Member Article

Ovo Spaces relocating to Sheffield’s historic Victoria Quays

AWARD winning Sheffield commercial interior design and fit-out specialist Ovo Spaces is coming to Sheffield city centre with a major relocation to historic Victoria Quays.

The company, which is currently based in Brightside Lane, Newhall, is investing more than £750,000 in new headquarters based in a converted Victorian warehouse overlooking Sheffield’s Canal Basin.

The conversion is expected to be completed in time for the Ovo Spaces team to enjoy a late summer move.

“We have been at our current premises in Brightside since 2004 but as our business continues to expand with a portfolio of major projects both completed and in the pipeline, we knew we had to find ourselves a new home to accommodate that expansion and support us and our clients as we enter an exciting period of new growth,” said Ovo Spaces managing director David Baldwin.

Ovo Spaces already has detailed knowledge of Victoria Quays as it won the Small-Medium Project of the Year award at the prestigious Mixology Awards 2015 for its work on creating new offices in the Grain Warehouse for brand communications specialist WE ARE ( now rebranded as Born & Raised).

The Ovo team is currently working on a complete refit from core to completion of its new premises, which will be housed in a Grade II listed warehouse built at the height of the canals boom around 1816. Little used by the end of the 19th century, it was completely derelict by the early 1990s.

“Having worked so successfully on our award winning design for WE ARE in the adjoining warehouse, we know these beautiful Victorian warehouses create fascinating work space with a difference! “ said David.

“The move will give an extra 4,000 square feet of space which will allow for a fabulous interactive Show Room and events space.

“We will encourage a more collaborative, agile work ethos where clients and colleagues can call in and work with us, close to the City Centre with convenient rail and road links.

“We have devoted 3,000 sq ft of diverse space where various CPD, Training, Seminar, Art Gallery and various commercial events can take place in a creative, stimulating environment “ said David.

Among the unique design features being created by Ovo Spaces is the inclusion of a bespoke, wide beam canal barge featuring the very latest sustainable, eco friendly features such as battery powered electric propulsion, solar power regeneration for underfloor heating and LED lighting.

The boat will be moored inside the Ovo Terminal Buildings and used on a regular basis for client presentation and proposals.

“We will be taking clients who fancy a spin on the gorgeous vessel for pleasure cruises. These boats were originally commercial life blood of Victoria Quays,” said David.

“We commissioned the one off boat build as part of the site’s development because we really wanted to echo the history of this area and the incredible buildings, which we are preserving with a sensitive and sympathetic design programme.

“As with all our projects, we work to the highest environmentally friendly standards and we have been consulting the Renewable Heat Initiative throughout the process for their help and assistance.

“We believe this is an outstanding example of how to transform and up-cycle a wonderful building, creating a great working space for ourselves but also preserving a vital piece of Sheffield’s industrial and cultural heritage.

“When you consider that we are joining companies like Nabarro, the Hilton Hotel, Fernie Greaves and Born & Raised in Victoria Quays, we feel we are also contributing to the regeneration of what promises to be a hugely important part of the city.

“Just look at what Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester have done with their inland waterways, Sheffield can surely achieve the same accolades…and if not, the people of Sheffield need to be asking our elected Council members, why not?”

Even though Ovo Spaces is relocating to a prime city centre location, David added that the company would be retaining its links with the East End and was looking for tenants to rent the current HQ, based in the former Midland Hotel premises on the convenient access corridor of Sheffield and the M1 gateway.

“Having been in this lovely old pub hotel since 2004, I have seen Sheffield East and the Lower Don Valley go through an enormous period of change and improvement and I certainly want to maintain an interest in a part of the city that is now attracting a huge amount of investment,:” David said.

“Historically, this has area has been occupied by British Land, Forgemasters, Gripple and Land Rover etc and new neighbours are now recently attracted companies such as Next, BMW, Porsche, Mercedes and Ikea.

“Even though we have completely outgrown these premises, I know they will make an ideal A1 office for any other company looking to locate in such an exciting regeneration area.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by John Highfield .