligned with Hitachi Consulting's business imperatives. This confluence of strategic design with agile functionality stands testimony to a workspace that is not only aesthetically compelling but also deeply resonant with the firm's operational aspirations.

The design's balanced duality of form and function genuinely reflected Hitachi Consulting's ethos—technology-driven solutions delivered through collaborative finesse.