New head office for easyJet
Office Design and Fit-Out specialist Area Sq have been awarded the £3.1 million
refurbishment project for easyJet’s new Head Office in Luton. easyJet is
consolidating its existing premises into one following the company’s rapid
expansion, and will be relocating to ‘‘Hangar 89’’ (H89) at the end of 2006.
H89 is one of the largest cantilever structures of its type in the UK; in addition
to over 50,000 sq ft of office space, H89 can house three Airbus 319s/Boeing 737s at
any one time.
easyJet’s brief to Area Sq was to convert the 1970’s hangar into an office
environment reflecting the culture and ethos of the company, on a low-cost budget
and challenging timescales. This will be achieved by creating large open-plan areas,
without a single cellular office, combined with a strong corporate identity. The
outside cladding will be painted orange, giving the ‘low-cost’ airline visibility,
even from the air.
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Included in the management challenge for Area Sq is to ensure the fit-out project
takes into considerations such areas as landside/airside security and the ongoing
requirements of the airside hangar maintenance operations.
The internal construction works will commence at the end of April, and will have to
be coordinated with the external cladding contract to ensure the building remains
water-tight during the key fit out stages.
Huw Thomas, Property Director at easyJet says:
‘We appointed Area Sq on the basis that they understood the easyJet culture and
they were able to deliver a cost-effective solution. Consolidating our premises
also means savings to the business, which ultimately will be passed on to the
consumer.’
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