The Brief
The refurbishment of Prennau House was driven by SMS Cardiff’s decision to consolidate their team into a single building, following the vacation of a secondary site. Bringing everyone together under one roof made effective space planning a key priority, with a particular focus on maximising desk capacity while ensuring the office could comfortably accommodate a larger number of people.
Alongside this, SMS were keen to encourage employees back into the office after an extended period of working from home. It was important that the new environment felt more than just functional; the space needed to be welcoming, engaging and somewhere staff genuinely wanted to spend their time.
The Visualisation
We worked closely with the SMS team to develop floor plans that made the best possible use of the available space. Once the layouts were agreed, we produced a detailed project plan and comprehensive quotation, clearly outlining each element of the fit‑out. With tight timescales in place, careful planning was essential to ensure the project could be delivered smoothly and efficiently.
To help bring the design to life, we created mood boards and drawings that visualised our proposed look and feel. The interior palette focused on warm, earthy tones that complemented SMS’s branding while creating a modern, comfortable working environment. Walnut and anthracite finishes were used throughout to add depth, character and a cohesive aesthetic across the space.
The Realisation
The completed refurbishment has transformed Prennau House into an open, welcoming workplace. A refreshed reception area sets the tone on arrival, while a range of breakout spaces and collaboration zones encourage interaction, flexibility and more dynamic ways of working.
New teapoints with casual dining areas were introduced to support social interaction and help foster a stronger sense of community within the office. Throughout the space, meeting pods and booths provide areas for private conversations and focused work, without the need to introduce an excessive number of enclosed offices. This approach allowed us to maintain an efficient open‑plan layout while still meeting the requirement to increase desk capacity.
The finished office not only looks great but has been carefully designed to support SMS’s needs now and into the future, creating a workspace that is practical, inviting and built to evolve with the business.