Veson Nautical

Veson were looking for a partner who could guide them through the process, offer the right design approach, and deliver with clarity and confidence. What stood out was the strength of the Area team – how we worked together, our experience, and the ideas we brought to the table. Veson felt we understood what they were trying to achieve and trusted Area to take it forward.

Veson made it clear early on that this project was about their people. The breakout space quickly became a focal point – not just somewhere to grab a drink, but a social hub designed to accommodate breakfast, lunch, dinners, town halls, and team get-togethers. It needed to be open, flexible and flow smoothly throughout the day.

That approach extended across the whole floor. Quiet rooms and wellness spaces were included from the start. All workstations were positioned to make the most of the natural light, with meeting rooms and enclosed spaces placed deeper into the floorplate. The layout – with a conscious emphasis on generous circulation – offers different ways to work, whether you’re after a desk, a sofa or a quiet corner. It allows people to move and work in ways that suit them best.

Veson wanted a space that felt just like them. That meant subtle nods to their maritime heritage, but nothing too on-the-nose. We worked those ideas into the detail – a rippled metal ceiling in reception, curved banquette seating, and topographical mapping used for glass manifestations.

The company’s ‘vessels’ – detailed models – were integrated into the joinery as a central feature. A custom map of London sits on a large dividing wall in the open-plan area, marking the office location and reinforcing the idea of the company coming together in one space.

AV was also a big part of the identity. In reception, live maritime mapping displays show real-time shipping movements. A large feature wall in the breakout area includes four screens used for data visualisation and team updates.

The layout supports over 120 desks, broken up by soft seating, breakout areas and shared tables. It’s not a space of long desk runs – we wanted to encourage movement, chance encounters, and different ways of working. The meeting suite sits just off reception and offers views across the City and St Paul’s, while collaboration zones are positioned to break up the open-plan areas.

From reception, there’s a clear line of sight right through to the windows beyond, opening into a soft collaboration space. The floor also includes a terrace – an outdoor space that adds to the sense of openness and gives people a chance to step out for fresh air, supporting staff wellbeing.

The Arbor building, Veson’s new home, is a high-performance development with strong sustainability credentials. The space itself was a blank canvas, so we delivered a full Cat A and Cat B fitout – including all mechanical and electrical works.

Sustainability was a clear focus throughout. The project achieved SKA Silver certification, with full waste tracking, sustainable material choices, and tight control over environmental performance during the build. It also secured a Fitwel 2 Star rating – a recognised benchmark for creating healthier buildings that support occupant wellbeing through smarter design, operations, and policies.

With the core Veson team based in Boston, we worked hand in hand with a local project manager to keep things running smoothly. Despite the distance, the process was collaborative from start to finish.

This project was always about more than just the build. It was about creating a workplace that helps people do their best work, feel at ease, and feel proud to be part of something. That’s the kind of workplace we believe in. And that’s exactly what we built with Veson.