It is said that first impressions count, and this is certainly true in business.

The first time a potential new customer walks through the front door of a company’s office building, it is vital that they not only feel welcomed, but they also get a clear sense of the organisation they could be working with.

Creating the right impact, therefore, needs two key elements; the people and the surroundings. The latter is where leading London-based surveyors PBC excel, which is why the company was commissioned by FTSE250 commercial property investor CLS Holdings plc to oversee the refurbishment of one of their prestigious office blocks in Surrey.

The brief was to completely update Cassini Court in Leatherhead both externally and internally, bringing it up to a CAT A standard office refurbishment in just 14 weeks. In addition to repairing windows, roofing and the M&E system to the ground and first floor, and upgrading all of the toilets and common parts, PBC was also responsible for project managing the complete redesign of the building’s reception area.

As the double-height reception benefited from plenty of light and space, it was decided to create large feature walls to give it a contemporary and stylish feel. This was achieved by cladding the main wall in a timber “jungle block” finish and an adjacent wall in a specialist Tektura vinyl wall covering. The vinyl wall was particularly challenging for PBC and the design team, due to the large surface area and the need for a “seamless” finish that would blend from section to section once installed.

With the entire project completed on time and to budget, the modern reception and office areas at Cassini Court will certainly create the right impression for not only its new tenants, but also their customers.