FirstLoveFoundation

The ground-floor client advice centre plays an important role in the new workplace, providing a setting where visitors can discuss sensitive personal circumstances in a comfortable and confidential environment. Gensler’s design introduces a warm, domestic character through a calming material palette, carefully selected furniture and spaces that feel approachable rather than institutional.

Optima 117 Plus single-glazed partitions help define enclosed areas while retaining clear sightlines through the interior. This balance between transparency and privacy was particularly important for a charity supporting people facing difficult circumstances, where confidential conversations must be accommodated alongside the practical needs of staff and visitors.

Rather than relying entirely on new materials, the project incorporated glass partitions recovered from First Love Foundation’s previous office. Through Optima’s reuse service, existing partition elements were repurposed for the new workplace, extending their useful life and reducing the requirement for newly manufactured components.

The approach reflects a wider sustainability strategy across the project, which also incorporated donated and previously used furniture. Retaining existing glazed partitions demonstrates how reuse can contribute to a new interior without losing the practical benefits of defined, light-filled working spaces.

The First Love Foundation project brought together architects, contractors, manufacturers and suppliers, contributing their expertise, products and services to support the charity’s work. Led by Gensler, with StructureTone and BW: Workplace Experts among the delivery partners, the collaboration helped transform the building into a welcoming base for the foundation’s activities.

Optima’s contribution included the installation of glazed partitions and doors, complementing the wider interior design while supporting the need for enclosed consultation and working spaces. The completed project illustrates the value of bringing industry expertise together around a shared social purpose, creating an environment designed to support both the foundation’s team and the people who rely on its services