Tailored office design for Raymond James following a merger

Following a strategic merger with Charles Stanley, Raymond James required expanded office spaces at Ropemaker Street and St James’s Square to support their growing operations.

The vision for the newly acquired space
CitySpace Management, our long-term partner, brought us on board to support the transformation of the newly acquired office space and deliver high-quality, functional environments that embody the firm's sophisticated brand and expansion needs.

Having delivered the installation at the Ropemaker Street office in a previous project for Raymond James in 2018, we were delighted to be asked to support the expansion and transformation across three floors and a separate executive site at St James’s Square.

The design focused on enhancing break-out areas, creating bespoke timber features, and integrating functional yet visually appealing spaces.

We were brought in for this project in the early stages, allowing us to provide material suggestions and explore alternative solutions to enhance the overall design and ensure the original brief was met. Bradley Fielden, Sales Director at Clarke Rendall, comments:

"We worked closely with their team from design to delivery, ensuring every material selection and detail aligned with the project vision.”

Ropemaker Street

Our task was to focus on break-out and open-plan areas across the 13th, 18th, 19th, and 20th floors at Ropemaker Street to accommodate the growing team following the merger.

The design featured an oak-veneered fin system with vertical and ceiling-mounted fins for a sleek, cohesive look. One standout element was the pergola system, which required seamless alignment with glazing installations. We coordinated closely with glazing contractors to ensure proper integration. Also, as part of the project was the installation of high-rise, informal break-out islands and a media suite designed for flexibility, which would be used to carry out global broadcasts. Bradley comments:

“The media suite had to adapt to different configurations, from seated presentations to standing arrangements, so we designed the bespoke furniture to include wheels.”

Other challenges involved ensuring access to essential building services while maintaining a decorative ceiling design.

“We designed breaks in the fins to accommodate access flaps that integrated seamlessly into the ceiling panels to balance aesthetics with functionality. We also worked closely with electricians to ensure cable placement and lighting fixings aligned perfectly with our joinery work,” said Bradley.

St. James’s Square

The reception area included several innovative elements at their executive offices in St James’s Square. A glass concertina wall was installed with a custom-designed door that allowed the space to be opened for events. The task was to design a hidden door to conceal an area for this to fold into. Bradley comments:

“We installed the perfect solution that allows the glass partitions to be directly hidden away.”

To perfectly complement the space, we crafted a reception desk with solid marble surfaces and book-matched Walnut timber veneers that flowed throughout the space, including matching credenzas, tea point and clack cupboards.

“The original concept called for thin strips of timber, which would have been complex and expensive,” explained Bradley. “We found a perfect solution by using chocolate brown MDF, veneering it, and cutting rebates to expose the brown core. This technique created a beautiful, textured effect.”

Behind the desk, a clever wall design concealed some hospitality facilities and a cloakroom. The wall design involved installing sliding doors, but their significant weight posed another challenge due to structural limitations that ruled out floor tracks. A ceiling-mounted track system was required to support the weight of the doors without compromising ease of use.

“We collaborated with ceiling contractors and CitySpace to ensure the track system worked flawlessly. The result was a seamless integration that perfectly concealed these areas,” Bradley said.

Coordination with electricians was essential to align lighting fixings with the rest of the design.

Timely delivery and execution: Success through effective planning

Despite unexpected setbacks, such as lift outages during the Ropemaker Street installation, the project was completed within the eighteen- to twenty-week phased schedule. Early collaboration and thorough planning were key to ensuring every design element was implemented smoothly and meeting budget and timeline goals.

A successful collaboration resulting in positive client feedback

The result was the successful completion of two sites that perfectly reflected the initial design intent. The positive feedback we received from the client was a testament to our ability to work effectively with contractors across various trades.

Nelson Tam, Design Manager at CitySpace Management, was pleased with the outcome and the working partnership with Clarke Rendall, commenting:

“We have worked with Clarke Rendall on several projects in the past, and their craftsmanship, professionalism, and ability to navigate complex design challenges were evident again throughout this project.”

Our strong partnership, built on early collaboration and regular communication, was key to the project’s success, highlighting our ability to work effectively with partners.

Bradley added, “Our relationship with CitySpace—directors to site managers—was fantastic. Regular meetings and open communication allowed us to adapt to evolving project demands while preserving the original vision.

“It was an enjoyable collaboration, and I look forward to working with CitySpace Management on more projects in the future.”