‘RIBBON' ceiling sculpture

double page article about the office ceiling sculpture RIBBON by artist David Begbie

Created and installed for the new home of law firm Shoosmiths in Birmingham with a hybrid workplace destination on three floors, the firm has won prestigious industry awards and created a space with a hospitality feel that is genuinely surprising.

Conceived and designed in collaboration with innovative office interior designer OfficePrinciples North the intention of the sculpture to reflect Birmingham’s industrial heritage and waterways is spectacularly achieved. The result is the breathtaking 80 meter wire-mesh ceiling sculpture 'RIBBON' 2023.

Visit Office Principle to read more about the ceiling sculpture "RIBBON" at Shoosmiths Birmingham here.

Enquiry about this project.

Office Principles:
'Shoosmiths Birmingham'
2min

As fluid as water. As light as plumes. As delicate as jewellery. Expressing the story of synergies between Shoosmiths and the city of Birmingham the sculpture embodies the rippling fluidity of the city’s network of waterways, the light ethereal chimney plumes of the city’s industrial heritage and the unique delicacy of the precious metal craft of the city’s Jewellery Quarter.

Office Principles North

Installation of the Ribbon Sculpture
1min

Finalist for Workspace Interiors announcement for Office Principles 023

OfficePrinciples has been shortlisted as a finalist for Project of the Year - (Workspace Interiors) by mixology North 23 Awards. The design for law firm Shoosmiths in Birmingham was recognised for the outstanding hospitality-inspired workspace, blending collaborative and creative areas with spaces for focused work - a progressive hybrid approach.
The awards gala is in November 2023 - good luck!

The new offices for law firm Shoosmiths in Birmingham has been featured in ABC&D Magazine:
The article showcases the stunning Shoosmiths headquarters with highlights details including the handcrafted 80-meter ribbon sculpture unifying the space.

ABC&D notes "the angular ribbon has a fluidity that encourages circulation and flow throughout the floor plate."

'New Home for Shoosmiths'

Law firm Shoosmiths has opened the doors to its new home in the heart of Birmingham's business district at 103 Colmore Row, 20 years after the firm first established a presence in the city...

Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, and more than 140 stakeholders attended Shoosmiths opening in the city's highest office space, to celebrate the firm's new home, which has reimagined old ways of working and ensures accessibility and inclusion are at its heart. Office Principles North worked with Shoosmiths" office heads Alex Bishop and Beth McArdle to transform the 32.900ft of BREEAM 'Excellent' Grade A space into the ideal, hybrid workplace destination for more than 350 Shoosmiths' colleagues and clients across its 11th, 12th and 20th floors.

Storytelling, purpose and meaning are at the heart of the design concept. The space pays homage to the region's rich history and incorporates details that represent Birmingham's position as a city of a thousand trades, having more miles of canal than Venice, the most parks in Europe, and being a global centre for jewellery manufacture.

The floors are divided to offer a range of workspace options across The Retreat (18th Floor) - a zone for concentrated work: The Co-Lab (12th Floor) a collaborative, social space: and The View (20th Floor) a cutting-edge client suite with unparalleled views of the city. Office Principles North's hospitality led design offers flexible client hosting areas and event spaces including The Lounge, The Gallery, Spaghetti Function and The Raging Bull Bar.

The 11th and 12th floors are also seamlessly connected by grand staircase and the entire space is tied together with the symbolic Shoosmiths ribbon sculpture, which runs through to the 20th floor. At the heart of the design concept is agility, collaboration and a drive to innovate - offering a choice of work settings to inspire creativity, connections and togetherness. Supporting Shoosmiths ambition to be carbon net zero by 2025, sustainability is a key feature of the design.

Planting features prominently across the space, with sunset and sunrise gardens on the uppermost floors that take inspiration from the Botanical Gardens and offer panoramic views of Birmingham's skyline. The new workspace incorporates a host of innovative features, many of which support the diversity, inclusion and wellbeing of the Shoosmiths' people and are designed to be visible and non visible disability friendly, These include a wellbeing room, a multi-faith contemplation pod and washing facilities, a platform lift between floors to provide disabled access, braille signage for those with impaired vision, sit and stand desks, dressing rooms and a mindful colour palette.

Design overview
This is an extra-ordinarily light, open and creative workspace that tells a story, not only about Shoosmiths, but its people, clients and the city of Birmingham. It delivers a luxurious, hospitality-style experience that's blended and organic, and refuses to conform to traditional demarcations between office and breakout space - Shoosmiths employees are empowered to choose how and where to work and socialise.

Download the extract of ABC&D article Architecture, Building, Contracting & Developing October 2023