Macquarie’s London workplace at Ropemaker Place was conceived to bring together around 2,000 people from multiple locations into one connected environment. The brief was to create a workplace that felt open, welcoming and legible, with a clear social heart rather than a series of separate corporate floors.

A tall central atrium was to act as the primary point of orientation, with a sculptural staircase threading through the levels to encourage movement, visibility and spontaneous encounters. Glazing, internal vistas and layered transparency were to express openness while still supporting confidentiality where required.

The floorplates were to be organised as a landscape of varied settings – open work neighbourhoods, informal lounges, touchdown points, project areas and client spaces – supporting activity-based working long before it became mainstream. The design was to be developed in collaboration with Clive Wilkinson Architects, reinforcing Macquarie’s identity as an innovative, people-focused financial institution.